Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-07-06


To the astonlshment OF the directors
| change came over the face Of the man
ager. Taking the child gently by the
hand, he walked to his desk, ON which
the papers Of the new line were scatter
ed, and drew open drawer, from which
he took large ninepin extraordinarily
dressed as doll The establishment of
the two gentlemen was increased at the
following quaint colloquy between the
manager and the child:
"She's doing remarkably we'll in
spite of the trying weather, but have
had to keep her very quiet, said the
| manager, regarding the ninepin critic
ally.
"Ess, said Mary quickly. cts just
the same with Johnny Dear. His cough
is f'ightful at night. But Misery's all
| right. I've just been to see her,
"There's Il good deal of scarlet fever
around" continued the manager with
quiet concern, land we can't he too
careful. But I shall take her for little
run down the line tomorrow.
The eyes of Mary sparkled and over.
| flowed like blue water. Then there was
kiss. little laugh, shy glance at
the two curious strangers, the blue pin
afore fluttered away and the colloquy
ended. She was equally attentive in
her care of the Others but the rag baby,
| Gloriana, who had found a home in
Jim Carriers cabin at the Ridge, living
too far for her visits, was brought down
regularly on Saturday afternoon to
Mary house by Jim, tucked in asleep
in his saddlebags or riding CALAMITY
before him on the horn of his saddle.
On Sunday there was dress parade Of
all the dolls, which kept Mary in heart
for the next weeks desolation.
| But there came one Saturday and Sun
day when Mary did not appear, and it
was known along the road that she had
been called to San Francisco to meet an
aunt who had just arrived from "the
States. " 1t was a vacant Sunday to
"the boys" a very hollow, unsanctifed
Sunday somehow, without that little
figure. But the next Sunday and the
next were still worse, and then it was
known that the dreadful aunt was max
ing much of Mary and was sending her
to grand school-a convent at Santa
Clara-where it was rumored girls were
turned out SO accomplished that their
own parents did not know them. But
we knew that was impossible to our
Mary, and letter which came from her
at the end of the month and before the
convent had closed upon the blue pima
fore satisfied us and was balm to our
anxious hearts. 1t was characteristic of
Mary-it was addressed to nobody in
particular-and would but for the pru-
dence of the aunt have been intrusted to
the postoffice open and undirected. 1t
was single sheet, handed to US with
out word by her father, but as we
passed it from hand to hand we under
stood it as if we had heard our lost
playfellow's voice:
others more houses in Frisco than
you kin shake stick at and wimmens
till you kant rest, but mules and jack
asses amt got no sho, nor blacksmiffs
shops witch is not to be seen no wear.
Rapits and skwirls also bares and pam
!; fers is on noun and unforgotten on &C
count of the streets and Sunday skoles.
Jim Roper you orter be very good to
Mizzery on a kount of my not bein here,
and not harten your hart to her bekos
she is top heavy-which is ontroo and
simply an imptient lie-like you allus
make. I have kinary bird wot sings
deliteful, but isn't yellerhamer sutch
as know as you'd think. Dear Mister
Montgomery, don't keep Gulan AM
plak to mulch shet up in office drors. It
isn't good for his lungs and chest. And
don't you ink his head-nother. You're
J as bad as the rest. Johnny Des", YOU
} must be very kind to your attopted IA
J Their, and you, Glory Anna, must Low
KIND Jimmy Carter very mutchl
,ur takin you hossback SO often. l haveI
been buzzy ridin twist with an OFFICER
who has killed Injuns real. I am com.I
in back soon with CRATE affecshun, sol
luke out and mind.
But it was three years before she re-
turned, and this was her last and onl,
letter. The "adopted fathers of hel
children were faithful, however, ant
when the new line was opened and i
was understood that she was to be pres
ent with her father at the ceremony
they came, with a common understand
ing, to the station to meet their old
playmate. They were ranged along the
| platlOTluJ pOof JdCh hOpor u llttle over
weighted with bundle he was carry
ing on his left arm. And then young
girl in the freshness of her teens and
the spotless purity of a muslin frock
that, although brief in skirt was perfect
in fit, faultlessly booted and gloved,
tripped from the train and offered
delicate hand in turn to each of her old
friends. Nothing could be prettier than
the smile on the cheeks that were no
longer sunburned, nothing could be
clearer than the blue eyes lifted frankly
to theirs, and yet as she gracefully
turned away with her father the faces
of the four adopted parents were found
to be as red and embarrassed as her own
on the day that Cuba Bill drove up pub.
licly with Johnny Dear on the box seat.
"You weren't such a fool" said Jack
Montgomery to Roper, las to bring
Misery here with you?' 81 was' said
Roper, with constrained laugh, land
you?" He had just caught sight of the
head of ninepin peeping from the
managers pocket. The men laughed,
and then the four turned silently away
Mary had indeed come back to them,
but not "the mother of fivep'