The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1898-12-23

IL y
The houses on the
opposite side OF the street looked cold
and forsaken. and the blinds we're
drawn. The child sighed; she did not
know IT, She was tmnking, and
little. perplexed frown crept over her
face. She spoke her thoughts. "a II
to herself. forgetting the other occu-
pant OF ~ room. a pretty, dalntlly-
clad woman. in q low wicker chair
drawn close 10 tho Are The scene was
far moro cheerful than that without
but the child seemed attracted by the
drearlness Of the November day.
IL am all alone" she said.
what do you mean. star?' inquired
her stepmothcr, frclfully. II am here.
though you seem TO have forgotten the
fact. Your father must have been
blind when he said you were attractive
and interesting You have been sc
that window all afternoon. and haven't
paid me the slightest attention, and
now you are 80 rude as to ignore my
presence by such a remark" She had
evidently grown tired Of her novel
"Yes, you are " the room, but l am
far away. See" as she came up to the
side OF the chair. IL am quite, quite
close TO you. mamma, but l am far
away in rly mind"
Tho woman did not stroke the little
hand laid upon her Tho child aid
not respect H. She had heard long
before that she was ugly and had a
bad disposition. She really tried to
A.. II. 10 NafM
only one who kissed her and thought
her pretty. IIo had said that her eyes
were like stars. and star-eyes ho had
called her ever since the night she had
irst opened them, and they had looked
beyond them all, as II following the
mothers spirit TO the skies.
"You are good" her father had an
swered. but wishing that he under
stood her you are good. star-eyes,
but you must not think 30 much. Play
with your dolls"
81 do not like dolls" she had said,
slowly shaking her head. They stare
Mt one as the ladies who come to see
mamma do. They haven't any souls
OF hearts; they cannot talk to me. or
love me. How do | know they have
no souls, papa3 Birds talk. some OF
them, but mamma says they haven't
souls, and Marie said Brave had a
heart. that was why he loved me; but
you said dogs have no souls. How
does God know that the ladies' have
souls. papa?"
And then he had sent her TO the
plano. and he knew she would get a
less perplcxed listener In the keys.
The child stood looking at the blaz-
ing wood In the crate. her hand still
resting on the white. slender one.
at is time your papa were here.
Star. He has been later than usual
all week. See II tea Ia ready. and then
run and tell Marie to brush your hair.
Dear me, II you only had pretty curls
you wouldn't look like terrible owl,
as you do now. with those great eyes'
Don't look at me 80. child What
makes your
II was thinking" she said, as she
slowly turned her head away.
well. don't think" was the sharp
reply.
The child passed out into the hail
and up the stairs, turning Into her
mammals room as she reached the
landing.
Marie" she said to the maid. what
will make my hair eurly7 want to
have curls. VIII II hurt very much
TO burn them, as mamma doos7''
The maid laughed and brought oul
the irons.
mo. Miss Star. II won't hurt you.
and she lifted the child TO high ehaii
before the dressing table. Star watch
ed the maid in the mirror with solemn
interest. When the crimson bow hat
been tied she Viewed herself critically
ut looks better. doesn't Il. Marie
but you don't think that II will maxi
my eyes grow very much smaller. d,
you? l shouldn't like to have my eye
look different"
The maid assured hor OF the harm
lessness OF her newly-acqulred beauty
and sent her down 10 the old-fashionel
evening meal which Mr.. Howard woul'
not give up for the moro formal din
ner. He and his wife were at the tabl
when Star entered the room. She wen
ND TO her father kissed him grave
ly and then took her place, Mrs. How
ard glanced up from the cups and no
tleed tho pretty little head whlel
formed so striking a contrast to tn
elm face. She went into rapture
over the effect, and called her hus
bands attention TO the improvement
The child seemed deaf to the praises
and soon the conversation turned {
another subject. At the close OF tn
meal Mr.. Howard glanced up TO sc
Star looking at the wall-beyond It
and he called TO the child as thong
she were far away from them. star
eyes. where are your
81 was thinking" she turned her eye
10 his, "if God Is sorry that we do no
like the way he makes us look, and
he likes to have us make ourselve
chair and went back TO her place q
the afternoon. When the others en-
tered the library she was standin
looking out at the dark. There wa
nothing TO be seen save the rehectlo
Of tho flrellght In the glass.
"If she we're only like other chi
dren," murmured the wife, thinkin
her words unheard by the child, Sta