Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-02-04

! II 4 Il y y
The houses on the
opposite side of the street looked eolu
and forsaken, and the blinds were
drawn. The child sighed: she dsd ho'
know it. She was tGlnSinS' anu
little, perplexed frown crept over psi
face. She spoke her Thoughts as y
to herself, forgetting the other ocSu-
pant Of the room. a pretty, dasntiiy-
clad woman, in low wicker ehaif
drawn close TO the IRE. The scene was
far more cheerful than that without
| but the child seemed attracted by the
dreariness OF the November day.
81 am all alone" she said.
what do you mean. starr" inquired
her stepmother, fretfully. Il am mere
though you seem 10 have forgotten the
fact. Your father must hav" been
blind when he said yon We're attractive
and interesting. You have been ~
that window all afternoon, and haven't
paid me the slightest attention. ana
now you are so rude as 10 Ignore my
| presence by such remark. she haa
evidently grown tired CT her novel
yes, you are in the room. but am
far away. See." as she came up TO the
side of the chair, Il am quite. quite
close TO you. mamma. but | am Tar
away In my mind"
The woman did not stroke the little
hand laid upon her, The child I'D
not respect it. She had heard long
before that she was ugly and had a
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 be had
called her ever since the night she had
I hrst 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-eyss.
but you must not think so much. Play
with your dolls"
81 do not like dolls" she had said.
slowly shaking her head. They stare
I at one as the ladies' who come to see
mamma do. They haven't any souls
or hearts; they cannot talk 10 me. or
| love me. How do | know they have
no souls. papa? Birds talk. some Of
| them. but mamma says they hayen't
souls, and Marie said Brave had a
heart. that was why he loved me: but
! you said dogs have no souls. How
does God know that the ladies' have
I souls. papa"
/ And then be had sent her to the
piano. and he knew she would get a
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.
1T is time your papa we're here
Star. He has been later than usual
all week. See II tea Is ready. and then
run and tell Marie TO brush your half.
Dear me. II you only had pretty curis
you wouldn't look like terrible owl.
as you do now. with those great eyes.
Don't look at me so. child! what
makes your"
Il 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? | want to
have curls. Will 1t hurt very much
to burn them. as mamma does7-'
The maid laughed and brought ont
the irons.
mo. Miss Star, II won't hurt YOU
and she lifted the child to a 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.
1T looks better. doesn't It. Marie
but you don't think that 1t will MAKO
my eyes grow very much smaller. do
you? ! shouldn't like to have my ayes
look different"
The maid assured her of the harm
lessness OF her newiy-acquired beauty
and sent her down to the old-faahloned
evening meal which Mr.. Howard would
not give up for the more formal dim
ner. He and his wife were at the tahia
when Star entered the room. She vent
up to her father, kiased him grave.
ly and then took her place. Mrs. How.
ard glanced up from the cups and mn.
ticed the pretty little head which
formed 30 striking a contrast to Tho
elfin face. She went into rantpraa
over the effect, and called her hus-
bands attention to the improvement,
The child seemed deaf to the nrai,sa
and soon the conversation turned ~
another subject. AZ the close n, ,ha
meal Mr.. Howard glanced I'm IN zoe
Star looking at the wall-beyond it
and he called to the child as tbouvb
she were far away from them. "star-
eyes, where are your"
II was thinking" she turned her evss
to his. III God is sorry that we do M,
like the way he makes ia look. ana n
he likes to have as make oursaIvas
over" And then she slipped from her
chair and went back to her place of
the afternoon. When the othera an
tered the library ahe was atand,no
1QOkfpQ O1If n tba dar1. -