The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-04


III $3.50 high-minded"
Charlotte is orphan, and Fathers ward
and perfectly beautiful. and horribly poor.
Don't know that? But what had Curfew to
do with 1t, pray?"
had some such low, material tastes.-Lucy Ann, run
along to the library dear"
1 ran obediently. But not quite of earshot
"The poor child longed for them to be truly
congenial! But Langdon could rise to her
coster songs and impersonates deliciously. And
Charlotte felt it sheer contrariness. that he
would appreciate better things"
"And the final break came right there Don't you
remember the Hasty Puddings Reunion. just before
Il should hope did," Father chortled "And Bogar-
dus spoke pieces, Marco Bozzaris' and 'Curfew
Shall Not Ring Tonight in pink bingham
bonnet. and pantalettes. and shaving curls, and
lisp. Can't hear him?
"At midnight in hith guarded tent,
THE Turk wath dreaming
"Unluckily. that affair fell one of Charotte's
most soulful days. And while you and sat shrek
Ing for Joy at Langdon's antics Charlotte sat I'M
smiling, rigid as a statue l knew tremendous
storm was brewing They encored him five times.
behind the scenes and dragged him out and made
him speak 'Curfew' again. twice over. When he
nnaiiy escaped. ne came grinning down to Charlotte
and me. His pink sunbonnet hung down his back,
his shaving curls eye, his ruffed pima
fore was ripped from chin to toes where he'd swung
out into the belfry with the Curfew. He didn't
like a dignifed Corporation lawyer, I'll admit.
began chafng him but he didn't hear He
waiting for Charlotte And she glanced his
way"
u say. Charlotte he began, haven't you any
dog?' ' ~''A . ''''' ''''" YOUR
"charlottes lashes narrowed, exasperatingly
Really! Haven't you won sufficient prase?' said
she. Langdon turned crimson through his grease
paint.
I'm sorry you didn't like it, Charlotte knew
laugh at the 'Curfew'"
.'curfew' seemed even more tedious than the
sell
don't believe that care ever to hear you recite
every WELL Charlotte You will not hear me
speak 'Curfew' again. till you ask for it. And you
may be thankful if you get it then And he
swung on his ridiculous scuffed schoolgirl heels and
~Bully for Langdon!" remarked Father inelegant
~. He'll never yield nch either. Charlotte
will have to ask for 'curfew, and ask mighty pref
"And she never will ask. She does not really care.
either"
Him. Yet she has fretted and moped till nobody
but tranquil Lucy Ann can get long with her. Lucy
Ann always was the most comfortable child! Now.
Mel, Mslvina a says Lucy Ann needs sea air And Char
Renaissance Art. And Melvina says she will take
the two girls to Italy for the spring."
(Melvina used to be Grandmothers housekeeper:
then Mothers maid; then nurse for all children
and nowadays she's Grand Lama to all family.
sharp! Even big majestic Father steps lively I'm
der Melvinas steel-gray eyes)
DoIOr0 whole house.
hold began that PuffingLucyAnn stunt again. No
wonder thought was Public Benefactor.
WE'LL started OF next morning, feeling noble
and so sanctifed, SO loaded down with my own
tact. and trustworthiness, that it's wonder didn't
fall off the gangway. going aboard. First, was
helpful and considerate to Charlotte. But Char
lotte didn't appreciate my gentle ministries When
I'd offer to to her musty old galleries with her,
instead OF looking touched and pleased she'd heave
weary sigh, clutch Baedeker, and hunt a collec-
ton suited to my stainless youthful mind.
Discouraged: switched my helpful passions to
myself denied any object for my pentup devotions.
AS I sat wondering where to turn that golden
Hood. remembered Mothers last letter. Shed
marked that she had just become president Of the
Orphans. Home Board. With that thought
my luckless inspiration. Why not visit an Italian
orphanage. then write dear Mother all about it?
1t was hard to make Pasquale, our guide, under
stand where wanted to CO. for his English and my
Italian are both rather sketchy. But finally he
grasped my orders. After long, twisty trip,
climbed out OF the gondola, and scrambled up
weird. hippetyhop street. to the Asylum.
That Asylum simply disgraceful. No crisp
bingham nurses. no brass cribs. no frilly curtains
Just an a old yellow marble persoa And one tooth
Managers and nurses all at once But the babies!
Nine of them, the darlingest velveteyed dumplings
into the nurses lap. and told her it was for the
Asylum. which sent her into spasms of gratitude.
dinner time. Oh, they were so dear! Garlic. and
strings Of orange beads and petticoats made OF old
damask chair seats, and all.
At last, PasQuale said We must 60. And what q
howl those angels did set up! Especially the three
cunnngest Ones wee golden-headed girl, Addoorata.
and the podgy twoyearold twins her brothers They
the prettiest Of ALL and how they did cling
me. and how they did roar: looked down tenderly
at those lovely heart-broken cherubs; then swept
my noble generous emotions, and fairly swamped
what little sense had left.
Are they real orphans? Are all their relatives
dead? Father? Mother? Grandmother" asked in
my best Berlitz.
Now do wish that nations like italy, which use
pantomime all the time. would establish official
gesture code. instead of wig-wagging at random
The other day when PasQuale showed the Doge
&c INN 10 m
gestures to indicate that di Lapponi reposed here
that he was dead and that he had been dead for
some time.
Now. when that old nurse made the identi-
cal fourishes, how could know that the cherubs'
father working on the railroad embankment
that their mother washing windows at the
Hotel Britannia, and that their grandmother was
stirring eel-broth stew?
did some lightning figuring My months allow