The Winslow mail., 1899-04-01
rank

a rOse-laGen hat.
The young mar was looking tenderly
at the girls face, but the girls ewes
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 a good way
ahead-then he looked again at the
girls face.
They were now very clos: to the
castle; the young man had his finger
ready 10 turn the rein.
Presently little figure dashed from
the scrub that bordered the read
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 Suze lay trampled to death--hel
life blood mingling with the hot red
dust of the road.
The young man and the girl leaped
j from the buggy, and bent over the
crushed figure. lie put his hand on the
chiId's heart.
A woman came swiftly through the
scrub. her face ashen pale-she waved
/ the man and girl aside, and hent over
he tiny figure. kissed the bleeding
mouth, and clenched the dust of the
road in her agony.
9Th only thing loved in this VERDI
she noaned. y-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 turr
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 il
with a linen rug he touched the
wonan's shoulder.
"Where to?" he asked.
The woman pointed to the bank OF
the river where the wagon and tent
lence, and placed it gently on a rude
bank.
"Where is your husband?"
"He's gone ter th' township, mister
said the woman. "He only went few
minutes ago."
II must see the police. ]
can't tell you how sorry I am" He
wrung the woman's hand.
Twasn't your fault. mister" said
the woman, sobbing. II 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 gir; washed the tiny face and
hands, and put a lace scarf round the
head. Then she placed jasmine sprays
in the little hands.
Thank ye, miss: thank ye," said the
woman, holding out work-coarSened
hand that shook like leaf. The girl
took it in hers.
'There was a doll of my little Suze's.
It's layin' in the road. If yes get ii
I'd hank ye kindly miss, dear"
"I'il rua for it." said the girl.
The woman watched the 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. "wil
you let me come in?"
"I'd rather ye didn't. I'd like ye'd
leave me alone with my little dead
Suze. please miss
'I'm frightened to leave you there
alone" said the girl-''it seems sc
wretch ed-oh, do let me come in-dc
let ME in"
"I'Il be all right, miss. Will ye sit
at the door of the tent till call yep
The girl sat outside, waiting, wait
ing, till she was tired.
The woman took the doll, and fold,
ed it in the arms of the dead child.
with a knife she stealtkily ripped
an opening in the back ofthe tent, and
stole out TO where q heap of harness
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 Cod" said the woman, sob
bing, "look down upon sinful woman
you gave NE my little Suze-you
took her from meth cnly creature !
loyed-th' only thing | had to brighter
my wretched life-Lord God let the
mothers soul 90 with the soul of the
little sinless child; don't part Us, fol
Christ's sake Amen" There
was a spla-sh-sh and wings
formed on the surface of the water.
The girl waited at the tent door
she heard no sound
"Let ne in!" she cried. M
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
The long grass showed that some one
had passed it lately. She ran
to the river bank footmarks
were on the bank md as he
girl stood wondering, knot Of starry
white jasmine flowers f1oated past.
She covered her face with hel
hands. The jasmine flowers
told their own story-The Australia
sian.
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