Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-14
TOPSY ON THE TOP FLOOR
CHAPTER II.
Out With Topsy.
By CLARA J. DENTON.
Copyright. 1901. By George W. Jacobs q Coz

Out With Topsy.
| The following day. when Miss Verro open
| ed the door for Nettie. she met her with a
| smile.
"Ah," she said, you didn't forget US. did
| your Well, come into Miss Julia's room.
| Topsy is with her now
She led the way few steps down the hail.
tapped gently on the door. and saying.
gayly, Its just Ann" she walked in. Net
| tie following.
The room was large and sunny. and like
| Miss verro's. full OF beautiful furniture,
with a plentiful scattering of books and
| pictures. In the center of the room, on a
| white bedstead with a silk canopy over it.
| fay q dark-eyed lady. who, in spite OF the
heavy circles beneath her eyes, and the
pale lips and cheeks. was still very beau
! tiful She wore handsome sack OF GRIM
son flannel with black velvet trimmings,
and tiny ruby pin sparkled at her throat.
One thin. white hand lay on the counter
pane, the other was caressing Topsy. who
| was curied In little heap outside the bed
| clothes.
But the moment Nettie entered the room
Miss Topsy left her cozy nest on the bed
and came barking to meet her.
You noisy creature said Miss Verro.
| 'how can you expect people to be glad to
see you when you make such a racket over
them? Come to me, now. so that our friend
| Nettie can be introduced"
| She picked up the poodle, and taking Net
! ties hand. led her to the bed and presented
| her to Miss Julia in due form.
my sister told me- said Miss Julia, put
| ting out her slim hand, that we were to
| have a visitor today, and that you had
| promised to give our spoiled baby pleas
| ant time. That is so kind of you, and now
sit down here and talk little to me before
you go, will your?
| Although Nettie had come into the room
with but one thought in her mind. to get
down in the yard with Topsy as quickly as
possible, Miss Julia's sweet smile her mu-
| steal voice, and the lovely tender light In
| her large eyes, drove everything else out OF
her head, and she dropped gladly into the
chair beside the bed.
| well, suppose you are glad because
vacation is so near?" said Miss Julia.
| NO. ma'aui," said Nettie, timidly. Il
| don't care much for vacation, and l get
lonesome for school to begin again almost
| as soon as 1t Closes
Miss Julia laughed "well, she said,
| "you must have very unusual teacher.
| Yes, I like my teacher, but, you see.
| this is the way 1t is: all the little girls IN
| our block go to the country just as soon g
| school closes, so have no one to play with.
| Mamma. Of course. is away all day at that
dreadful public library, and I sit around
her office and read until am tired. and
then get so lonesome don't know what
to do with myself"
IT tell YOU" said Miss Julia, raising her
self on her elbow. well make a bargain
right here Whenever you feel the least bit
lonesome come straight to me. I am
lonely. too, very often. and If we put our
| two lonesomes together. who knows what
may come Of it; perhaps the gayest times
thing sure wen have Topsy to help u.s.
Yes" said Nettie: smiling, land she Is
great help, I think
She turned around to look for her four
R~S.. k~1,n ~ faU
| verro's arms on the other side Of the room.
ooh. how wish she would let me hold her
| like that" thought Nettie.
| Miss Julia saw the wistful look on Net
| Although she couldn't order Topsy to allow
Nettie to hold her she could at least help
along their acquaintance.
Ann she said, put Topsy down, please:
| want her to come to me-"
Miss verro set the poodle on her feet and
| she started at once toward the bed.
| That's right, little mite, come here" said
Miss Julia. patting the bed clothes.
| But to their great surprise Miss Topsy
gave bound and landed In Nettie's lap.
The child laughed aloud in delight.
What do you suppose made her do that,
| Miss Julia?" asked Nettie
| "Just because she took 1t into her little
1 head, that's ALL Now we needn't worry
| any more about your taking her out, for
| she will let you carry her wherever you
| please. never knew her to go to any one
| that she had known so short a time, but she
| always follows her own fancy in choosing
both her friends and foes"
How delighted am said Miss verro.
Eat Topsy's good sense: 1t will make the
kind Office that you have undertaken
| much greater pleasure for you, and now
think you would better go down with
Topsy. We must make the most Of this
| spring sunshine. for 1t gets quite chilly to-
| ward night. I will ring for bell-boy to
show you downstairs: this house is SO large
| you might not find your way easily"
| She pressed button near the head OF
| boy appeared at the door clad in a blue
coat which was ornamented with brass but
| tons.
How long shall keep Topsy out7" asked
''Oh." said Miss verro. until you are
| tired: but If we think you are staying out
| too long for Topsy's good viii hang a
can see it quite plainly from the yard"
| In another minute Nettie was holding
| Topsy's warm little body close in her arms
| and following the be-buttoned bell boy
| very little idea OF the sort Of place to which
| she and Topsy were going. The ladies had
| called 1t yard" and the only yards Net
| tie knew anything about were long narrow
strips OF pavement surrounded by high
board fences and running back Of the city
houses. They had never seemed to Nettte
very desirable play grounds; In fact. she
had seen them used only for drying the
IA yard isn't very much fun" she whis-
pered to Topsy. but it's better than moth
Ing for you, you poor. shut-in dear, and
some day maybe your mistress win let me
take you to the park"
The next moment the bell-boy. who had
walked several feet ahead Of her all the
way downstairs halted in front Of a large
door, and, as he placed his hand on the
knob, he turned toward Nettie. and said,
disagreeab1y:
do you like that little cur" and he
poked his finger at Topsy. who Immediately
snapped at 1t savagely-
Nettie was frightened. but she only
Rugged the dog closer and said nothing.
'You see what cross little thing she Is;
you'd better look out for her." he con-
tinued.
Topsy who had been growing low at the
bell-boy, now broke into furious barking.
and at this sound door near by opened
and lady stepped into the hall.
"Joe," she called stertiy What are you
doing there?'
The belI-boy muttering something about
Miss Verro" opened the door quickly, and
Nettie gladly rushed out, drawing a long
breath as the door slammed behind her.
But as she looked around, the disagreea-
bic heii-boy was quickly forgotten. and she
started off across the wide porch. and down
~ o1, fo,, ralo, h1,r Soof