The Washington bee., 1901-05-18
A SILENT playmate


eedeG' leaving an almost .ar-a-..-- -7-
0i space and HOllovues- P.y--.- ,7->s
J here were two figures br -.- .-g'
Ethei, the eHild Of the tsr....#
/ wondering eyes. and Alaf-- --.r a--
haired doll ErGel Ra, lI.r-r, ....-. --s--
same-li game . could BE- aam.-- ..--5 .-5
that was all her oWu. bv right .- .-...-.. -.--7
| Ethel was a s0cla1.e chT| .-.
nig atfably IN her erlb. she l.. ... ... COO
ehattLHg with complete abandon r-..-t
Al INST; but after d.se5r--r-y -... !. -'
| remarks or questions were r-e- ----
| ldtronlAng. You are too r.r-- -
| derstand sucl things" 1r an r----..r--
Don't talk 50 loud. and don't -z...--...
| 70 many questions. she had --s-.--
| drllted INTO relying more upon r--..r. .--
| her amusemeuts -
II was thought by her rsrar-. -....-.-
dren acquired bad manner, --... .--
other, 50 she was Ietr without r.a 49,
Of comparison; and thus she as-.- 80
at the window and gazeG wl--.g.. .- -
children huTTylng along DO red E..a- .-5
brown WOOlen mir-ens. on their -.- 49,
school near b.. Nor even did -.-- -----
prove very cOmpanI0uable. because ...--r--
old, and II was deemed best thar F-lE
should acquire her speaking w.-Er-- .ls
touch OF picturesque favor 60 a---- I'M.
parted TO our speech by early ass---s--s
with the under world.
Two months previous the lovely rr..
eyed Mabel had been presented -- F.EJ
at the break1ast-table Sne had ---z.r.4
her almost IN silence, and after the r-s.T
was over had gone straight % her fsr--,s
spot, in the large bow window Tlz-s
the doll was carefully examined and -rs-
with good mug was adopted once -grsn-
not 70 be mOthered. but az a PLAYMATE and
Ethel felt as II her longing for a sister had
at last been rewarded. The doh was chris.
tened Mabel and IN E-1eIs eyes soon
lost all dOll-lIke propensirses and became
a seeond self. They were never sz-e-.-z4
and through her imagination. s--a r4.
pressed, Ethel led a complete dual life
She held long conversations with Nhl
and IL never occurred 70 her thar i rss
not the latter who really thought OH ne
answers. She worried lest Nab. should
take cold, apOlOglzed II she had not been
were studied together. and E---. vas usual.
~ letter-peTfect, because she did z5- wish
TO be outdone By Mabel IN 1s- imagined
recitations. l. punishment was me-ei out
Ethel tried 10 bear the br--- -- Z. because
she was the elder, though the fault
might have been Mabel 5. T-0 frequently
swung her arms around most earzlessv TO
the detTIment OF chance br.ea-brac Then.
too, Mabel had a though--eSs way Of trip
ping over the rugs and turuu. a most un-
dIgnihed somersault n the air before she
landed on the floor. On these occasions
Ethel likewise promptly tTiPrei and fell.
50 that she also might be reprmalied, and
not make Ethel fee. too badly.
This afternoon the TWO had been having
a cosy chat, and Edith vas saving. dr0vslly:
"Yes, as you say, my dear, I should Ike
TO turn into the white cat, and you would
make lovely Puss-in-bo0ts. W5u.dn'Jyou
like"
Just then the door opened and an el.
derly man walked IN. Ethel. your mother
wishes 10 know if YOU broke that blue vase
in her room? Nurse SAYS YOU were In there
alone this morning. Did you break it, my
dear?"
a slight hesitancy, and them Ethel, re.
piled: No. father. I didn't break IT,
Apparently satisfied. her father LETT the
room again, and Ethel at once turned TO
Mabel.
''Now, Mabel, you see what It is to beso
careless. l saw YOU lying on the table this
morning, and when nurse slammed tls door
you just rolled over on the dTesslnZta5.s
and broke the blue vase. You thought
was reading over the other side, and OF
course l won't tell Of You, for mother
would be very angry indeed. but don't
You think you had better tell father all
about it,"
Once more the door opened and t-e IA
ther came in looking very grave.
Ethel, come here. Now ] want sou 70
look straight at me, and tel. me whether
you are sure you did not break that vase.
Ethel flushed AID looked confused but
answered steadily: 4 didn't DO IT, "a
ther."
Ethel, I am going to ask again. DtgoI
break that vase"
The tears were in EtheIs eyes and sh'
Iazed implOringly at Mabel, but shook ae'
head and said:
Il didn't do it."
You are lying" said her father. stera
y; and you know that Is very W.-Seh
Nurse tells me that she remembers CON.
ing in, and seeing You pick up that .-qo5F
ing 10 Mabel-'from the GrassLlE.a1
lust where the vase usually stands nee
was no one IN the room but y1l. she tsli
he"
But I didn't do it, repeated Ethel r
ginning TO sob, and looking besee,l.ls|
It Mabel.
That VIII do" said her father. u don't
wish you TO say that again. shall have
10 punish You severely. Hold out y5L
lands"
Ethel obeyed, still hoping vaguely .aa'
Mabel would come 70 her Rescue >-s
stood the FIVE blows on each hand nraFe!'
hough they ached and burned already.
Now I VIII take your dol. away rom
Iou for a couple Of days, con----- her ID
her, seizing Mabel careles>ly HE me arm.
oh no, no." screamed Ethel, 'E.. Ma
Del, please, father, not Mabel
You shall have your dol back .H i"'
lays, " replied the father.
She isn't a doll, said Ethel ls-'.-s
With fright and excitement; "sae IS HE 7s
er, and she says she doesE.- Waa. q. :"
Do you, Mabel? Oh, p5sa-r please
Il am surprised al your making s' nun
uss over a doll, and il is very wrong
all her your sister. and rre -.-e- 10
he room, carrying Mabel with -I.. %.