The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-06-19

| one would he lett TO tell tue tale. lou
must not tramp around another mo-
ment, Miss Rosalind. Tom and I will
take you to the cottage and get your
uncle and father; then we will go after
the wanderers and bring them back,
since you do not hold with Mother
Goose's eminently wise way Of treating
the matter. Take my arm, or your
brothers, and see how soon we will
be at home"
It was silent journey, Rosalind
urging them feverishly on. The sun
had begun to sink out Of sight behind
the hills flushing the whole scene with
rosy glory as parting salute. Surely,
Rosalind thought, she had never heard
either her father or mother laugh so
shrilly; they turned sharp corner and
the cottage was in full view, the YER
anda full of figures. She saw her
uncle reading the paper, her mother
knitting serenely, her father placidly
mending ish-net, while about one or
another the eight children clustered
themselves, not one lamb missing.
The girl stopped short, caught her
|breath, dropped her brothers arm, and
! burst into such a passion of tears as
quite drowned and silenced the merry
shouts Of: -:
"0h, Rosy, Rosy. Such fun! We
ran away from you and got here, :"
which greeted her. s.: s. sst s.:i s:s;'>
"Horrid little brats!" muttered Mr..
Dedham, as Rosalind was caught in
her mothers arms, kissed, patted,
comforted and borne out Of sight. She
did not appear at the supper, for which
Mr.. Dedham was persuaded to stay.
She lay on her mothers bed, quite hid
den from all eyes, and was waited up
on by whole host of most remorseful
children, hearing at intervals voice
which made her hide her face in the
convenient pillows. After whispered
confab with Tom, his mother smiled
tenderly, and, though she did not tell
the children SO, she held them not
wholly responsible for the breakdown
that had SO astonished the entire fam
lily.
Mr.. Dedham walked home by moon
light, alone and very thoughtful.
The next morning rose, cool and
lovely, md before he would have been
out Of bed in the city, Mr.. Dedham
was seen strolling up the walk to the
cottage. Rosalind stood in the open
door, looking like little nun, in the
quietest of brown gowns, fastening a
modest brown hat on her bright curls.
She was demure maiden this morn
ing, all glow and fire gone, just q we'll
bred girl, and nothing left Of Bo-Peep.
Yes, she was going out, the children
had left all their wraps Oh the other
side of the island, and she and her lit
tie cousin were to go and bring them
back. The children declared that they
had left her so fast asleep against q
tree that she had not stirred when they
came whooping up, and flesh and blood
could not withstand the temptation to
run off. It had been intended that
Tom and one of the boys should go
over the night before, but lin the ex-
element it had been neglected, and
now they had to be brought.
"Wouldn't I do as well as cousin?"
Mr.. Dedham asked. 81 will under
take to carry three times as much, and
1 really need walk this morning. Be,
sides, Jim wants to go fishing-don't
you, Jim?"
As the boy assented eagerly Rosalind
hesitated, colored, glanced at her
mother and then reluctantly consented.
They started off on the two sides of
the path, Mr.. Dedham looking over at
his little companion with tender
smile in his eyes, while she talked on,
steadily and unbrokenly, allowing no
pause in the conversation until her
breath was nearly exhausted.
s'Suppose you sit down here and rest
a minute" said Mr.. Dedham, after o
time, clearing the stump Of q tree with
his coat sleeve. 'It is q very exciting
story, and you shall finish it some
time-many times, if you want to; but
just at present You may leave your
friend and her Sunday-school boys up
in Prospect Park-we don't need
them. You have led the conversation
Miss Rosalind, ever since we left the
house--indeed, I may even say that
you have done ell the talking. Now
give me my innings"
The girl did not resist; she YVES tired
, out, almost painting. She let him seat
her Oh the stump without remon
STRANGE, and then throw himself dow1
by her side. There was a long de-
licious silence, SO long that Rosa}int
began to breathe naturally again
Then he spoke low and passionately
my Rosalind--my darling-m,
own little girl--six months! It Ia!
been six years waiting"'
!, Dinner was over when the two youns
people came slowly round the corne