The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-10
81 -
The Sins Of Fla +
By ELLIS PARKER BUTLER
GaaEs9&~900- oes0sSaS4o & 90
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PIG ea 81 9 Sc
Stories Co.. LTD
really truly" look, Il have known
ever since first met you that you Il
were an Angel 3 il 5ss3s IS
Like one who is stunned Fla Eye ri
relaxed her grasp Of Miss Grace'a
hand. She slid slowly from her lap
and stood a moment gazing at Miss
Grace with horror, trembling; and
then, before Uncle Chad or Miss Grace
realized it, Fla Eye had flown at tha
smiling girl and was tearing and pull
ing the light, fluffy dress, and scratch &
ing the white wrists and hands that
vainly tried to hold her of. s.s 4
1t did not last minute. Uncle chad
grasped the frantic little figure In his
strong arms and bore her across the
street. When he set her in chair
before Aunt Lon she was sobbing.
They agreed that Fla Eye must be
ill-she never acted so and Uncle \
Chad was told to fetch the doctor
Neither of them said she was a had
girl, and she glared sullenIy at them
"She is certainly ill" said Aunt
Lou, SO Fla Eye was rocked and kissed
and lay in Aunt Louis arms, thinking
until Uncle Chad returned to say the
doctor could not come until after tea,
which reminded Aunt Lou that people 4
must have tea, even when little girls
were Ill. She put Fla Eye In the biz
armchair with pillow behind her
head and went to the kitchen. Uncle
Chad went across the street to explain
to Miss Grace that Fla Eye was not
well. .sS
Fla Eye waited until she heard Aunt
Lou moving the dishes in the dining
room and then slid quietly from the
chair and stole on tiptoe from the
room. She glanced across the street.
as she passed the front door and shud- 81
dred, for Uncle Chad was sitting ~
the Angel. quite as II there was no
danger. But then the Angel had satd
Uncle Chad was not good. No doubt
he was safe. Fla Eye turned quickly
from the horrifying sight.
Quietly she climbed the front stairs
and glided along the upper hall until
she came to tbs door OF Uncle ChAd,o
own room. On the dresser stood m 4
oblong box Of cedar wood. around one
end OF which was q green paper hand.
Now she raised the lid Of the bar
and listened. Aunt Lou was stin ret
ting tea. for the sound Of dishes came
up the back stairs. Fla Eye took from
the box long, black cigar, Il seemed
enormously large and she tried to nn0
smaller one. but they we're all Of q
size. She bit OF the end Of the cignr.
as she had seen Uncle Chad bite thsaa
and lighted the other end
1t was very, very nasty. NothfnE4
she felt sure, could ever induce meat
make practice Of smoking, excspk
the fear Of the Angel. ss
Fla Eye was very sick little gii1 4
for while. but when the doctor calne
he only laughed his big, shaggy
Eaten something that did nut agrso
with her. he said. She VIII - hss.
self in the morning.
Aunt Lou, however, sat IN Ella d
room that evening and, Fla Eye. sftliIr.
a long thought. In which she cona11.
] cred whether she would have to am01kesI
a cigar every day. turned to Anlt
Lou. " s.s3
I'm bad she said; Tm had. bads
GIRL" she said pleadingly. ssa
mo, Fla Fye,, she said. kindly.
you are a good little girl, and ron II
ways will be- II 81
Fla Eye turned on her face and
wept. Aunt Louis verdict plainly
plainly meant cigar every day. Tho
way OF the transgressor Is hard. and
Fla Eye fell asleep.
When she awakened-it seemed ~
II she had slept for days, but Il was
only l5 minutes later-Aunt Lou ahsd
gone. and Uncle Chad stood beside tho
bed, and Fla Eye smiled and held out.
her hand. They were fellow sinners. 4
Miss Grace has come over to BEG
how you are getting on, Fla Fye,,'
he explained. The little figure IN the
bed sat up very suddenly and with
one glance at Miss Grace sprang out
upon the floor and chung to Uncle
Chad's leg.
Take her away! Don't let her get
mel she cried. Take her away =,
! Uncle Chad gathered Fla Eye into
his strong arms and held her close
"she won't take you, girl, IL ynn
don't want her to-.
Fla Eye hung tightly around Uncla
Chads neck, pressing her face into
his shoulder. 81
She will! She Will" she moaned
No. I won't, !" Miss Grace declared
positively. 4 promise never to take
you until you want me to- Never!s
''And won't you never stand BY my
i bed at night?" asked Fla Eye, her fnco
still hidden. .3$3 Il.
NO, never"
Not even If I'm good ~ ,s
mot even If you are good. r
Fla Eye raised her head little.
"Are you going to take Uncle Chad
away?" she asked.
Miss Grace looked across at Uncle
Chad and smiled. sssS
II wouldn't take your Uncle Chad
under any circumstances whatever,
she said. q
ooh! say" exclaimed Uncle Chad h
But Fla Eye did not allow him to say
more
care you going to take Aunt Loule
she inquired anxiously. M
1 enc. not even Aunt Lon = said MI