Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-07-29

bear might die while we look at him?"
II don't know" said Burnham, alb
sently, in his turn. There had been
an ultra haired young fool once VINO
had given that football picture to
girl who had laughed at it frankly
and to his modification. But now
Topsy's description did not trouble
him. The latter, specializing morbid
~ on the chances Of being the happy
spectator Of tragedy, trotted in
silence by her escort. Suddenly Burn
ham halted.
"Topsy," he said feebly, and then
paused in embarrassment.
Eyes? Well, why don't you say it?"
Topsy gave his hand suggestive
tug.
"It's-it's so beastly hot, dear, and
it seems too bad to leave Aunt Dale
alone if shelf her head aches So"
Topsy's chin puckered dolefully,
and her bright eyes grew pathetically
dim.
1T amt hot-she amt alone-'nd
we've come eight blocks-'nd IL
want to see the polar bear"
Burnham laid stern hand over
the GENEROUSLY open mouth.
'Now, Topsy, hush! Well go to
see the polar bear, but here's an empty
carriag geese? And We'll drive back
after Aunt Dale"
Topsy hesitated, blinking back the
tears for which she found she had no
use.
'She won't CO." she objected. "Her
nose and eyes are just as red! And
she thinks it's hot, and she says she
just hates polar bears. But We'll
have the ride, won't we? And will
you go to the park just the same II
she WON'T"
Yes said Burnham, smilingly;
"just the same"
But when the carriage stopped in
front of the gray stone steps all his
assurance left him, and he pushed
Topsy out imploringly.
Il won't go in, Topsy," he said
TREMENDOUSLY. "You tell her we
thought perhaps she might be sor-
ry-no, good Lord, don't say that!
Oh, see here; just-just say we'd like
to have her come to see the polar
bearv'
Then lie shrank back into the car
riage, crmsonly conscious that the
thermom 4ter stood at unknown
heights in the shade Of Topsy's YER
anda; that Topsy herself was very
dirty and he very wilted, and that the
driver had stared at him as he issued
his invitation. Never mind, If only
Dale was sorry, and her sense Of hui
NOR keen.
Topsy flashed out Of the house jubi-
lantly. "She's coming!' she shouted
vociferously. "She'll be ready in just
a minute-she's putting powder on
her nose. And mamma says I'm a
perfect spectacle, and I've got to get
a clean dress and my face washed,
Dale says you know the coolest cor
ner, and mamma can't come down
cause it's too hot to dress. Mamma
wants us to wait till tomorrow, but
Aunt Dale says it's such nice, sun
shiny day, and she does want to see
the polar bear!'
SO eager was Aunt Dale that when
her neice, although she chose the
short and speedy route Of the banis-
ter, came riotously into the parlor,
she found her repentant relative in
the shaded corner before her.
1t was only Topsy who was struck
by the great tragedy Of the empty
cage with it's dripping ice blacks.
'Chloroformed him two hours ago."
explained the keeper crudely. Lord,
but it's a hot day! He looked curl
ously at the perspiring bear-hunters.
"They amt been much of anybody
in here to-day, 'ceptin' kids" he
vouchsafed, with an undercurrent Of
reproof in his tones.
"We only came to bring my little
niece" explained Aunt Dale with dig
nifty.
''You didn't" interpolated Topsy
suddenly, as she sat down YEARLY on
block of ice outside the cage door.
You wouldn't come at all till we
went all the way back for you, and
then you said you wanted to see the
bear. And now he's dead, and you
don't care bit-and oh, dear me, it's
so hot and I'm so tired-and this ice
Is just water added Topsy as an
afterthought, examining her skirts
with discouraged interest. Her ac-
cusing eyes caught the laughter in
Eurnham's and she began to weep.
You don't care, either-I don't be-
lieve you care for a single thing, only
that Aunt Dale's sorry"
Burnham shouldered her peremp-
torily and bore her away to the car
rage. you have come a long way,
Topsy," he told her seriously, "and it
was very hot and the bear was dead.
But at the end Of the journey was
contentment." New York News.
Not Wholly Frank.
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