The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-31

y
unconquerable tears forced themselves through her
tightly closed eyeds When the game was over
she refused to give any ez.ia3atcn, but stalked
Ecr fnsers were shaking as she tHr2ed the key
and listened. Nobody was foowing her. Standing
with hcf back to tie door sic Ga-cd straight across
tie room to tie dress.-S-t2b!c mirror. With the
blessed unconsciousaess of childhood she had never
thought very mach about her actual appearance.
Her hlrdlke glaaces at tie mirror h:d beea to gaze
proudly at the pretty frlls Aunt henson fashioned,
to scowl ct tie prim collars Aunt Vance always
bought. Eut now, for the first time she was facing
wish desperate eyes somebody SIS hcd never seen
before SOMEBODY with Struggling hair With tns+
ard with eyes SO big end sorrowful that she hid her
face il her hands and wept.
AS she gro,cd for handkerchief her fingers
touched the leather that held her fathers pic
ture Tie schs grew Quieter for moment as she
looked through her streaming tears at TIE beloved
face but misery crowdiaI fast upon her
first grief. great PITY for the unhappy father of
u~ly daughter possessed her. 1t seemed to
her Tint all the sorrow Of those rnourntul eyes all
T." s"rc~s &c th~t s.2ilcless mouth, meant that he
child.
On the wall beside her was the calendar with the
days sAeeSd oi with ty dots So the others could
asleep tinglng with DELIGHT she counted the days
until she could hear the deep tones of his dear
her. Ard all those beautiful dreams of the time
when they should live together were dying she
stared at the picture. lie would never want her
he didn't want her now!
Dear Lord" she scbbed crouching, the bel
sue rus rht 's La me- ro DC 1d he You ao adh
couldn't love 1t isn't fair at all !"
Presently she heard the twins pounding on her
door. Were playing millinery store? shrieked Elsa.
Come on out ard trim hats! We found elegunt
She opened the door slowly They looked sharply
at the traces Of her grief AID demanded its
"Niy tooth ached" she lied bravey. and then sucked
action so it would not be lie
Elsa PROMPTLY nut her griny fingers to her cherubc
She rolled knowingly in her smudgy pal1a "stuT
it in good and hard' she admonished holding it out
to her cousin. "Don't go ard tell mamma, cause
the new dentrist hurts somcthn' fierce I'm neve-
going to tell tooth again as long as / live
Inc twl.is We're IeSrlu:ly ana WonasrIully arrayea
elaborate bodices Elsa adorned with gor-
geous necklace which, in its humber prehistoric days,
had begun existence brass curtain chain. Eoises
jewels simple but quite effective From
lengthy green ribbon about her neck there dansed
queer-lookfng locket Its old black tn guess.
I play it's vanerty box, only it won't open," she
scolded, mot even when you bite it."
But when Mrs. Remson sought fer them at supper
time she caught at the vanerty box with exclama
ton Of surprise.
planned to her sisterin-law. "IIe it on his
first watchfob and we used to tease him about it,
She ficked her thunb-nai at the spring fastening
as the children crowded eagerly about her. The
locket few open.
Anu 10ucd that." Creathed ElC1Se IN 2We-Strlcken
delight Il found it right in that old yellow box!
Oh, my sou!'
who is the pretty lady?" asked Rosa, shyly
Aunt Remson put the locket gently into the girls
hand Its your mother, sweetheart SIZE said.
Rosas fingers closed swiftly it she fed. Up
stairs once more, crouching the bedside again.
she gaZed rapturousy at her treasure The loket
fat and thick and under the dusty glass sone queer
old tintype. The cheeks tinted very pink the
hair very yellow. 1t not Strengthening hair; it
was wonderful curly hair. The eyes smiled; Rosa
smiled back at them happily.
gng her hands to her heart ti-hty that the ocket
hurt her. "Ooooh, you SWEET"
She looked at it again. drawing long. happy breahs
rms was very much nicer mother than the faded
photograph with tired eyes that hung on Aunt Rem
sons WALL In the other side of the locket pressed
under the glass. curl Of yellow hair tied with
bit OF blue ribbon On the little oval paper
written IN very small letters: "To Frederick, from
Godilocks."
Rosa looked at the curl even lonrer than she hail
chair her eyes were shining. Aunt Remson smiled
understandingly. She did not mention the ocket But
membered.
Rosa. what did you do with that picture?" she
your mothers dead Ben. did you know the children
found picture of Rosalie to-day? Tntype-in guta-
rercha think you ought to put it in safe until
Fer the third time in that awful day Rosa fed to
her s room Elsa dro'nc1 her fork in arnazerent
squirrel"
In the trili~,.t. Wien Aunt pa,neon's how'd or the
strrey-looking hair she stopped her sobbrr
Honest shan't She she questioned doubtfully.
Honest won't let he-.'
Honest she shan't" cOmforted Aunt Pemson. IT'S
cutie yours until father comes, and I'm he'll let
You have it,
Rosa WIS silent lone time. "Aunt Remson.'
s'e s9fd timidly do you lcve foks-folls who aren't
prettv?"
ln-nr." mtrnurei Aunt Dorenn. her month clrcn
to the hot cfenI
s'rcet and who 70 bn1 ;~'- nri~'y vool their
aunty bedtime Cc~1-rrh+. dear: Nv.
fncl1 the twins in. We'll have double Group