The Washington weekly post., 1899-12-12
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Es-s.nRton. burst forth into a Joy
rr. PEAL. my wandering footsteps
- rsf me into Pembridge Square on
--, ~, home from the thea,er. The
-,--. Va. damp and cold typical De
..--.s- r.Eht Ia London. but the majority
.,-s-rIs we're stlli sstir. for on Christmas
a.. .r.-s .s much late shopping in the
-.---rs- tEoroughfsres. "a the thrifty
,-,-s-..-s- housewife always procTasu-
-..,. .- .l. hope OF obtaining her Christ
a-.rt cheaper after midnight
ss..rg emerged from the eternal gas
49,. ~ rho Q Underground Railway al Not
49, ts.. cate station. crossed the busy
u.gr- stree. ahiaze with the naph'ha
.---s. ~ razr-e-voiced costermongers. and
, -....-s along that rather select thorough
s.-s p-rHr.Ige Gardens. entered the
.--.-a and vas trsyersing Il on my way
Richmond road. Bayswater. where I
. Suddenly. a. ! passed along, my
--,s-.-.. vas attracted by low, plaintive
ana turning, ] saw In the corner OF a
.-s. rr-ra4v something white huddied up.
49,. .sHl shivering with cold and sob
-,.~ rfterIs. therefore ] stopped, bent,
.r r--gare5 what was the matter.
..--, cold was all the reply ! received.
--. f.f not raise her head. but continued
-lHb.Hr
come 7 said. taking her hand and
-....rg her 90 her feet You mustn't re-
main here OF youn be frozen. Who are
y5-T
-rs child whose lIny hand was icy cold.
rsf~e5 a pair 0C Wilc-open. wondering eyes
ID mine .r hesitation, jhen replied simply:
I'm Di~eie."
What's your other name?
"Na1hes0u.
Even in tha. dim light OF the street lamp
% needed DO second glace to convince me
char she was not an ordinary child. Her
ar.ss was or richness quite unusual in
children attire, prettily made frock Of
sar white China silk embellished with
many laags and Tuffies. neat black SILK
Stockings and patent leather shoes with
shining buckles. She was, ! judged, about
seven YEAR old or perhaps a trifie more.
wiki A charming. refined face and clear
hfga eyes. while about her shoulders was
wealth ~ hair Of that bright, lus,rous
-ad which invariably fades before the
Teens Her voice was sweet and lisping.
and knew by her pronunciation that she
vas no ordinary COckney waif
And where DO you Iive?" / inquired
.,l5srly
81 don't know" she responded shyly.
But YOU haven't been out Of doors long,
have YOU: Where's your hat?'
I've lost it," she lisped.
The fact that she had on only thin pat.
ent leather slippers and was hatIess
seemed proof that she had escaped from
some drawing-room in the vicinity per.
taF- from some children's Christmas
party. But although / questioned hei
closely. 30 was apparent that she had nc
iiea whatever of her place Of abode. She
gss hopelessly lost.
/ took her hand and walked with hel
some distance. hut she seemed weary
shivngiue from head 20 foot. / took ou
d handkerchief and tied II over her mead
then contemplated handing her over Il
Tho first constable We met. Her descriT-
ton would be telegTaphed TO every police
station. and any inquiry in any part OF
London would promptly result in her dis
sovery
When We gained the corner Of West
bourne Grove / stood looking up and down
the thoroughfare in search of a con-
sIlbla, but the child somehow seemed
"a divine my intention, and said
Don't let the policeman have me-
Then she again burst into tears. Al
children. frightened Dy their nurses. en-
iertain a deep-Tooted horror OF the Do
lice therefore, | resolved 10 take her homo
with me for the night. and next day en-
deayor TO trace her friends. On arriva
al Richmond road l handed her over Il
he care OF my landady, sable-habited
tand-ch afnG person, who if not of moth
cry' disposition, evinCed a tender inter
tst iu the pretty founding.
Nursing her before my fire Mrs. Soame:
questioned the mysterious Cissie, who
with a child's simplicity, told US that hel
rtrse had taken her out TO party at th'
house OF some person named Johnson
end that on the way there she had beer
lelt outside a shop while the nurse en-
tered TO make some purchase-from hel
description Of the thoroughfare this mus
lave occurred in High street Noting
INLAND she, having wandered away from
the shop. became lost in the busy. bustlnl
crowd doing their Christmas marketing
Then she had apparently turned into TIL
side street. and wandered on until l dis
covered aer
She had mother. she told us, burstini
into tears at mention of her; but no faith
soo1 circumstances. for the childs dres:
Was, as Mrs. Soames pointed out, un
usually rich. while Oh her tiny wrist Wal
beautiful little bangle set with ciphel
ui two Us" I'm diamon6s 1t is not o.
Ten that children possess such costl!
Ornament as that.
My uncle gave me that on my birthday
te1aTse 7 was a good girl" she explain
tl boo response 10 my inquiry. Isn't i
lrettyg' and she held il TO the light ad
miring the glitter of the stones.
Yes" ] said. You ought 10 be Yer.
proud of H."
She laughed. and held out her hands {,
tae warmth of the fire. She was Ger
tain,y q coquettish little person. and "
Ver, both entirely charmed by her man
n,r With "A child's quick perception sh
knew Sno had fallen among friends. ant
htr -rdrs had quickly given place TO mer
rm,ut IuGeed. before Mrs. Soames pu
Der TO bed she grew quite bright, HAPPY
auI COntenjed.
When / came down o. breakfast ol
Christmas morning | found Cissie alreaG.
seated az table awaiting me, looking fresl
and very charming with rosy face ant
Nail-brushed hair
Ntll- silu, laughing, do you Zee
b.Eer?"
Yes she replied. But what a yer,
baE time you've been. I'm 80 hungry"
Then let's commence" I said. and W
A.. our breakfast together. while at In
same time ! continued my crOSs-eXamina
u.a lH an endeav0r 10 find out the where
ab.gr- OF her home I felt confident tha
must be in one Of those superior street
or squares which lie between Bishop'
Road and Hensington Gardens and be
eaue more than ever convinced that IN
1.-r course was to 20 round and inform
M- police. Probably they had already r.
,9lEra au inquiry from Mrs. Mathesor
sHH. without doubt was al that mOmen
beside herself with grief But London
large place in which TO lose oneself. an
ls astonishing how many able-bodie
m'a and women are lost yearly in IN
Has-slrom Of life, and are never agai
v.-uteTed
The cLild's manner was piquant an
amusing A bachelor can be very lionel
.a London. ! possessed few friends, an
Dad Intended To- spend Christmas alon,
as usual. but there az nay table WAS