Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1901-12-20


Duncan, and is never rude" said The
governess as she rose to leave. Come
it is time for us to go"
Just then there was a rustic in tn,
hall and a perfect vision burst upor
the children from the doorway.
"Mother!" cried Rowena, rushing
forward, 81 never~saw you so beaoti
full" "a aSh. F,t
'"Why, what flattery from ones OWL
little grill" said the vision, STOPPING
and placing kiss somewhere about
Rowcnu's forehead "Well, goodnight
little ones, we arc late, for this is tc
be an early dinner so that we shall be
in time for the opera afterwards
She turued with a.sndle &c the man
behind her holding her beautiful wrap,
Such pretty picture that was
didn't you think so? The tree, the
children, the dog and even Sally with
hor smiling, Irish face added to the
picture. | don't think we neglected
anything, do you, dear, for the child's
Christnqs?"
mo, my dearest, and II she is not
happy little puss, il is her own fault"
ooh, | don't know---1 sometimes
think she seems like such o forlorn
child sometimes" answered the moth
er as they drove away,
Rowena was indeed forlorn, sitting
there alone, though with herdog and
great lighted Christmas tree one would
think she might be very happy.
81 VIII bring your dinner in here tc
you, miss, and you can have it on this
little table" said Sally.
"Will you stay with me this evening,
Sally, please? | will read you some
lovely stories" added Rowena as she
saw the girl hesitate.
Now the truth was, the servants had
planned quite q party for that evening
and Sally's best young man was com.
ing. and vet she could not leave this
Ettlc tidy alone IL she wanted her
What was she to do?
"Well, miss, III he comm up every
now and thcu--will that do?'
"Oh, yes, that viii do" said the child.
sally, doa't you think twas kind
deed sor mother to give $25 TO the or
Fan asylum for NEE" She asked as
the girl was serving her dinner.
Sure" answered Sally, and twas
me heard her say she wisht it'd bin SO
win she heard Mrs. Esmond Gray had
give more
sally, did you ever see any of those
little orphans?"
THAT | did, miss. There's little
Katie shannon, an orphan. and it's
often look in on the lamb"
Rowena sat thinking.
aye amt eatin' fit for bird, miss, "
demonstrated the girl.
''No, I'm thinking about them, Sally.
Do you think they have Christmas
tree?"
II 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 war,
an each of them poor lambs wan
prisint apiece. Traits 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, cxcitedly.
"Twoud niver do, miss. WHATEVER
would ye're mither say!" .
"Now, Sally, you know she would
not care. She never cares what 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 ] speak to the matrop?'
Rowena was saying over the telephone
minute later.
"Oh,. this is Rowena Marcus-Crewes,
of Fifty-frst street, and we, or |, would
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 a child,
said she would, with pleasure, send
some of the children who were not in
bed.
,'She asked il 20 would be enough,
ana; / said that would do" said
Rowena, dancing about with delight,
while Sally just stood and looked at
her. H.f
"Will, there's wan thing 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 MS
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 n tray heaped with
good things: She had found omedifii-
Guilty in getting away from the kitch-
en- this last time. Her young man was
getting impatient.
Pat, now, we niver would hinder me
IL We could see that child. / niver saw
the lamb that happy, an 1 don't care
IL | lose me place for it, I'll help this