Willmar tribune., 1897-12-28
CORNERS.
BY ISABELLA N. SHAW.

They heed not our expectancy;
But round some corner in the streets OF
life
They, on sudden, clasp with a SMILE"
A MONG other passengers alighting
~ from the train was tall, dark
Commissioned gentleman and short,
chubby child, holding fast his free
hand, also mite of Il blue parasol.
From the geneltman's other hand
swung a travelling case and an umbrel-
la. The sun was yet high and its rays
burning. It had been breathless day,
and although the station sat On the out
skirts of WooGyille, tlanked by hay
field and facing meadow, the only
odor atloat seemed that of plank and
paint. 4 new sidewalk was being laid,
also the station platform was undergo
ing repairs; but Bools, the village
Observation-Disclosures" lounged beneath
IL big chestnut tree whose leaves hung
yellow and limp on dry twigs.
Can you direct me to the Locust
Nest?" the tall gentleman asked this
lounger.
You can't miss it; it hides in the To-
Gust wood; the bus stands around
here" and scrambling to his feet the
speaker led the way to low, narrow,
repellant vehicle which the child re-
fused to enter.
~ris considerable loose in the5 Joints,
little miss, but twill carry you safe
enough. Good land, no! 'tisn't
hearse!"
They rumblcd over bridge, turned
another: corner, rounded the village
square, struck into the Rooney road,
ascended hill, halting on it's shoulder
before swinging white gate through
which woman had just passed. The
house was delightfully."- old-fashioned.
DR.. Cyrus Flint and little daughter ex-
changed words of approval as they went
up the gravelly path leading to the
great door. Largeness seemed all about
them-"these cramped-up city folks"
and the bus driver who had run with
message to the back door, added, in
parting: "Your nest must be getting
right full; five last week and two to-
night" He was addressing Cathy, the
cook, whom Bools was counting.
Two front rooms off the upper hall
were assigned to the doctor, one Of
which jutted over the side vera nda and
was called the balcony chamber. In at
the open window the locust branches
peered, and above, almost within reach,
swayed an orioles nest. A large waxen
doll sat in a chair and a child's cot
stood in one corner. The little girl
entered the chamber to look about, lay
ing the blue silk parasol on the table
while she removed her hat and pushed
back her damp, tumbled hair. The wee
cot with it's spotless draperies drew
her instantly. "See, father, this board
ing house lady must have known I was
rather small. If your room is as pretty
as mine is let us live here for long
time."
A few hours later, refreshed, retoned,,
restored, the doctor and Grille went be-
low and met the boarders assembling
for dinner. When Mrs. Winters herself
approached the doctor started slightly.
Only Girlie noticed the tremor and
frightened her wee warm clasp of his
big hand and looked up. A lady, a
very small lady, was looking down. The
very tip top of this lady s comb reached
her fathers elbow. Bending to the
child, she said, with a winning smile:
Il hope that we shall become very good
friends.''
"Perhaps we may" replied Girlie,
with her most captivating nod and
smile, for she was greatly pleased with
every detail of her surroundings. After
dinner there followed an evening full
of chat, song and music. Each of the
company seemed to have forgotten how
high the thermometer was running.
When the doctor left the circle that
evening Mrs. Winters again bent down
to his little daughter and kissed her.
''Good night" returned the child. 'I
shall dream of the angels all night"
and her father added: "She is in love
with the couch, you see."
The next day the inmates of: the nest
betook themselves to wood and stream,
and few went in the down bus to the
station, where Is fresh-air children
were looked for, homes among villagers
and farmers awaiting them.
Mrs. Winters also went down and sat
in her phaeton with the doctors daugh-
ter beside her when the train pulled up.
The children were handed out, each
with tag attached to his or her left
shoulder.
'Bools, bring me two of them, will
you? Prof. Fix-Rooney road?" Bools
stood at the Shetland's head, but moved
off at this word toward the newcomers,
returning soon with the oldest and the
youngest of the group.
Pic addressed himself to the road,
but just here the doctor on his new
mare and his dog leaping before him
rode by, wheeled and trotted back to
the phaeton. "Oh, good morning!" as
he lifted Girlie to his saddle, and pony
and sorrel moved along together.
II confess, doctor, stole your daugh-
ter. These boys are tagged for my cous-
in. who lives a half mile above the
Nest" =
SIS your pony a good traveller? Those
storm clouds are rolling up rapidly
eyes very rno6. what . ho,.I- 4ho4