Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-02-15
CHAPTER I.-censInued.

~ her door she was welcomed with
enthusiasm. Miss Cynthia Page stood
on the top step, in her arms a baby
who was uttering a protest against
the world In general. and Miss Gym
thia In particular, in such STAG
cato volume of voice that his
size could but be a surprise to
the beholder. On the floor his exact
counterpart, except in the matter of
hair-that of counterpart being of the
tone known in some walks of life as
red gold but called on the Bluff car
roty"-sat with solemn eyes chewing
a string and clutching determinedly
at the hem of Miss Cynthia's white
linen skirt with grimy hands. Just
behind him pink-clad little bunch
had succeeded in squirming between
the pickle barrel and large bushel
basket of snap-beans, and only the
bind quarters and ten pink toes OF the
explorer evidenced her whereabouts.
From certain ecstatic wave of one
leg 1t might be suspected that q find
had been made and was being secret
iy and rapidly consumed. In the mid
die of the floor another infant lay
prone, with legs and arms waving
frantically, resembling nothing more
than an overturned beetle helpless in
its appeal to be righted before the
world. And from behind the counter
on the left there issued a voice, a
voice that rose and walled an accom-
paniment to the Flarity in Cynthias
arms that could not but impress the
nearer. 1t was no fretful cry for at.
tention and amusement, but was the
howl of a soul in torment, hungry, hot,
frightened, with a pain all over and
in spots.
"Dearie mel" exclaimed Miss Selma
Lue. you all seem to be upsot!"
And as she spoke she took the waller
from Miss Cynthia and reaching for
Carrots on the floor, tucked him I'M
der the same arm with his brother,
while she drew out by one foot the
explorer and revealed the treasure,
found to be snap-bean, now partly
consumed. The beetle shared the hol-
low of her arm with the explorer, but
the voice from behind the counter
walled on unpacified.
Miss Cynthia, honey, please pick
up Clemmie from behind there and
bring her on back here to the boxes"
Miss Selma Lue spoke Of the boxes as
of stalls in training stable. What
ever did you let them out for? / am
afraid you was pestered to death with
'em."
ooh, Miss Selma Lue. they a.: ue-
gan to cry at once and didn't know
what to do" apologized Miss Cynthia
as she struggled to the back of the
store with the voice in her arms still
making itself heard. though the sight
of Miss Selma Lue had brought it
down note or two.
"Oh, that's all right; crying's good
for 'em, the darlings," said Miss Selma
Lue as she deposited the wriggling
load on the floor.
There was a large south window at
the back Of the grocery. and morn
ing-glory vine peeped In on one side
and clutched with little tendril fingers
at a group of sides of bacon that hung
stretched on the sill in the sun. which
poured in over him to the floor.
Ranged back from the heat, but in the
cool breeze, were five empty soap box
es. capacious and clean. with calico
cushions stuffed down each back. Miss
Selma Lue shook out each cushion
and deposited theron a baby, picked
from the group on the floor. Carrots
came last and was enthroned with
care on a "chiny-blue" cushion.
"Ain't he too sweet on that blue
kiver?" said Miss Selma Lue as she
smoothed the flaming kinks. A ten
der hand ran over each bobbing head
and peace reigned in the River Bluff
grocery, whose back regions were Civ.
en- over to a hospitable day nursery
conducted on entirely original and al
so utterly unremunerative lines by its
owner. With Miss Selma Lue to love
was to minister, and she never
dreamed that she was testing widely
discussed and little practiced philan-
thropic measure.
Miss Selma Lue, you are wonderi
How do you ever manage with
them all the timer" ventured
Cynthia as she stood by, disheveled
and painting. Her cheeks were she'll
pink and warm. little gold curls chung
to her damp forehead Her violet
eyes were wide with admiration at
Miss Selma Lue's generalship. but
were given desperate cast by a huge
smudge on the side of her nose which
had by accident tried conclusions with
that of the vocally strong Clementine.
Her hat had been pulled to rakish
angle and the starch was out of Ter
linen blouse. She had the appearance
OF one who has fought losing fight.
Now, Miss Cynthie, honey, they
was jest hungry. They's as good as
gold most times; but babies is like hu-
man beings-they can't always be
counted on to do the best they knows.
It's time they was fed, and I better
be about it Want to stay and see EN-
feed?"
Miss Cynthia had number Of times
in her life heard invitations issued
from various tented sawdust rings of
which she was instantly reminded by
Miss Selma Lue, and it was with some
thing o. the same feeling of trepi-
dalton that she accepted.
Nov" said Miss Selma Lue as she
rolled ID her sleeves and cleared the
deck for action by drawing the boxes
into a close semieircle around a three