Catoctin clarion., 1901-01-10

NE 90, TOO, Wautlia, coaAeu 'i0''0
Dita, seizing hold of the skirts Of Mrs.
Constants 8 dress. ME do with oo.'
No, darling, no. said Mrs. Constant.
ringing the bell for Bridget. YOU are
too little
Exercise is good for the child inter.
posed Grandmamma Cartwhistle.
'Ettertise dood for l" This was
Dita's mite.
And you know you were very
croupy. last night added Mrs. Constant
tenderly.
4 meyer could find it in my heart to
leave a child that wasn't we'll, croaked
Miss Malina.
But added Susanna. "a step mother
knows nothing of the sensations that
agitate true maternal heart
And the bride. fairly driven to the
last extremity Of patience, took an
abrupt departure, leaving the small
Dita shrieking in the arms of Bridget.
while her grandmother and maiden
aunts stood around. sort Of commits
Grating chorus.
She has no heart at ALL growled
Miss Malina.
4 told Charles how it would be when
he would persist in marrying that slip
of n child. said Mrs. @.
What can one expect Of a step moth
err? gloomily demanded Miss Susanna
Sure. an savln' your presence ladies
put in Bridget, who by this time sue
ceeded in quieting the child cries, its
me humble opinion as Mrs. Constant
spoils the little lady intiIely wid too
much kindness. Sure, wasn't she up
with her half the night, last night, wild
ipecac an camphorsted lie? Ano amt
it her as hears missys prayers livery
blessed night Of her life, ard tells her
all the fairy stories as ever grew, an
pets her like kitten? There amt one
mother in hundred, let alone step
mother, as loves child like my mssis
loves little Miss Dita.'
And the grandmother and two maid.
en- aunts went grimly away, saying to
one another what very presuming per
son Bridget was, and how Charles
young wife hadn't dignity enouGht to
keep her servants in their proper place.
But when Mrs. Constant returned
from her shopping expedition that af
ternoon. there was an evident atmos-
phere of CONSERVATION about the house.
Doors and windows were wide open;
sympathetic nelghbors were gathering
about the threshold; Mrs. Cartwhistle,
with her wig on awry and her mourn
ing veil all twisted to one side. stood
sobbing in the middle of the floor, with
a prodigious black bordered handker-
chief pressed to her eyes; Miss Malina
and Miss Susanna were hurring to and
fro wildly wriuging their hands; and
Mr.. Constant himself had Just sprunA
from cab which had ratified up to the
curbstone as if drawn by flying dragons
Dear me, cried the young stepmother
What can have happened?
4 told you so,' said Mrs. Cartwhistle
Il always prorhesied it, said Miss
Malina.
Il foresaw it from the beginning, sale
Mrs Susanna.
But what is the matter, gasped pcol
Mrs. Constant. Has anything hap
pened to-to dear little Dita?
She drowned said Mrs Cartwhistl'
In the great Persian JAR, said Miss
Susanna.
Filled it with water out Of the bath
tub, and then crawled IN herself. dear
sweet innocent, sobbed Miss Malina.
oh, dear Oh, dear | knew something
would happen when you so heartlessl'
refused her innocent plea TO accompany
you.
>All this comes, Charles croakec
Mrs. Cartwhistle, from giving YOU
precious lamb step mother
u shall maintain to my lifes end
said Miss Susanna, that 1t was all Mrs
Constants fault.
But the poor young wife pushed hel
way frantically through the confusion
Where is she?' she gasped. >Dita
Where have they laid her"
We've hain't dared to touch her,
answered Miss Melina, with burst o
hysterical tears. But there's her deal
little blue shoe in the puddle Of watel
on the carpet, and her lovely COLDER
hair floating on top! Oh, dear-don'
let Charles 60 near herl On, dear, t.
think that she should be drowned, anc
no one near to help her. 1t all comes
of a stepmotbers neglect