The San Francisco call., 1903-09-06

contamination Of her starched gingham
lap. The swelteringly+ hot day and the
rapid, unaccustomed motion combined 10
afTlict her with a strange internal antci-
patton Of future woe. Once last summer,
when she ate the liquid dregs Of the Ice
cream mans great tin, and fell asleep
IN the room where her mother WAS trying
onions she experienced this same fore
boding, and the climax OF that dreadlul
day fingered yet in her memory so she
set her teeth and waited with stoical res
ignation for the end, while the young
woman babbled of green fields and Won
dered why the child should be so sullen-
At last they stopped The young woman
seized her hand and led her through the
narrow aisle, down the steep steps, across
the little country-station platform, ana
Ardelia was in Already.
A bare-legged boy in blue overalls and
wide straw hat then drove them many
miles along a hot. dusty road, that wound
endlessly through the parched country
fields. To the young wOmans remarK X
that that they needed rain sadly he re-
piled, "Yepi" and held his peace for the
following hour. Occasionally they passed
another horse, but for the most part the
only sight or sound Of life was anorded
by the hens clucking angrily as the traV-
elers drove them from their dust paths
in the powdery road At last they turned
into driveway, and drew up before
gray wooden house Ardelia- cramped
with sitting still, was lifted down ana
escorted up the shingle walk to the porch.
A spare dark-eyed woman in Checked
apron advanced TO meet them.
Terribly hot to-day, amt it?" she
sighed. I'm real glad 10 see you, Miss
Forsythe. Won't you cool OF little be-
fore you go on? This is the little girl, l
spose. ! guess it's pretty cool TO what
she's accustomed TO, amt 1t, DeliaE
"No. / thank you, Mrs. Slater; I'll go
right on TO the house Now, Ardeia, mere
you are in the country. I'm staying with
my friend in a big white house about a
quarter Of a mile farther on. You can't
see it from here, but II you want any
thing you can Just walk over. Day after
tomorrow is, the picnic 1 told you about.
You'll see me then. anyway Now run
right out in the grass and pick all the
daisies you want. Don't be afraid; no
one will drive you off this grass"
The force Of this was lost on Ardeliar
who had never been driven of any grass
whatever; but she gathered that she was
expected to walk out into the thick, rank
growth of the unmowed side yard, and
strobe downward obediently, turning
when in the exact center Of the plat, for
further orders.
Now pick themi Pick the daisies!
cried Miss Forsythe excitedly. Il want
to see you"
Ardelia looked blank.
"Huh?' she said.
Gather them Get a bunch! Oh, you
poor child Mrs. Slater. she doesn't know
how.P Miss Forsythe was deeply moved
and Illustrated by picking imaginary dais-
ies on the porch. Ardelia's quick eyes
followed her gestures and, STOPPING, she
scooped the heads from three daisies and
started back with them, staring distrust-
fully into the depths of the thick clinging
grass as she pushed through 1t. Miss
Forsythe gasDed.
mo, no. nearl Pull them up Take
the stem, too she explained. Pick the
whole flower"
Ardelia bent over again, tugged at a
thick stemmed clover brought it up by
the roots, recovered her balance with diff
ficulty and assaulted a neighboring daisy.
On this she cut her hands and, sucking
of the blood angrily, she grabbed hand
full Of coarse grass and, plowing through
the tangled mass about her feet. laid the
spoils awkwardly on the young lady's lap.
Miss Forsythe stared at the dirty, trail
ing roots that stained her linen skirts
and sighed.
THANK you. dear" she said politely,
"but meant them for you. / meant you
TO have a bunch Don't you want them?''
''Naw!" said Ardelia decidedly, nursing
her cut hand and stepping with relief on
the smooth floor Of the porch
Miss Forsythes eyes frightened sud-
denly.
Il know what you want!" she cried.
You're thirsty! Mrs. Slater won't you
get US some of your good, creamy milk?
Don't you want to drink Ardella?"
Ardelia nodded. She felt very tired.
and the glare Of the sun seemed reflected
from everything into her dazed eyes.
When Mrs. Slater appeared with the
foaming yellow glasses she wound her
nervous little hands about the stem of
the goblet and began a deep draught.
She did not like It: II was hard to swal-
low, and instinct warned her not to go
on with IT, But all the thirst Of a long
morning-Ardelia was used to drinking
frequently-urged her on, and its icy
coloness enabled her to finish the glass.
She handed it back with a deep sigh.
The young lady clapped her hands.
'There!" she cried. Now, how do you
like real milk, Ardelia? / declare, you
look like another child alreadyi You can
have all you want every day-why,
what's the matter?"
For Ardelia was growing ghastly pale
before them her eyes turned inward, her
lips frightened. A binding horror surged
from her toes upward, and the memory
Of the liquid ice cream and the frying
onions faded before the awful reality of
her present agony.
Later, as she lay limp and white on
the slippery hair-cloth sofa in Mrs Sla-
ter's musty parlor. she heard them dis
cussing her situation.
There was lot of Fresh Air children
over at Mis- Simms's." her hostess ex-
planned, "and they most all of EN- said
the milk was too strong-did you ever!
Two or three of 'em was sick, like this
one, but they got to love it In a little
while. She will, too"
Ardelia shook her head feebIy. She
had learned her lesson.
After while Miss Forsythe went away,
and at her urgent suggestion Ardelia
came out and sat on the porch under the
shade OF a black umbrella She sat mo-
tionless, lost in the rapture Of content