The Ordway new era., 1911-02-10
CHAPTER i.-contInued.


At her door she was welcomed with
enthusiasm. Miss Cynthia Page stood
on the top step. In her arms n baby
who was uttering protest against
the world in general. and Miss Gym
thia in particular. in such stac-
cato volume of voice that his
size could but be n 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 Blum car
roty'-sat with solemn eyes chewing
string and clutchlng determinedly
at the hem of Miss Cynthia's white
linen skirt with grimy hands. Just
behind him n pink.clad little bunch
had succeeded In squirming between
the pickle barrel and large bushel
basket of snap-beans, and only the
hind quarters and ten pink toes of the
explorer evidenced her whereabouts.
From certain ecstatic wave of one
leg 1t might be suspected that a find
had been made and was being secret
ly 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 voice. a
voice that rose and walled an accom-
paniment to the Flarity in Cynthia's
arms that could not but impress the
hearer. 1t was no fretfuI 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 me-" exclaimed Miss Selma
Lue. You all seem to be upsot!"
And as she spoke she took the waller
Carrots on the floor, tucked him un.
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 unpacifled.
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 a training stable. What
ever did you let them out for? am
afraid you was pestered to death with
EN-"
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 it
down note or two.
"Oh. that's all right: crying's good
for EN-, the darlings." said Miss Selma
Lue as she deposited the wrigglng
load on the floor.
There was large south window at
the back of the grocery. and morn
ing-glory vine peeped in on one side
nnd clutched with little tendril fingers
Mt group of sides of bacon tina. 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 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 "chiny-blue" cushion.
Amt 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
80 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 a wonder,
How do you ever manage with
them all the time?" ventured
Cynthia as she stood by, disheveled
and painting. Her cheeks were she'll