The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-23
(Continued.l

was an iron gate between him and this
paradise; he could get over IL IL not oh
jectionabe; but he thought II safest to
ask her what she thought OF the mat
ter: was that iron gate intended to keep
little boys from the cowslips. because. II
90. II was a misfortune 20 which he must
resign himself. Stil, IL was a misfor-
tune. All this. OF course, In the simple
language OF boyhood.
Then Lady Bassett smiled. and said.
Suppose ! were to lend you key of
that iron gate?'
ct have a great mind to-"
''Then you will, you WILL
"Does that follow?"
"Yes, whenever you say you think you'll
do something's kind. or you have great
mind 10 do It. you know you always do
it: and that Is one thing do like you for.
mamma-you are better than your word.
Better than my word? Where does the
child learn these things?"
Ia. mamma. papa says that often
"Oh, that accounts for II. l like the
phrase very much. | wish could think
] deserved II. At any rate. will be- as
good as my word for once; you shall have
n key OF the gate"
The boy clapped his hands with de-
light
The key was sent for. and meantime
she told him one reason why she had
treated him with II WAS because he had
been as good as his word about the stable.
The key was brought, and she held II
10 half playfuliy, and said, There. sir
I deliver you this upon conditions; you
must only use IL when the weather is
quite dry, because the grass in the
meadow Is long. and will be wet.
do you promises"
Yes. mamma
And you must always lock the gate
when you come back, and bring the key
TO one place-let me see-the drawer In
the hall table. the one with marble on 81;
for you know a place for everything is
our rule. on these conditions 1 hereby
deliver you this magic key, with the right
OF egress and ingress."
"Egress and ingress7"
"Engress and ingress.
IT'S that foreign for cowslips. mamma
and oxslips?"
''Ha! ha, the child's head is full OF cow
slips There is the dictionary. look out
egress. and afterward look out ingress."
When he had added these two words to
his little vocabulary. his mother asked
him II he would be good enough to tell
her why he did not care much about all
the beautiful flowers In the garden. and
was so excited about cowslips. which ap-
peared TO her flower OF no great beauty.
and the smell rather sickly. begging his
pardon.
This aestion posed him dolefully: he
looked at her I'm a sort of comic distress.
and then sat gravely down all in a heap.
about a yard of. to think
Finally, he turned 10 her with a wry
face. and said. Why do / mammal
She smiled delicously. mo. no. sir, :"
said she. How can | get inside your
little head and tell what is there? There
must be a reason, i suppose: and you
know you and ] are never satisfied till
we get at the reason of a thing But
there is no hurry. dear. l give you a
week to find IL out. Now run and open
the eate--stay. are there any cows in that
feld?"
Sometimes, mamma; but they have
no horns, you know"
Upon your word?"
Upon my honor. am not fond OF them
with horns. myself
Then run away, darling. But you
must come and hunt me up. and tell me
how you enjoyed yourself. because that
makes me happy. you know"
This Is mawkish; but IL will serve To
show on what terms the woman and boy
were.
On second thoughts. ! recall that apol-
ogy. and defy creation. THE Mawkish"
Is a branch OF literature. a great and pop
ulsr one. and / have neglected IL saw
agely.
Master Compton opened the iron gate,
and the world was all before him where
10 choose
He chose one OF those stripes that had
so attracted him Horror! IL was all
buttercups, and dell n cowslip.
Neveress, pursuing his researches. he
found plenty OF that delightful flower
scattered around the meadow in thinner
patches: and he gathered a double hand
fu and dirtied his knees.
eh,tc laH 4o ere
cursion, he was accosted by a fiuty voice.
Little boy"
lie looked up. and saw a girl standing
on the lower bar OF little wooden gate,
painted white. looking over.
Please bring me my ball." said she
patheticaly.
Compton looked about and saw soft
ball of many colors lying near.
He put down his cowslips gravely and
brought her the ball lie gave IL To her
with a blush, because she was a strange
girl: and she blushed a little because he
did.
He returned to his cowslips.
,"Iittle boy!" said the voice. please
bring me my bah again"
He brought II 10 her with undisturbed
politeness. She was gigglng he laugh
ed too. at that.
You did II on purpose that time"
said he solemnly.
La you don't think Ia he so wicked"
said she.
Compton shook his head doubtfully,
and considering the interview at an end.
turned to go, when instantly the ball
knocked his hat off. and nothing OF the
malefactress was visible. but black
eye sparkling with fun and mischief. and
q bit OF forehead wedged against the
angle OF the wall.
This being challenge. Compton said:
Now. you come out after that. and
stand shot like a man"
The invitation 10 he masculine did not
tempt her Bit the only thing she put
out was her hand. and that she drew in
with a laugh. the moment he threw az
~.
At this juncture voice cried. "Ru-
perta! what are you doing there7"
Ruperta made n rapid signal with her
hand 10 Compton. implying that he was
to run away; and she herself walked
demurely toward the person who called
her.
1T was three days before Compton
saw her again. and then she beckoned