The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-15

down The chimney ana WhHicu the sho"
against the panes.
:" The worst storm OF the" began Mrs.
Leslie, and then paused with her needle
uplifted.
:" What's the matter " queried her hus-
band.
Listen, Don't you hear something ?"
whispered Mrs. Leslie, excitedly.
" Nothing but the wind, it's too bad q
night for hen thieves or tramps, and Mr.
Leslie returned to the interesting article
on :. How TO Raise Poultry"
Presently Mrs. Leslie heard the faint
little sound repeated; her sewing fell to
the floor, and snatching lamp she hur-
ried TO the door.
-4sWho is itf' she demanded, but no one
answered, and gust of wind blew out
the light. Once more came the low cry,
rising into wall, and calling to her hus-
band Mrs. Leslie plunged into the DRIFT
which lay between her and little snow
covered heap, from which the cry came.
They lifted and pulled the queer heap
into the house, and brushed away the
snow, revealing a boy of about fourteen,
and nestled close in his arms little
golden haired girl, wrapped In ragged
coat. The little midget looked about in
surprise, then wound her arms about the
boy, sobbing.
Tommy, Tommy, wake up, p'ease,
Dorrie wants you"
AT last Tommy opened his eyes and
looked wonderingly at the kind faces
bending over him. Little Doris crowed
with delight and lavished kisses and pats
on "bruver Tommy"
Little by little poor Tommy told their
story. Their mother and father were
dead, he was newsboy in the city twenty
miles away and had cared for his sister
for nearly year.
"But times were hard, and started TO
find mothers father, he disowned her
when she married my father, but Doris
looks just like mamma, so thought may
be he'd take her to live with him. I'D like
her TO be in the country, where she could
pick flowers, and have kitten to play
with, and warm milk to drink, and some
folks to love her. She was so cold, though
/ wrapped her in my coat, and / was so
tired, that lay down TO rest, in the snow,
and then you found me. You're very
good like" Tommy paused, apparently
searching for an appropriate compliment,
and ended triumphantly, "like a fellows
grandfather and grandmother"
81 was cold, so cried, and you heard
me, didn't your" Doris added.
"Xhat shall we do with the children?"
Mr.. Leslie asked his wife, when the little
folks we re safe in bed. Mrs. Leslie an
swered slowly. "The Lord sent them to
MS, perhaps, to take tho place OF the little
ones who died. Can't we keep them"
just as you say, wife," he answered.
So Mrs Leslie told Tommy next day that
they should be her children now Tom
my smiled family, he was frail little fell
low, and the exposure had been too much
for him. He had wrapped Doris in his
coat and sheltered her from the storm at
the expense of his own life.
Before he died he charged Doris to be
D good girl and mind grandma" and
Doris promised, laughing gleefully, then
kissed Tommy goodnight for the last
time.
Doris was too young to grieve long, and
soon was playing about as happily as
ever. She trotted about, chattering to
s'dranma" from morning till night; max
ing tiny pies of mud, and then crying be-
cause they didn't taste like "dranma's";
making little gardens; or following
s'dranpa" all over the farm,
asking innumerable questions. AS she
grew older, the old people made many
plans for Doris's education. Her lessons
were always learned, but all her spare
time was spent at the little organ, play
ing softly, and singing in her sweet, bird
like voice, the quaint ballads and old
fashioned hymns that the old people
loved. She sang in the village choir, and
her voice was in great demand at the
musicaies and entertainments in the
village.
Mrs. Leslie often said to her husband:
"Our Doris must 90 TO school like other
girls, for education is great thing"
eyes," he would answer, 'she shall go
20 school where she likes, for Doris is a
girl to be proud OF, and she's all we've
got"
When they consulted Doris, she an
nounced at once, ~ want to study at the
Conservatory OF Music" so after much
planning the matter was settled, and
Doris began her preparations.
One warm afternoon, as she sat sewing
on her new travelling suit, and planning
wonderful future, Mr.. Leslie came home
from town, and walked into the kitchen,
where his wife was making biscuits.
"WhaI is the matter, are you sick?"
exclaimed Mrs. Leslie, as she saw his pale
face. He closed the door into the sitting
room and then answered. "Don't tell
Doris, but the banks failed and 49,
1.-THE bank failed echoed Mrs. Leslie.
Then her husband told the details, sadly
ending with snow, Doris can't go
away, poor child"
Can't we plan it somehow? We
might borrow the money, for 'twould
break her heart TO lose il now and we can
pay 1t when we get the crops" Mrs.
Leslie urged. AT last her husband con-
eented, the farm was mortgaged and Doris
went away, little guessing the sacrifice
that her kind friends had made for her.
Letters came often, Doris was happy
and successful, her beautiful voice and
pretty face won many compliments and
friends, but she longcd for grandpa and
grandma.
When she came home for the summer,
Doris wondered at Mrs. Leslie's anxious
expression and Mr.. Lcslie's suddenly de-
veioped economy, but TO all her questions
they gave only evasive answers.
"I'll find out what Is troubling them"
Doris said TO herself, with a determined
little nod, but for long time her efforts
were unsuccessful. Time flew swiftly,
Doris was graduated, and went TO dis
tant city, 10 sing i'm a choir, and teach
music during the week, 'If can get pu-
pills." as she added 10 herself.
That winter Mr.. Leslie was in, the in
terest was unpaid. and the man who held
The mortgage threatened immediate fore
closure.
/" II you don't have the money tomor-
row I'll foreclosc, for I can wait no
longer" he declared one snowy day in
january.
After he was gone Mr.. Leslie went back
TO the sitting room and sat down i'm des-
pair. "What are we going TO do wifef'
he said at last. al was born here, and have
lived here all my life, its hard 10 leave the
old place now. III Doris knew-but then,
suppoee she has hard work TO support
herself. and cant help u.s. Mrs. Leslie