The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1897-08-14

spect. was OF the
best and choicest. The asparagus soup
= delicate young baked shad, roast
ham with champagne sauce. salad
coffee, sweets-all these things Mr.. Fol-
lott enjoyed because. in their way,
they were perfect. And he was just
culling out a few monster straWber-
ries from among their green leaves
when q footstep sounded on the Ver-
anda.
He looked quickly up. A tall child
Of Is stood there, her face flushed, her
hair disheveled and her thick boots
powdered over with the fine dust OF the
roads.
II am so hungry" burst involuntar-
lily from her lips. Cant have one Of
those cakes"
Mr.. Folliott frowned and shook his
head.
IF you are a beggar," he said, you
had better 60 around to the back door.
Mrs. Hanford will give you something.
dare say"
The child hiushed deeply and drew
herself up with something Of uncon-
scious dignity.
Pm not a beggar," she said. Cant
3 girl be hungry without being beg
garf / have come here to look for
Paul Folliott."
That's my name" said the old gen.
tleman. little suspiciously.
] Then" she said. composedly, 81
have come here to be your little girl
I am Oracle Bellsire. My papa was
Colonel Bruce BeIlaire, and when he
died he said that you would take care
OF me. Here are his letters And. now,
please. let them give me something to
eat"
And this was the way in which
Grace Bellaire came to the house Of
her fathers distant kinsman, Paul
Folliott.
She was a pretty child. when the
dust was washed out Of her dimples
and the shining brown curls were
brushed into something like shape She
had Bruce Bellaire's large, dreamy eyes
and exquisite Greek profile. and Mr..
Folliott, even while he experienced a
thrill Of CONSERVATION at this new
charge, felt his heart warm toward
her.
MY dear" said he. you are q nice
little girl, but what can do with you?"
81 could stay here and play. couldn't
II" said Oracle. innocently.
But there is something else In the
world for little girls to do besides play
ing" said Mr. Folliott-and 20 he took
counsel with good Mrs. Hanford, his
housekeeper.
Dear heart, SIR" said that kindly
parsonage, 1T seems to me plain
enough. Why don't you send her to
Mrs John Folliott? Don't you remem-
Der last summer. when she was here
and you helped her out with the debts
that troubled her 50 badly, she declared
she would do anything In the world to
show her gratitude? And she's got
daughters of her own, hasn't she? Who
Is there In all the world that could
bring Miss Oracle mp better than she?"
Mrs. Hanford. you are a genius"
said Mr.. Folliott. why on earth
didn't think CT that myself?"
Mrs. John Folliott came to the
Grange at once-a portly. smiling ma
from.
The darling" she cried. enthusiast
IDEALLY embracing Oracle. who looked
rather awed at the sight of so much
splendor, II shall love her as dearly as
II she we're my owni Poor, dear Cousin
Bruce! How well I remember himi
You sweet one, you are the very pie
ture Of your papa|
So Mrs. John FollIott, greatly re-
\ joicing, returned to the brown-stone
house In New York. whose rent was
unpaid, and to the daughters, whose
expensive dresses were yet written up
on the wrong side Of Mile. Surlitor's
books.
It's positively providential," said
Mrs. Folliotf. "A thousand dollars 4
year clearly added to our incomer'
But there is that great awkward
child to bring up" said Madalena Fol-
lott, . handsome brunette. who had
Just made her debut In society.
ooh. that does not signify" said the
serene matron. Her cost viii be alb
solutely nothing"
/ And 30. in the course Of few weeks.
Oracle Bellaire found herself settling
down TO the position Of Iady's maid to
the three Misses FoIliott She sewed
the buttons on Madaiena's boots. she
ran out on rainy days, when the very
ehambermaid objected on account Of
the weather. to match shades Of worst
ed and iiloseile for Alicette, the second
daughter; she washed Fiorenee's poo
die for her. and vept many a tear Of
bitter modification the while. And
b. degrees her shoes grew worn and
rusty. her healthy young growth out
stripped the limits Of her coarse serge
gowns. her bonnet and mantle became
so shabby that she could not so out
except under cover Of the friendly
susk. Once, driven TO desperation. she
a