Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-12-14
BETTY"


IS backed chair in the nursery hug
ging Angelina in her arms. The
scorching July sun shone through the
open window on to the chlld's curly,
dark head. and upon the dolls waxen
face, slowly melting the roses in her
cheeks, and making the brilliant car
milne of her lips trickle down on either
side of her chin.
Retty's small head ached. Oh. how
she hated this hot. noisy London,
where carriages We're always tearing
through the streets, and the only time
you ever saw Il bit of green grass or a
tree was when you went out in the
Park with nurse for your daily airing.
How different it was to the country
the beautiful. cool country, where they
had gone to spend Easter, and which,
TO Betty's town wearied eyes, had
seemed. like fairyland.
The door opened suddenly and Dad
dy came into the room. He was in the
ugly, black suit which he always wore
when he went down into the city,
where he made dread and butter"
and his face looked tired; but how
ever tired he was when he came home,
Betty knew that he would always
come up into the nursery before he
went to dress for dinner and have
little chat with her and Angelina.
That was very different to Mummy
Mummy, who did not have to make
bread and butter, but who, neverthe-
less, never seemed to have time to visit
the nursery.
Betty stretched out her arms toward
her father. with n little cry of delight,
and the man came and sat down on
the old ch!ntZ-covered sofa, and took
her In his arms.
My precious" he gazed at the baby
face anXiously; you don't look well.
Is anything the natter"
Betty leaned her head against his
shoulder with II little sigh.
Il fink" she answered slowly. Its
because Use 80 hot, and the carriages
in the street make such a noise-my
head aches. oh. daddy"'-
she looked up at him appcalingly-"I
wish | could go into the country
again
Daddy sighed.
=! wish could take you, my pre-
cious. but | can't. must stay here
and do my work. or there Will he no
bread and butter for you and Mummy.
But perhaps Mummy will take YOU"
The door swung open again. and
this time Mummy came in-Mummv.
resplendent In white satin gown
sewn with diamonds. and with dla-
monds cleaning In her golden hair.
She looked at Betty, then at her hus
band, and frowned.
Il thought | should find Won here
Gerald she said. Il suppose Won
know that am giving a dance to-
night? Perhaps it would be as WE'LL
she swept glance of scorn over his
dusty coat-''if you went to dress"
II came up to see Betty" the man
returned, simply. The child is not
well, Eveine; she seems to me to have
a kind OF low fever. Don't You think
We ought to put off this dance? There
Is time now to send off wires"
Betty's mother frowned again.
Really, Gerald, you must be mad,
Betty is only little run down by the
heat"
shes more than that. Evellne. she
ia really Ill. | can't get away lust
now. with this big case on mt the
courts, but couldn't you manage to run
down to the country with her for a
week or two?"
What. In the middle OF the sea
son? Certainly not"
Betty heard the swish of satin
skirt across the floor, and the door
bang. Mummy had gone; she never
stayed long.
The tired look on the mans face
deepened. and hardness came into
his eyes. Betty's mouth quvered, and
two tears rolled down her cheeks. 1t
always made her cry when Mummy
was unklnd to Daddy, and Mummy