Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-07-18
THE VOICE FROM THE TREES

THE VOICE FROM THE TREES.
Now Katie" said mamma, II am
going out for a while, and want
you to stay at home and look out
for the house. While j am gone. you
can play by yourself, and when 1
come back. will bring you something
nice"
"All right. mamma" said little
Kate; but don't be gone SO very
long"
Ten minutes afterward the front
door closed and Katie felt quite grand
to be left in charge of the house.
Hannah was busy making pies in the
kitchen, so Kate ran to her play
room to find something to amuse her.
self with.
There sat her dolls in stately
line. She took her fayorite, Bessie.
and dressed her first in one costume
and then another from the little trunk
devoted to dolls clothes, but remem-
bered suddenly that 1t was quite worn
out.
why not make new frock? The
very thing!" thought Kate. And, get
ting her dainty sewing materials
which mamma had provided for her,
she began work on the skirt, fash
Joining 1t out of some blue muslin
which her aunt had given her. It
was full and fluffy and very becom-
ing to the blond curls of Bessie, and,
after an hours hard work was com
pleted quite to Kate's satisfaction.
Now the waist" she said to her
self. She was quite a little seam
stress. and as waists nowadays do not
fit the figure closely, she gathered
and pulled the muslin until 1T came
to the finishing touches; but 1t did
lack something to make 1t as pretty
as mammals dress, which she had
tried to copy, but what was the mat
ter?
.'Oh, l know. must have some
lace upon it, and Kate ran to ask
Hannah where mammals lace-box
was
What do you want it for, Miss
Kate?" said the maid. IS
Just to trim -Bessie's ball frock
with" said Kate, eagerly.
But do not think your mamma
would like you to touch her laces.
heard her say SO once. Better wait
until she comes back"
But want to use it right now.
Where is it?"
''In the storeroom in a red box. " reS
piled Hannah, struggling her Shout
ders.
MY! aren't they lovely, and what
lots of pieces!" Kate had turned the
contents of the box ont on to the
floor, and finally selecting a. choice
piece of Valenciennes, cut off the de-
sired amount.
sits just the homeliest dress you
ever had, Bessie" said Kate to her
pet doll; u am tired of playing with
you" And she thrust her back on
the sofa again.
Here's some that horrid lace left,
too. l guess | will hide it in the
bottom of the trunk. don't want
mamma to. see it. for she doesn't want
me to ever touch her things without
asking"
1t was, discontended little girl
who greeted her mother late that af-
ternoon.
Here is a new hat for Bessie, all
trimmed with forget-me-nots," said
mamma, wondering to herself why
Kate did not seem more pleased with
the present
All was still that night about the
house save Kate. who tossed to and
fro on her soft pillow.
Suddenly she heard strange noise
which seemed to come from the tall
trees Just outside of her bedroom
window
Some one was speaking in a loud
voice.
Katie did," said the voice.
Katie didn't" responded another
voice, but family heard through the
Adii-opcueu WlAuo".
Katie did! Katie did!" continu-
ed the first voice.
Katie sat straight up in the bed
quivering from head to foot.
Some one knew about the lace, and
she felt a sharp pain in her heart.
Perhaps she would feel better if she
told her mother about the lace after
all. instead OF hiding 1t from her in
the trunk. 49,
Katie did! Katie did,"
Kate could stand it no longer, so
she battered into mammals room, but
she was not there How late it was!
Perhaps after all it was only dream
and she was walking in her sleep;
she had heard OF, such things.
She gave herself little pinch. My,
yes. she was awake, and then the
pain came to her heart again,