Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-12-23

and forsaken, and the blinds were
drawn. The child sighed; she did not
know it. She was thinking anu
little, perplexed frown crept over her
face. She spoke her thoughts' as II
to herself, forgetting the other occu-
pant Of the room, pretty, daintiiy-
clad woman, in a low wicker chair
drawn close to the fire. The scene was
far more cheerful than that without
but the child seemed attracted by the
dreariness of the November day.
IT am all alone" she said.
what do you mean, Starr" inquired
her stepmother, fretfully. Il 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 at
that window all afternoon, and haven't
paid me the slightest attention, ana
now you are so rude as to ignore my
presence by such remark" she had
evidently grown tired Of her novel.
Eyes, you are in 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 my mind"
The woman did not stroke the little
hand laid upon her. The child uld
not respect it, She had heard long
before that she was ugly and had
bad disposition. She really tried to
be good, she had told her father. the
only one who kissed her and thought
her pretty. He had said that her eyes
were like stars, and Star-eyes he had
called her ever since the night she mad
first 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 so much. Play
with your dolls"
II do not like dolls" she had said,
slowly shaking her head. "They stare
at one as the ladies' who come to see
mamma do. They haven't any souls
or hearts; they cannot talk to me, or
love me. How do l know they nave
no souls, papa? Birds talk, some OF
them, but mamma says they haven't
souls, and Marie said Brave had
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
piano, and he knew she would get
less perplexed 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.
ut is time your papa were here,
Star. He has been later than usual
all week. See if tea is ready, and then
run and tell Marie to brush your hair.
Dear me, if 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 so, child! What
makes you?"
81 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 hall
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 curly?' l want to
have curls. Will it hurt very much
to burn them, as mamma does?"
The maid laughed and brought out
the irons.
mo, Miss Star, 1t won't hurt you,"
and she lifted the child to high chair
before the dressing table. Star watch
ed the maid in the mirror with solemn
interest. When the crimson bow had
been tied she viewed herself critically.
ut looks better, doesn't it, Marie,
but you don't think that it will make
my eyes grow very much smaller, do
you? l shouldn't like to have my eyes
look different"
The maid assured her of the harm
lessness of her newly-acquired beauty,
and sent her down to the old-fashioned
evening meal which Mr.. Howard would
not give up for the more formal din
ner. He and his wife were at the table
when Star entered the room. She went
I'D to her father, kissed him grave
" and then took her place. Mrs. How
ard glanced up from the cups and no
ticed the pretty little head which
formed so striking contrast to the
elfin face. She went into raptures
over the effect, and called her hus-
hands attention to the Improvement.
The child seemed deaf to the praises,
and soon the conversation turned to
another subject. At the close of the
meal Mr.. Howard glanced up to see
Star looking at the wall-beyond it
and he called to the child as though
she were far away from them. Star
eyes, where are you?"
81 was thinking" she turned her eyes
to his. "if God is sorry that we do not
like the way he makes us look, and If
he likes to have us make ourselves
over" And then she slipped from her
chair and went back to her place of
the afternoon. When the others en-