The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-12-24

Duncan, and is never rude" said the
governess as she rose to leave. Come,
il is time for us to GO"
just then there was a rustic in the
hall and perfect vision burst upon
the children from the doorway.
"Mother!" cried Rowena, rushing
forward, 81 never saw you so beanti-
full"
why, what flattery from ones own
little grill" said the vision, STOPPING
and placing a kiss somewhere about
Rowena's forehead. "Well, goodnight,
little ones, we are late, for this is to
be an early dinner so that we shall be
in time for the opera afterwards"
She turned with a smile to the man
behind her holding her beautiful wrap.
"Such a pretty picture that was,
didn't you think SO? The tree, the
children, the dog and even Sally with
her smiling, Irish face added to the
picture. l don't think we neglected
anything, do you, dear, for the child's
ChristmasW
"No, my dearest, and if she is not a
happy little puss, it is her own fault"
"Oh, l don't know-I sometimes
think she seems like such forlorn
child sometimes" answered the moth
er as they drove away.
Rowena was indeed forlorn, sitting
there alone, though with her dog and
great lighted Christmas tree one would
think she might be very happy.
81 will bring your dinner in here to
you, miss, and you can have it on this
little table," said Sally.
Twill you stay with me this evening,
Sally, please? l will read you some
lovely stories," added Rowena as she
saw the girl hesitate.
Now the truth was, the servants had
planned quite party for that evening,
and Sally's best young man was com
ing, and yet she could not leave this
little lady alone if she wanted her.
What was she to do?
"Well, miss, I'll be comm up every
now and then-will that do?"
"Oh, yes, that will do, said the child.
"Sally, don't you think it was kind
deed for mother to give $25 to the or
phan asylum for me?" she asked as
the girl was serving her dinner.
Sure" answered Sally land twas
me heard her say she wisht it'd-hin so
win she heard Mrs. Esmond Gray had
give more"
"Sally, did you ever see any of those
little orphans?"
"That l did, miss. There's little
Katie Shannon, an orphan, and it's
often l look in on the lamb"
Rowena sat thinking.
"Ye amt eatin' fit for a bird, miss"
demonstrated the girl.
mo, I'm thinking about them, Sally.
Do you think they have Christmas
tree?"
81 dunno, miss, they may have, but
they mostly needs close. That money,
the Christmas fund there calm it,
is to buy each wan something to wear,
an each of them poor lambs wan
prisint apiece. That's what the
matron-loidy told me-"
"Oh, do you know the matron?"
Yes, an fine young person she is,
then" answered the maid.
sally, oh, my dear Sally, why
couldn't we have some of them here to-
night to see my tree?" exclaimed Row
ena, excitedly.
"'Twould niver do, miss. WHATEVER
would ye're mither say!"
"Now, Sally, you know she would
not care. She never cares what l do,
and we could telephone now and have
them come right off, and she was half
way up the stairs with Fritz barking
at her heels.
ITS not sthroke of the blame I'll
take, miss, SIGH an idee!"
MAY l speak to the matron?"
Rowena was saying over the telephone
a minute later.
"Oh, this is Rowena Marcus-Crewes,
like some of your children to come
and see my tree. 1t is very pretty, and
have lots of presents, too"
The matron recognized the name of
one of the fashionable women of the
board and, not understanding that
it was only the invitation of child,
said she would, with pleasure, send
bOluC VI bAC WIN WCIG AOb III
bed.
"She asked if 20 would be enough,
anG / said that would do" said
Rowena, dancing about with delight,
while Sally just stood and looked at
her.
"Will, there's wan thing 1 do know,
an that's they must eat!" and away
she went to prepare for this queer
party.
They came. Twenty of them, with
bright, expectant faces, and not one of
them was as embarrassed or shy as
was Rowena Marcus-Crewes. But the
delight of having all those children
there for her to make happy overcame
everything, and it would be hard to say
which had the best time, all those
laughing children, Rowena, or the,dog.
The fun was at it's height when Sally
came in, bearing tray heaped with
good things. She had found some diff
Guilty in getting away from the lSitch-
en- this last time. Her young man was
getting impatient.
pat, now, we niver would hinder me
If We could see that child niver saw