The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-01-13

net, pushed her curls back, and Mapped
the flies from her face.
"Now it's all ready for my bald-head-
F: ed child; she will be happy and comfy
in her new house" She brought the
doll and placed it in the castle.
| sTll gather some flowers, an make
yer a bokay, bald-headed child said
Sue, and she ran to the river bank,
where the bluebells grew long and
rank.
A light buggy was coming along the
road drawn by pair of ponies, and IN
it were young man and girl-a
pretty girl, in cool white gown, and
a rose-laden hat.
The young man was looking tenderly
at the girls face, but the girls eyes
were bent on a great basket of starry
white jasmine she carried on her knee.
The ponies were going fast-the
young man glanced quickly along the
road, saw the white boxes good way
ahead-then he looked again at the
girls face.
They were now very close to the
castle; the young man had his flnger
ready to turn the rein.
Presently little figure dashed from
the scrub that bordered the road.
"My bald-headed child. you'll kill her.
you'll kill her." cried Sue holding
her arms out before her to stop the
ponies. A sharp scream, and
little Sue lay trampled to death-her
life blood mingling with the hot red
dust of the road.
The young man and the girl leaped
from the buggy, and bent over the
crushed figure. He put his hand on the
child's heart.
A woman came swiftly through the
scrub, her face ashen pale-she waved
the man and girl aside, and bent over
the tiny figure, kissed the bleeding
mouth, and clenched the dust of the
road in her agony.
9Th only thing I loved in this world"
she moaned, "my-little-Suze-my-
pretty-laughing little gel. My baby!
Was it for this brought you into the
world?"
"Take her aside for a moment,
Alice" said the young man, "and turn
away your faces"
The girl put her arm round the wom-
an, and forced her to turn aside.
the man gently laid the little body
upon buggy cushion, and covered it
with linen rug he touched the
woman's shoulder.
"Where to?" he asked.
The woman pointed to the bank of
the river where the wagon and tent
were. He carried the burden in 81
lence, and placed it gently on rude
bank.
where is your husband?"
"He's gone ter tn township, mister"
said the woman. "He only went few
minutes ago."
IT must see the police. I
can't tell you how sorry I am" He
wrung the woman's hand.
"'Twasn't your fault. mister" said
the woman, sobbing. 81 seen the whole
thing with my own eyes"
He drew the girl aside, and whis-
pered. The woman and the girl went
into the tent.
The girl washed the tiny face and
hands, and put lace scarf round the
head. Then she placed jasmine sprays
in the little hands.
"Thank We, miss; thank ye," said the
woman, holding out work-coarsened
hand that shook like leaf. The girl
took it in hers.
There was doll of my little Suze's.
It's layin' in the road. IF yes get it
I'd shank We kindly, miss lar"
"I'l! run for it." said The cirl.
The woman watched he girl away.
Then with stout iron skewers she
pinned the flags of the tent together
and secured herself against intru-
sion.
''Here is the DOLL" said the girl. "Wili
you let me come in?'
'I'd rather We didn't. I'd like ye'd
leave me alone with my little dead
Sue. please miss"
Sim frightened to leave you Their
/, alone" said the girl-s'it seems s.
wretched-oh, do let me come ind
let me in"
'I'll be all right, miss. Will We 81
at the door of the tent till call ye?"
The girl sat outside, waiting, wait
ing, till she was tired.
The woman took the doll. and folt'
ed it in the arms of the dead child.
with a knife she stealthily rirr
IN opening in the back of the tent
stole out to where heap of harm
lay. ;. Taking a pair of hobbies
and smiling strangely, she went back
to the tent. She kissed the lips of the
dead child then she bound the
/. body to her own breast, placed her
hands together, and slipped the hob
bles over them then she stag
gered to the edge of the river.
Lord God," said the woman, sob
bling, ''look down upon sinful woman
you gave me my little Suze-yor
took her from meth only creature L
loved-th' only thing had to brighte-
my wretched life-Lord God let til
mothers soul go with the soul of til
little sinless child; don't part US. for
Christ's sake. Amen" ;. There
was spla-sh-sh and wings
formed on the surface of the water
= 4
The girl waited at the tent door
she heard no sound.
sLet me in!" she cried. -. No
answer came. She dragged out the
skewers, and forced her way in. The
tent was empty. The slit in the tent
caught her eye. She looked through.