Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12

!
| week." he muttered. 'Well, wellv'
| Miss Ann and Miss Hannah were also in
| the parlor. Miss Ann with her head IN the
| air. tanning herself slowly and deliberately
| Miss Hannah keeping nervously in the
background.
| Buried jest last week. and in a town, too"
repeated Benjamin; well! well! Yes. of
| course. Hammer. we've got to tell the neigh
| bors. Ann considered as she had good rea-
sons for gtvin' out his death fifteen years
ago. but it kind o. complicates affairs havin'
Samuel GoSsage a dyin' twice"
| There is no need for Samuel Gossage to
| die twice." said Miss Ann icily. There amt
no need fer me and Hammer to raise play
| actors granddaughter"
'Silence!" roared Benjamin; she's a Cos
| sage"
sam was not Gossage." said Miss Ann
1ir my ne was the only Sibley amongst us.
a ueiy any one to tell me to my face that
samuel Gossage want Sibley"
| WIN explain to the folks about that 1t
was family mistake about Sam bein' dead
fifteen years back" said BENJAMIN. run
ming his great hand through his hair.
"Ihatl make matters straight
| You mean that the play-actor's daugh-
| ters child is to be taken in here?" demanded
| Miss Ann; that she's to be livin' in this
house when 81 Gossage sends his children
| out to spend the summer; that they're to
| play with her when they're not allowed to
| play on the streets; that they're to set up
to the table with her; that she's to call me
| and Hammer aunts?"
Il don't see how as it can be otherwise"
And do you know what she'll be lke?"
went on Miss Ann, shrilly. You remember
Sam, how folks was arays taking him for
the hired boy?"
"Annr' cried Miss Hannah, imp.oringly.
SANS dead.
I'm talking about him when he were
Twin" said Miss Ann, sharply. Samuel
DOSAGE was a disgrace to the name he
bore. 1 couldn't keep him patched. Now,
s.pose you think I'm TO patch fer his girl?
II she comes into this house, Benjamin Cos
sage, she comes as a servant. Her father
was took for the hireling; she can be it.
She can wait on SIS baby; she shan't come
a-caliin' me aunt; like as no she's a Mexi-
can" Mss Ann was trembling all over
with Indignation. Even Miss Hannah was
little frightened.
She's a Gcssage.' said Benjamin, stub
bornly. 'Pll give out to the folks about be-
fore leave how it were family mistake
about Sam bein' dead"
cried Miss Ann. Samuel Gossage were
dead to me when he married the dirt be-
Leath his feet. The girl can wash the
dishes; I'll let the niger co.
She amt but nine years old" pleaded
Mss Hannah.
1T won't hurt her fer to wash the Dishes"
said BENJAMIN. stoutly. my own little gal
used fer. to wash the dishes"
SIS children won't be allowed to cousin |
her; their mother'll not allow it," continued |
Miss Ann. Sis children is born ladies and
gentlemen"
You mustn't Judge too quick" said Ben
Jam:n If Sans letter hadn't specially To-
Gated her here to the old place don't know |
as Mrs Gossage wouldn't be glad for to let |
her in. I'll see about 'em sendn' her over |
from the station 1 drive a-past and I'll |
write and give directions about the trip"
The neighborhood did not blame Miss Ann |
Gossage. THE Gossages come of good |
stock, and Miss Ann is proud" said the |
people. She amt a person to brook dis |
grace. Sans child a-turnin' up to be raised !
5 hard on both the girls, but harder on |
Miss Ann than or Hammer. Hanner'n wash |
and dress the child, and think as it's all |
right, but Miss Ann. she's particular bout |
the blood" |
among themselves about the common little |
cousin who was soon to join them on the |
farm, and who was to wash the dishes and |
take care of their baby. Mrs 81 said that |
she'd be very glad to have some one look |
after the baby, but she hoped the girl was
not Mexican; Mrs. Benjamin Gossage's |
sister had told her that Mexican girls were
such careless nurses
Wild Sans little girl came to the home
place very suddenly one evening when the
tram was two hours late. The man from
the station put her and her baggage out al |
the lane gate, and told her to tell her aunts
that the box was there. You run in quick
and tell EN- that you've come, and are
ready fer some'n to eat" said the man |
cheerily, as ne turned his team about in the |
road.
lSut Sans little girl was still lingering at |
the gate when Miss Ann Gossage left in 1
reace while Sis children were enioying |
themselves in the orchard. wandered down |
the front yard She caught sight of the |
little girls head, and called to her to come |
III the front way. Then Miss Ann found |
herself looking attentively at the strange |
child wondering where she had come from
acknowledging to herself that she was a |
very pretty little girl, and putting her down
finally in her capacious mind as a boarder
in the re- ghborhood.
The strange child, too, was attentively re-
sardinS Miss Ann: she liked the little cap,
trimmed with lace. that Miss Ann wore in
honor of Sis wife; she did not find any OBJ
3ections at all to the sack that Miss Ann
was calmly folding closer about her, and she
rather liked the short skirt. for Miss Ann
GossaSe had very pretty little feet
Il don't believe you know who 1 am" said
the little girl, pink glow stealing into her
rounded cheeks-and Miss Ann acknowledge
CD IN her neart that the child'S tone was that
of d little ledy, lower and softer and sweeter
than the voices Of ST Gossage's giris-"rm
little Ann Gossage."
AS she thus introduced herself little Ann
Gossage half laughed, while her big blue
eyes filled up and she turned her face 20 |
Miss AIMS and twisted her pretty mouth for |
a kiss. Papa said you would be glad" she
whispered, and I'm always going to be |
good
Miss Ann Gossage never confessed to any
one that she kissed little Ann Gossage twice |
instead of once: that she assured the sobbing |
chic that she was very glad.
Mind. said Miss Ann Gossage to Sis |
children the next morning before the weary |
traveller was awake, Il don't want no talk /
and takin care Of the baby. You all are lest |
visiting; this little girl lives here; belongs |
to the home place; you've got to be good to |
her. You know" added Miss Ann. speaking
to Sis wife, that me and Hammer have de- |
cided to adopt the child: you tell the chill
dren yourself that she's little Ann Gossage."