The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-08-10
dear. but she's written in prose-"


"Why, l know her now, this minute.
don't need any introducing. I've met
her twice since l came. You stay with
blessed baby and keep him from shin
Cling himself, or getting drowned in
the water pitcher, and I'll go and find
Miss Senthrilla's poetry all by myself.
I'd rather go alone, begging your par
don, and she asked me to 60 When l
come back"
Just fetch home line or two with
you, will you? I'd love TO scan it," The
Irrepressible murmured, low.
Miss Senthrilla was killing flies 1t
was not promising omen. Diana could
see her lean, imposing figure, poised
warily, through the open windows, and
the resonant thumps of the folded
newspaper in her hand assailed the
girls ear forebodingly. There was so
little poetry in the sound!
''But it's there-somewhere,'' she
thought, stubbornly.
Miss Senthrilla answered the knock
with prompt cordiality.
"Well, I'm glad to see you." she cried,
in her clear, strong voice. For a min
ute Diana wondered if the poetry was
not in Miss Senthrilla's voice.
you'll come right into the sitting
room, won't you? That's where take
my friends to. The parlor's for book
agents and the tax collector. I've been
killing flies-most likely you heard me.
It's my knitting work-and that's some
more of it,
She pointed to some bags and boxes
on the table near her sewing chai
''If you'll sit down here opposite me in
this chair, III sit down and-knit. You
won't mind my being busy? shouldn't
be Senthrilla West if wasn't"
''I'd rather you would be busy" Di-
ana said, promptly. She sank in the
big chairs depths with little sigh of
comfort Diana herself acknowledged
that she was lazy. II like to watcn
other people work." she said, serenely.
"Well, then you shall see me sort
over this old button box, my dear"
smiled Miss Senthrilla. II can talk,
too. I've been clearing up my unfin-
ished chamber, and brought all this
| trash down TO sort--dearie me!
haven't set eyes on this button box
before for most as many years as you
| are Old"
but, Miss Senthrilla, I'm 20 wears
| old-do button boxes live to be as old
as that?"
Miss Senthrilla poured the buttons
into her lap in little clinking cat
aract. She glanced over at Diana, smil-
| ing. This button box has lived 25-
| 80 years." she said, in her brisk, bright
| voice that had no romantic cadences in
1t. II had it when l was just about
as old as you are. Now, let's see what's
| in it! Dearie me, the trash! If you're
fond of antiquities, my dear, here you
are!"
! She was threading her fingers
through the heap of green, old-fash-
| ioned buttons. An absent look was
stealing over Miss Senthrilla's face in
a slow little wave. The clear-cut lines
| about her firm mouth were softening
/ little. One of the buttons rolled to
the edge of her lap and jumped over,
! scurrying away out of sight. =
OH Miss Serthrilla murmured,
heaping the buttons back into the box
and falling to her knees to look for
the nimble little runaway.
LET me find it," Diana said, quick
! ly. ~ think it rolled due east"
"'One flew east and one flew west,
/ and one few over the old goose's nest, +"
quoth Miss Senthrilla, to cover her
eagerness for the little button. Diana
smiled from her vantage ground under
poetry? The irrepressible would NUT
ter something about its being bor-
rowed from Mother Goose.
Here's a button-is this it?" the
girl said, holding up tiny red shoe
button between her thumb and finger.
"Yes-yes, that's it, Miss SEN
ihriiia cried eagerly. Il wouldn't have
lost that for anything. 1t was on lit
tie Tads first pair o boots. They were
red ones-how mortal proud little Tad
was of 'em. Dearie me, how he'd sit
with his feet straight out, admiring
'em!"
Miss Senthrilla sat with the tiny but
ton in her palm, and the softened look
in her face. Diana drew her chair
nearer.
Tad? little Tad?" she asked, with
gentle insinuation.
why, yes, little Tad-my little Tad.
OF course, be was Emmy's, but I al
ways called him mine. Emmy didn't
mind. He looked SO much like big
Tad, and big Tad was almost mine"
Miss Senthrilla gave little start,
and stole look at Diana in confusion.
Then she Strengthened her tall figure
and spoke proudly:
1T slipped out, my dear, and can't
get it back the way 1 did little Tad's
button. It's got to stay out. / never
let it slip out before. Big Tad was
mine before he was Emmy's, but he
well, he slipped out. 1t was best, |
guess. Emmy needed him most. She
| was "a prpTty weak little thin p--whPp