Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-05-13

longing TO her guardian. whom she a.
ways nsl called uncle grandpa. Tii'-
toeing about. she saw the tiny cabin
and then the table with its strange
outfit f tools. The mounted squirrel
was duly admired. and then there was
nothing more 10 do but sit down and
wait. Then the girl. Mildred Brown
ing. saw the unfinished letter To her
self and salved her conscience Dy say
ing. We'll, it is my letter anyhow. fin
ished or not. so I'm going TO read it"
Dear Little Snipsy-At this minute m"
castle is ~resounding with a concert. Yet
in spite of that l write TO YOU. letting the
music continue. Last night at dinner l
entertained 50 many guests that my head
is half dazed with ii all. This afternoon
l am going TO the temple. where l have
passed many worshipful hours. One of
my friends is going along, while the rest
will remain in my castle, preferring to
sleep. l am ashamed to say that l have
been overeating lately ard smoking too
many cigars.
Hum" said Snipsy. looking around.
Il think see. This hut is his castle,
and his luxurious repasts seem to me
to be soup and crackers. And here is
his pipe. I'll just bet he hasn't a bit
of tobacco in the world. And-well,
if he has been deceiving me and max
ing me think he is rolling in riches
while he is Just fairly starving Ill
never forgive him. l am a little wretch
and a brute. See my bills for cara
mels and matinee tickets and he-oh,
l can't bear it."
Here the child began to cry dismally,
when she was reused by the sudden
arrival of 4 mongrel dog without any
tail. which gave one bark of warning
and then backed off. waiting develop
ments.
The old MAJ fastened his halting
steps. AS he saw Mildred standing
there he stopped short and looked at
her as though he feared she had died
and this was her ghost. That she
should have found his retreat, where he
worked for several museums gathering
insects and mammals, mounting them
and following nature so closely in his
preparation of their habitats that he
found a ready sale for them. was as
founding. He gasped.
We'll, uncle grandpa. You don't seem
TO be glad TO see Your little SnipSy.
Let me tell YOU l have found YOU out.
You have deceived me. Here is YOUR
grand castle, here Your faithful friends.
but where are the great temple and the
musicians: Smoke up now and tell
me- said she. handing him his pipe.
Too shocked and crestfallen over her
discovery Of his bitter poverty when
she had been led to think he was
rolling in riches and even encour-
aged in extravaganza, he had not one
word II say, but sank down on the
stump and felt in all his pockets for
the tobacco to fill the pipe, but found
none.
"A-ha. l knew it. Here. l got this
in the village. Now smoke and tell me
all about it,"
Saying this. the child sat down on
the edge Of the box. The sight of the
tobacco was all the old man could
grasp for the moment, and he did
smoke with the gusto of a man de-
prived of his favorite solace. AS he
smoked his ideas began to take a more
normal form.
How did you find me. Snipsy:'
ooh, easy, | looked at the postmark
on the letters and got off the train
there and asked my way. l asked
what kind of tobacco you smoked. for
1 thought if YOU smoked you wouldn't
scold me. I've run away from school,
"Snipsy..'
Eyes, and now | want to know all
about it, l know that you saved me
from the fire when poor mother was
killed and that you We're never we'll
in your foot after, but ! did not know
mat you were so poor. I'd never have
remained one hour in that school. Nv
mother was an actress. and | am sure
that have some talent and-tempera-
ment."
The old man groaned.
Yes, and | could have been making
lots of money for us both. You could
have trained me, and. anyway, I'll not
go back to school"
We'll. dearie, am not so badly off
My wants are few. and am able to
do fairly we'll catching and mounting
bugs, butterflies and small animals for
the museums
"M-m-m, and where do YOU live in
the winter:'
"Oh, | have to be near the
"Now, I've heard enough. | lust
simply won't go back 10 school. You
adopted me. and now l have some say.
won't let You sacrifice yourself for
me an hour longer"
My dear little girl, it isn't a sacri.
fee, but q pleasure"
II haven't said all l had to say. III
finish it later. Now, where is youl
temple? Where are all your ten serv-
ants? Oh, yes; l see your ten fingers
But where are your friends"'
Here is one and there the other
And as to the temple-ah, child, tina
is real. Up at the end of the valley is
Il high rock, near half a mile high
almost perpendicular, and over the tor
Of this flows Il stream of water, 8
river in the spring. AS it falls ovel
the edge it plunges down straight tc
n ,1J-y l1l1,-, no ln1, - "