The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-10
-~S&9e-0oa Sc -zaSS-a 90 49,
The Sins Of Fla Eve
By ELLIS PARKER BUTLER
Copyright BY short stories Co.. Ltd)

Stories Co.. Ltd.)
really truly look. IT have known
ever since first met you that you
were an Angel
Like one who Is stunned Fla Eye
relaxed her grasp of Miss Grace's
hand. She slid slowly from her lap
and stood moment gazing at Miss
Grace with horror, trembling; and
then, before Uncle Chad or Miss Grace
realized it, Fla Eye had flown at the
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.
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. III chair
before Aunt Lou 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 bad
girl, and she glared sullenly 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
must have tea, even when little girls
were ILL She put Fla Eye in the big
armchair with a 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.
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-
bred, for Uncle Chad was sitting by
the Angel, quite as II there was no
danger But then the Angel had said
Uncle Chad was not good. No doubt
he was safe. Fla Eye turned quickly
from the horrifying sight. n
Quietly she climbed the front stairs
and glided along the upper hall until
she came to the door of Uncle Chad's
own room. On the dresser stood an
oblong box of cedar wood, around one
end of which was a green paper band.
Now she raised the lid OF the box
and listened. Aunt Lou was still get
ting tea, for the sound OF dishes came
up the back stairs. Fla Eye took from
the box long, black cigar. It seemed
enormously large and she tried to ind
a smaller one, but they were oil Of u
size. She bit OF the end Of the cigar,
as she had seen Uncle Chad bite them,
and lighted the other end. n
1t was very. very nasty. Nothing.
she felt sure, could ever induce men to-
make practice Of smoking. except
the fear of the Angel.
Fla Eye was q very sick little Girl
for while. but when the doctor came
he only laughed his big, shaggy laugh.
Eaten something that did not agree
with her. he said. She Wiz be her.
self in the morh1ng. & 81
Aunt Lou, however, sat In Fla Eye's
room that evening and. Fla Eye, after
a long thought, in which she consid.
Tered whether she would have to smoke.
q cigar every day, turned to Aunt
Lou. # IN
I'm bad" she said; I'm q bad. bad
girl" she said pleadingly.
No, Fla Eye" she said, kindly
you are good little girl. and you a.
ways will be-" $50, Il,
Fla Eye turned on her face and
i rvont Amt o,,,u ryarN{ ok5 81 1s.a 10
plainly meant cigar every day. The
way Of the transgressor is hard. And
Fla Eye fell asleep. d,
| When she awakened-it seemed as
If she had slept for days. but 1t was
only Is minutes later Aunt Lou had
gone, and Uncle Chad stood beside the
bed and Fla Eye smiled and held out
her hand. They were fellow Sinners
| Miss Grace has come over to see
how you are getting On, Fla Fye.',,.
he explained. The little figure Ia the
bed sat up very suddenly and with
one glance at Miss Grace sprang out
upon the floor and chung to Uncle
Chads 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. II you
don't want her to"
Fla Eye hung tightly around Uncle
Chad's neck, pressing her face into
his shoulder.
"She will! She will" she moaned.
mo. / won't" Miss Grace declared
positively II promise never to take
you until you want me to- Neyer!"
"And won't you never stand by my
i bed at night?" asked Fla Eye. her face
still hidden.
| mo, never"
Not even If I'm good?"
Not even If you are good"
Fla Eye raised her head q little.
Are you going to take Uncle Chad
away?" she asked.
Miss Grace looked across at Uncle
Chad and smiled.
Il wouldn't take your Uncle Chad
under any circumstances whatever"
she said.
"Oh! say" exclaimed Uncle Chad.
But Fla Eye did not allow him to say
more.
Are you going to take Aunt Lou?"
she inquired anxiously.
mo; not even Aunt Lou" said Miss
1 Grace Z,