Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-11
T0PSY ON THE TOP FLOOR
By CLARA }. DENTON.
CHAPTER VI
Prisoners.


"Oh. dear" she said to herself. I'VE are
away up high. so 1 can't climb out. nor
jump. nor anything. How queer 1t seems
| that can see Mrs. Mullards house so plain
| ly, and even Miss Julias windows too II
Miss Verro would only happen to look out
of her window maybe / could wave my
handkerchief at her, and she would know
| something was the matter. But then that
| wouldn't be any use, because. OF course.
| Jane won't stay very long, and when she
! comes back can give Topsy an hours air
| ing just the same"
| She looked at the clock; 1t was just half.
past two.
| Come. Daisy" she said, coaxingly,
| don't cry: Jane. of course. won't leave US
! locked in here very long; we can play until
she comes back. Then I'll stay while
with Topsy in your yard, just as intended
to do and explain to Miss verro why I
staid so long; so it'll be all right"
| Daisy sat up and wiped her eyes
YES" she said. that sounds all right.
| but you don't know that bad, old Jane.
She. went off once before and locked us
| until pitch dark"
Nettie looked grave and was silent for a
minute or two. Then she asked: What
| did your mamma do to herr"
| Mamma never knew II, explained Daisy,
looking a little ashamed. Jane gave me O.
whole box of candy for keeping still about
| it."
We'll" said Nettie. wisely, you see
there's where you made mistake. IL
you'd told her then. Jane wouldn't have
| done 1t again. but this time you must say
to her. No thank you. l don't care for
| candy today and then go tell your mamma
| as quick as you ever can.
That's exactly what I'll do" said Daisy.
jumping up. won't that be fun? I'll make
| her a low bow, and I'll say just as proud
as 1 can, No, thank you, don't care for
any candy today Come, let's play that,
| will you? You be Jane and I'll be just my
self. This box will do for the candy box
| and I'll find one of James old hats in the
| closet"
She dived into the closet, and in a moment
| appeared with a gay. but somewhat bat
| tered hat in one hand and a tan-colored
sack in the other. while old black skirt
| hung over her arm. Nettie was a some-
| what comical figure when these shabby
articles were wrapped around her little
form. but, they were all James belong
| ings, they satisfied Daisy's idea of the
| Fitness of things"
Now" said Daisy. you must come in
| from the closet II that was the nursery
door, and you must run up to me and say,
| just fast ever you can: Here, Daisy,
| here is box of candy for YOU all your
| own and you mustn't tell word. cause 1
| had to go: my brother was awful sick and
IL I hadn't been there he'd died That's
what she said last time. But l don't be-
lieve a word of 1t. do your
Course not" said Nettie, as she gathered
| up the long skirt. SO that she might be able
| to get Into the closet and out again; IF her
brother'd been really sick she wouldn't have
run away like that, but would have asked
| your mother to let her go, but what Will
| you be doing when / come running in?''
''Oh. I'll be sitting here the floor. cry
ing: then I'll get up and say my part"
| They went through this scene several
times, and drew so much fun out of it, that
! they quite forgot to be angry with Jane.
| AS they were deep in the midst of the
fourth performance. Charlie. who had been
! nl-,- h In tl.af tIrr hnr
| the room, clapped his hands and called out:
"Oh, see the doggie.
The girls looked up and there was Topsy
carefully laid away in the middle of the
dropped her head on her soft paws and
closed her eyes Nette's glance followed
| the baby's pointing finger.
Il don't think that's very NICE said
| Daisy.
She can't do the least bit Of HARM" exc
planned Nettie. She has a bath every
| morning in warm soap-suds and she is just
as clean we are.
"All right let her stay there them said
Daisy; but now, don't let's play Jane any
more; let's play something else. oh, know
we'll all ride the hobby-horse.'
Nettie looked surprised. How can Wer'
she said.
"Oh. I'll show you. Come on. boys, we've
done it lots of times"
At Daisys call the boys came running to
her. She ordered Willie into the saddle,
Charlie was tucked into the open space be-
who had dropped James outfit, seated them
selves on the rockers. Then away they
went rocking and singing as hard and loud
as they could. The noise Weakened Topsy;
she jumped from the bed and added her
noise to theirs. 1t was a wild time, and a
rare treat to Nettie, whose pleasures had
always been quiet and rather too serious.
After while their little bodies grew tired
of the steady swaying, and their throats
sore from the singing and shouting, SO they
began that play of which children never
tire-"keeping house." They drew the little
boys into this amusement also and every
thing passed smoothly that the two girls
quite forgot the locked door. But, after
awhile, in the midst of their play, Nettie
CHANGED to look up, she saw the room was
growing dark.
Why" she exclaimed, dropping Sera-
phina's best hat on the floor, and running to
the window, ut must be long past supper
time; what in the world will Miss Nerro
think? 1t will be pitch dark before / get
home, and mamma will be frightened to
death. Where is my hat? I'm going homo
if 1 have to break down the door,
She put on her hat caught up Topsy and
walked toward the door with an air so de-
termined that Daisy was frightened.
why, Nettie," she said. don't you know
you can't do anything to that door? Didn't
l try?"
Yes, but I'm going to pound it with the
poker" she said, her eyes flashing.
'Oh, Nettie,'' exclaimed Daisy, throwing
her arms around her friend and beginning
to cry. But at that moment they heard
feet running up the stairs swiftly and then
Jane came bursting into the ROOM She had
on her hat and cape and carried something
that looked like box of candy. Her face
was red. but she tried to look smiling and
unconcerned.
''Oh. you bad Jane exclaimed Daisy.
making dash at her; but Nettie, calling
out:
Don't take her old candy, Daisy" DART
ed downstairs and out of the house at her
very best speed.
1t is needless to say that the Misses
Verro had passed the time since four O clock
in very anxious state of mind.
One moment Miss Verro would declare
that Nettie lost, the next that Topsy
stolen, then that the two little girls
had gone off somewhere to play. and Nettie
had carelessly forgotten to bring Topsy
home
Ann said Miss Julia, why viii you
allow yourself to doubt Nettie? l know by
the look in her blue eyes that she will be
true to any trust placed in her, and ! feel
positively sure she is>not to blame for this
long stay"
But what could possibly keep her? She
can't be tied up, or locked up, anywhere.
he