The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-10-01

where J0e DTOWu, DAIk-thuncu ubuin8
nets lie spread out to the sun, and
the fshermen's children play by the
vaunt ribbed derelicts drawn up be-
yond the tide on the shingly- beach.
fronting the low, white walled cot
tages, from whose doors grizzled old
sea dogs watch with wistful. longing
eyes those brown sailed boats, whose
brine washed decks they may no more
tread, slip out to sea.
When he first caught sight of her.
Baby Barron was standing alone. as
was her wont, apart from the rest OF
the children, quantity pathetic little
figure in tattered brown frock, bare
at the neck, and monstrous boots, In
whose cavernous crinkled depths her
tiny sockless feet we're lost in space,
gazing with solemn meditativeness on
the brown expanse of interlaced cord
age.
Suddenly, as he watched, she
dropped down on to one of the nets
and proceeded calmly to roll herself
up in 1t. Then, thoroughly enmeshed,
boots and all, In its folds, Baby Bar
ron sat up, and, with an air of SUI
perb indifference, surveyed the other
children, who had gathered round
with fearfu1ly expectant faces.
you'll catch It, Baby Barron you
tust wait and seel" they shouted,
with an unholy sort of glee and sig
nificant gestures.
A loud call from the direction OF
the cottages the next instant heralded
the coming on the scene with all
speed his rheumatic joints permitted,
Of a grizzled, jersey clad sea veteran.
Selling the entangled brown ball. he
carefully unrolled 1t and set the dar-
ing intruder on her feet with gentle
shake.
"You're gettin' fair plague, Baby
Barronl" he mumbled. "I'I just hae
tae speak tae your mother Rim ava
oot O. this, moo, quick" adding en-
phasis to the final word by second
shake.
Jack Ethan, who had watched the
little comedy with quiet amusement,
on sudden impulse hastened after
and caught up to the slowly retreat
ing little figure. She did not seem
at all abashed by her ignominius
dismissal from the beach, but as he
looked more closely he fancied he
saw tiny repressed tear in the cor
ner of each eye under the dark brown
curling lashes. Her cheeks, full and
round and soft-looking as satin, he
noted, were burnt to a pale brown,
and the tiny mouth was full and
strangely resolute. About her was a
singular air of quaint self-possession,
at once gravely meditative and deep
ly aobservant. The sunlight as II
played upon the tangled close-curled
head made Of it golden halo, and
despite the frayed old brown frock
and cavernous boots she looked to
him as some baby angel might look
who had gone out of Paradise to gaze
q while on the little world of man.
To his often and variedly repeated
question why she had entangled her
self In the net she uttered not a sin.
gle word. Once only she looked uI
with long, earnest gaze. Her silence
was portentious.
would you like to have your pic.
ture taken, Baby Barron?" he es.
sayed again gently, and it was won
derful how gentle big Jack Ethan
could become.
The gold brown curls stirred lit
tie, and the grave blue eyes looked
up to him for a moment.
II was goin' to be fis'," came 6
soft murmur at his side.
"A fish! Oh, yes; l see."
"Yes, an I fink l sould like m,
po't'ait took" Silence again a few
moments, then--There's pity lad.
who's goin to paint me-she did sa,
It,"
"A pretty lady? Yes, and wher
Is she going to paint your"
But Baby Barron had already ex
hausted her stock OF information
With a penny clutched tight in he
grubby brown hand she had betakel
herself, boots and all. the next in
slant up the narrow street with as
tonishing rapidity.
Ten minutes later when he emerged
from the cheerless dwelling that con
stituted the forlorn and fatherles
Baby Barron's home. Jack Ethan
mad a glimpse far up the marrow
lane Of her little brown figure, fol
lowed by small tail of children, nib
ping at a hage bun. sublimely un
conscious the while of their existence
Next day saw Baby Barron pose
before Jack Eltham's easel on tn
same bench that had witnessed he
lgnominious dismissal-the cynosur
now q quite score of admirin
childish eyes. For full half hou
she had stood motionless as q grave
image, gazing out seward. look |
the angelic blue eyes as If she woul
read It's mysteries. Then. all at once
the far off look gave place to ne,
light.
The pity LADY," she cried in he
Oaoyish treble, "she comed-I did to-
YOU"
Jack Ethan swung hastily roun
70 md himself face to face with
+ Hlght girllsh figure.
fear have stolen a quite unir
81 entional march upon you" he sal
II springing to his feet and raising h
zap That is. OF 'course--which
"a cannot doubt---if you are Baby Ba
i ron's pity lady, he added. with
Qulck smile, his eyes resting on II