The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-03-24
CHAPTER I.-continued.

a
CHAPTER i.-continued.
AT her door she was welcomed with
enthusiasm. Miss Cynthia Page stood
on the top step, in her arms a baby
who was uttering 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 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
ht the hem OF Miss Cynthia's white
linen skirt with grimy hands. Just
behind him pink-clad little bunch
had succeeded in squirting between
the pickle barrel and a large bushel
basket Of snap-beans, and only the
hind quarters and ten pink toes Of the
explorer evidenced her whereabouts.
From q certain ecstatic wave of one
leg it might be suspected that a find
had been made and was being secret
" and rapidly consumed. In the mid
die OF the floor another infant lay
prone, with legs and arms waving
Erantically, 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 Cynthia,s
arms that could not but impress the
nearer. 1t was no fretful cry for at
tention and amusement, but was the
howl of 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!"5
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
Iof stalls in training stable. What
ever did you let them out for? / am
afraid you was pestered to death with
eem."
"Oh. 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 1t
down note or two.
''Oh, that's all right; crying's good
for EN-. the darlings,' said Miss Selma
Lue as she deposited the wriggling
load on the floor.
There was large south window at
the back Of the grocery. and a morn
ing-glory vine peeped in on one side
and clutched with little tendril fingers
at group OF sides of bacon that hung
on the wall. A large yellow cat
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 i've empty soap box
els, 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 q sschiny-bluev cushion.
"Ain't he too sweet on that blue
Hiver?" 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 Blum
grocery. whose back regions were Civ
en- over to hospitable day nursery
conducted on entirely original and al
so utterly unFemunerative lines by its
owner With Miss Selma Lue to love
was. to minister. and she never
dreamed chat she was testing widely
discussed and little practiced philan.
thropic measure.
Miss Selma Lue, you are wonderl
How do you ever manage with
them all the timeF" yentured
Cynthia as she stood by. disheveled
and painting. Her cheeks were shell