Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-09-07

SScS Se stroll, and so the
3American woman
had disdained her fashionable equip.
page. She bad walked all the way
from her neat and artistic temporary
abiding place in the American colony
to the shopping district, had pur-
chased sundry trihes and looked at
thousands of articles she had not
bought; had fascinated n number OF
clerks by her dash and brilliancy until
they were ready to display for her
especial benefit the wealth of the
world in feminine odds and ends, and
now she was making her way home
ward, care free, and happily con-
scious that many covert glances were
cast at her stylish figure.
AT sixteen she was charming girl
at twenty-six beautiful wife and
hostess; at, well, say thirty-an ire
sistible widow, perfectly satisfied to
saunter all by herself along what re-
manned of life's floral pathway. With
more than comfortable competence,
she regarded the future with compla-
cency and the past with resignation.
Not that anything very tragic was in
terwoven among the yesterdays. Ex-
lstence had flowed smoothly enough
broken engagement, heart wrung
for a time, trip abroad, wealthy
suitor, fashionable wedding, pleas
ing honeymoon, series of social tri-
nmps, the demise of her better half, n
briefperiod for mourning, and the com
Portable present.
She was childless, but she had many
friends. 1t Is true that sometimes
something like II pang came to her
when her mind reverted to children.
and she told herself that possibly a
little one would not be at all in the
way, but, on the contrary, might give
sweet solace to the few lonely mo-
ments which came to her, who, gener-
ally speaking, did not know what Ion
illness was. As she walked along with
superb movement, she observed two
pretty girls in charge of nurse. The
children were playing on the grass be-
meath the shade trees with which the
boulevard was lined, while the nurse.
who had the expressionless features of
peasant girl, was seated on a bench
knitting Mrs. Van Altine stopped
impulsively.
"Oh, you darling" she said, and
thereupon IL her own peculiarly
graceful way began to question the
children and coo over them Just as if
she knew all about the language of
childhood Nearby on another bench
was little boy dressed in sailors at
tire, with the word captain" on his
cap. He looked forlorn and dis
turbed, for his mouth quivered and
there were tears in his big, blue eyes.
Whats the matter, my little man?"
continued Mrs. Van Altine, in the Ian
guage of the country.
He only stared at her and rubbed
one of his eyes with his dirty fist. She
placed her hand on his golden curls in
caressing manner.
why don't you play with the other
chlldren?" she continued.
For answer he rubbed his other eve
with another dirty fist.
There, now, sailors don't cry, " re-
sumed Mrs. Van Altine, as she wiped
the Crime from his face with a lace
handkerchief.
They go to battle and fight and are
brave. Arc you my brave little cap
tain?"
81 don't understand" said tho boy
IN English. plunging both fists into
his eyes.
what ! you speak English? You
ate an American boy?"
Yes m"
"And are these your sisters?"
''No'm.
"And what's your name?"
''Bobby."
''Bobby what?''
''Bobby Steele.
"And where are you from, Bobby 90
'oh, big place, much bigger and
nicer than this.
''What is it called?"
"Cleveland--oh-boo -boo--I want
to go home.
"But you can't go back to Glove
land tonight, Bobby. Ycu are thop.
sands of miles from home.
81 don't careI want to go home. y
us your mamma with yOu a.
Pnris?"
Nom. She's in heaven. She's
dead. Ny mamma died when | va,
one year old. I'm all my papa s got
and now-boo! hoo he hasn't got
me. lm lost and shall never sec my
papa again.
"You poor child, you mean to sal
you can't .ind your papa?
No, we went ont Tor walk and
stopped in crowd t. look in . win.
dow Then my papa went away an.
left me