New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-21
-"LITTLE BO-PEEP."


the masters brush.
At this moment he was sketchng in most
comfortable manner his fiannel-clad figure prone
upon the ground his hands clasped under the
back Of his dark head. half-smoked pipe drop
ping out Of the corner OF his mouth. Twice IN
as many minutes he had been obliged to remove
one hand, thereby much discomfortng himself
10 brush aside a persistent fly when lhsis'eu
upon descending upon his nose. A third attack
caused him TO open his eyes and utter an I'M
pat,ent word decently low in tone. just as a
clear. high soprano voice behind him sang
Sha-all l wake him? No. not I;
For If did he would surely cry.
And with dersive shake upon the last wor"
the branches were pushed aside to reveal inc
prettiest little figure that an itinerant painter
could ask as model
II was n Young girl standing there. clad IN a
golf dress Of brightest red. a most ungoifiKe'
fower-wreathed straw hat perched on her crop
of curly hair mischief dancing In her Laughing
eyes playing among her dmples, ana ehphasiz-
ing the upward turn OF her saucy nose. one
held in her hand a stick with a curved handle
from which depended a knotted string "hich
she waved gayly above the young artist as he
rose into sitting position. Then she drew II
hack suddenly with a startled exclamation. ana
her face grew crimson.
81 beg your pardon" she faltered, thought
that II was my brother Tom
Neither Tom nor Harry. only Dick, very much
O, vour service Miss Bo Peep--or do you still
orsuer 20 the name OF Rosand given you In
baptism
..Mr Deaham. How did you know me?" asked
Rosalind ignoring his question and digging hoies
in the ground with her stick
II saw your crook. By-the-way wnere are
your sheep"
would children do instead OF sheep? II hap
mems that am looking for some at TINS very
moment"
And am busily sketching, as you may see
Yes I should say that children would be capltai
sheep; shall join IN your frantic search
"You had better blow your horn first and look
after your own cows. l passed them In the corn
,a,s en hour ago as came along the path and
found YOU
"I was not under a haystack; was painting
fast and furious.y. as told you peioie-u'"'
you my traps!
But how did you know me. Mt Deoham! lou
haven't seen me for ages. not since -
"your Aunt Annie's dance for you at Pierce
Hall 7 have a strong memory you see and on
that occasion YOU wore some sort OF blue or
greer dress and your hair was shorter anu
your skin was fairer Don't you compliment me
On remembering so well? I didn't happen TO
rotice yeur freckes that evening but suppose
that they were there
They distress gran mamma horridly' salo the
girl. putting up two little brown hands 70 moe
them: "she makes me wash my face IN out'eF-
rilk-ugh! how l hate it-but they come ana
they stay, Still. / don't really see how you came
Ia know melt seems strange that-oh, dear Ola
hear a child crying"
"Never mind II you did. You know the rhyme;
what is It? Let EN- alone and theyi come
home'-how many are missing?
1.-TWO Of my small sisters. one small brother,
tuo small cousins. three small visitors. We were
all playing hide and-seek. and when we got tired
7 took Inns crook to hook down some apples,
and
"Apples, and green ones. of course! You are
nice sort OF a shepherdess And you fed them
10 the infants, and now they are lying soihe-
where In the agonizng throes OF cholera ana you
will be put in jail and hanged as murder-ess'
Let us run away quick, before they catch you!
"They were not green. and you are very dis
agreeable and-frivolous. Besides ate them
myself. except what have In my pocket
"You have apples in your pocket! Ard you
see here before you hapless human feuow-
creature perlshing with hunger and you nave
never offered me even bite"
"Oh. you said they were not green; besides.
YOU have partaken of them: let US die together.
or. IL we are brought back to life. will be
more generous than Adam will not say The
woman Thou gavest me-
TT wouldn't be true II you did, and you mustn't
be irreligious as we'll as frivolous"
"Never mind what am tell me about your
self When did you get homer"
How did you know that was away!'
What do you suppose that came to the island
for?"
"oh. don't know to fish. suppose. Aren't
there four miles Of fishing? Oh. no. forgot;
you came to sketch. of course.
Exactly Also to see-your father and moth
err I called on them day before yesterday, and
they told me that you would be at home to-
morrow
"Fhere isn't any tomorrow I came yester-
day"
"Moral-Always expect a girl two days be-
fore she is due"
But how strange that mamma didn't tell
me- When spoke Of you She
Go on; why do you stop at such an exciting
moment? When you spoke of me-what did you
saNZ'' s-,,,er ., ,.>s. lu.a. >4,
Nothing"
Nothing for naught I hoped that you
would please my flattered ear by
-Don't be goose"
.Tcant Both sex and gigantic intellect forbid
Il even had the inclination. which l politely
deny How long Is 1t since your Aunt Annie's
party?'
Several months. believe.
Several! Is that as near as you can come to
the date? My memory is better than yours. 1t
IS six months TO a day-or was yesterday"
When they had seated themselves side by side
on the trunk Of an old tree. Rosalind had tossed
her hat aside and amused herself BY stirring up
the dry leaves with the stick she held. Now 1t
dTopped from, her. hand. and she bent to pick It
, vp. lifting face deeply flushed by the effort.