The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-30


up the reins before Miss Cyrila found
her breath and power OF speech
For the land OF mercys sake" she
cried. Don't start tho horses yeti Mrs.
J. y. Baxter lives over at the other side
OF the town, and you've made mistake.
I'm Cyr.Na Baxter and live here
The driver grunted. That's so II you
say so, ] reckon Wbesed you say 'totber
BaxteTs lived?"
-Four good miles from here-over Just
the other side Of the Blithe Creek saw
mill"
Miss Cyrllla happened to look at the
shabby little girl, and saw two dusty
tears rolling over her thin cheeks. She
looked again and two more were follow
/ ing them hard and fast. The stage-drver
was just getting down again.
you needn't do IT," said MISS Cyrilla.
"she can stay with me tonight and I'll
/ get her over there tomorrow morning.
/ But you'd better look out how you make
/ such mistakes next time. Come. little girl,
/ guess you don't care about riding four
/ miles moro tonight. You look nigh tired
TO death"
They went through the woodshei into
/ the tidy little kitchen together The fire
was swapping briskly. and the tea in the
| brown-glazed teapot was boiling and
sending forth puns OF herb-smelling
| steam. Miss Cyrills sratched II on
III there's one thing 7 Up and down
( dsspise. It's boiled tea" she exclaimed.
Then she turned TO the child and said
/ gently enough: "You can wash your face
in that basin in the sink and wipe II on
! that roller-towel and then wen eat sup
per and talk about things"
IL seemed very odd 10 Miss Cyrils 70
be sitting down TO tea a few minutes
later. with n little girl opposite her-a
real little girl with clean. shiny face
and wisDs Of damp hair curling around
u. Miss Cyrllla wondered that II seemed
50 pleasant. To be sure she was some
what nervous and cut the butter and
ladled out the juicy curran's clumsny.
hut the situation was FAR from being as
distressing as she would havs expected
BEFORE the meal was over she felt quite
az home. and assumed certain motherly
airs toward The stranger that would have
astonishcd Miss Cyrina herself.
well" she said. sitting back IN her
chair. 80 you're fresh-air little girl,
and have rot mislaid?'
"Yes'm."
The fresh-alr little girl looked across
tho table and caught the twinkle some
where in Miss Cyrilla' face. though only
sharp owes could have found g. Then
something stu more astonishing happen
81. FOR Miss Cvrlla found herself laugh
lng IN n hearty duct with the child.
There thatn do" she said presently
Now. Wen talk sense. what's your
namo?"
"Tl2abeth Bennett"
"Fiizabeth-Bettv. Betty'u DO Wen.
BETTY. tell mo al about it-whore YOU
live and how you live and who You 1--we
with"
II don't live with anybody. 7 kind Of
board with Mrs McCartv. She let's nc
sleep with Nora end paw her forty cents
n week and take care Of the baby Sun
DAYS"
where's your mother and your other
folks"
There tent any folks-onlv steDmother.
7 lived with her TIN most two years ago.
an then she said 7 was big enough TO
take care Of myself"
"For the land Of mercys sake. Well,
what next? Where do you get the forty
cents a week TO pay Mrs McSomething?
Il earn it," The little fresh-air girl
eat up straight and important The chill
dishnoss vanished and a queer, grown
UP look took its place that sat oddly upon
the thin little face.
How old are you-ten or twenty"
Miss c'yrilla said almost impatienuy.
eleven. goin' on twelve "
How do you earn your living?"
"I'm a cash girl down 20 Stebbins's It's
awful work harcain-days."
"Ihatn do" Miss Cyrna rose from
the table and piled the plates together
with a clatter The child instinctively
began TO help her.
no. you run outdoors and SEQ my
flowers and take your first dose OF fresh
air"
When Miss Cyrilla was putting away
the tumblers and cups, Betty ran In snd
stood for quite two minutes. watching
her. Her face as Miss Cyrilla looked
down into IL. was very wisttul
"Wen?"
81 wish 7 needn't 70 to that other Bsx-
ter's tomorrow morning. It's 40 nice
herel There's more flowers than you can
count I've been tryin' to count 9rn.
and"
"wen7"
TITS only Just two weeks, and I'd be
real good and not bother any, IA stay
outdoors-Td Just as lieyes sleep outdoors
as not and
'WeN?"
Betty put out her hand and touched
Miss Cyrillas sleeve with . Nttio smooth
ing motion.
'I'd be real good an not bother any
Then Miss Cyrlla sat down and drew
the child 10 her side. no young thing
had ever 'liked" her before. and ~ seem.
ca oueor-and pleasant, too. Miss Cyrllls
Acknowledged Il TO herself with shrne
OF her shoulders
"Wcn." she said again, touching tbs
chnd's hair softly.
BETTY laughed and ran away satisfied
Nothing more was said about going %
the other Baxter's That night MISS
Cvrllla sat up tlll hait-past nine trying
10 cut out childs dress from her old
Fashioned delaine sprinked With palm
leaves. When she went 20 bed. she stop
ned 20 look az Betty awhile Miss
cvrfIla had lent her one % her own might
dresscs. and fts 6ne 'riil ~ old lace set
on the smooth. oval face and almost made
q pretty.
The hrst week ., the fortnight sped
away altogether too fast for Betty. and
none too slowly Tor Miss Cyr'ia Thew
we-e on excellent tefus-she and the
child. though "a Betty spent most % tho
time out-of-doors hey were not very
rouch together. when there came A rainy
dav mo last o, the week Mss CyT1ls
onened the parlor door and the parlor
blinds.
81 guess wen sit IN here" she SAID
'Tts pleassnter. and guess ron won't