The Washington herald., 1911-08-06
Page seven

uoor, ana Win sou fOotfaus II padding round
and round in the dark, its small wicked eyes
shining, its nose working, its head moving
horribly from side to side. 1t is circling near
er and nearer to the bed. 1t sees II il
coming 1t is close. It's great head is pushed
forward. Its nose 10 on the bed. Oh, viii
no one love or take care of a naughty little
boy, by himself with bear? Is there no
one to turn to. no one? How about the nice
Person in the hymn, the Friend Of little
children that Mummy talked such a LOT
about on Sundays. There might be jrst
chance there
Friends of lickle chipren--!" The wo
were sbrieked in accents Of EXTREMIST tei.
80
The Goals sank in the crate with lou
noise. great fame leaped up, another.
another. The fire suddenly was ablazc. light
flooded the room
Every spot. every corner was revealed.
There was no dreadful nose on the bed, nd
great head, no bear. Nowhere any bearj
the blessed relief, the unutterabiy sense of
renewed confidence given by the sight of tho
familiar surroundings illuminated thus by the
cheerful leaping blaze! The. fear-distended
thsnkfuiness % shook h the % little frame % Oh s how
kind Of the Friend of little children. to send
away the bear and to poke up the fire same
time to show the bear had gone! How delic-
M iMoysly comfortable to lie and watch the
bear had gone! i had been very tirina
would like to go to sleep now.
The little tear-reddened eyelids closed.
Mummy came home from her afternoon
bridge party Nurse got into the nursery
just before her. In whisper she gave an
account of the crime and its punishment:
"Ile nearly cut himself in the eye" she said.
ing over the bed in the corner. 1T didn't
make j. him very unhappy hope, being in dis.
""oh dear, no, ma'am. could have wished
he'd felt it more. Children haven't got much
conscience. He took it rather eallous, }
thought.
Mummy bent still lower. 'I am not sure"
she said doubtfplly. Nurse, hasn't he been
crying Do not % aude s to the sens matter as assn Uss
He is very sensitive, and ! don't like his
baby offences TO be treated severely.
At seven o'clock Archibald Marmadukd
awoke to find Nurse preparing his bath.
He locked at the treasure anxiously, but re-
membering past Disgrace, made no attempt
at rescue. Also, though he yividly remembers
ed it, he said no word to Nurse of the terri,
polite to talk of anything connected with
naughtiness, but he gave the matter much
solemn thought as he was tubbed and dressed,
Where had that bear gone?
the matter which sadly needed clearing uIi
and made the house seem not quite 20 safe
place as usual, even IN broad daylight. His
dolly was given him before he went down
night out Of bed. He tucked it for warmth
inside his wooden jersey, its head protrudng
in front and, cheered by the dear, close COM
panionship. but still very exercised about thts
bear, went down to breakfast.
His blue eyes were remote and inscrut-
able as he ate his bread and milk in the high
chair by Mummys side. He was considering
bear possibilities, all disquieting. SO disquiet1
ing he would have liked to tell Mummy about
it; but guilty conscience counselled reserve.
so he said no word Of the terrible adventure,
After breakfast Mummy took him oud
shopping. They found the High Street all
commotion and excitement; the circus was
leaving town. They reached nice empty
spot Oh the pavement just in time 10 see
the procession pass. First came the band,
playing stirring air, then came a king and
queen in, chariot, and the loveliest ladies
Of wonders followed. Then suddenly Archi. s
bald .Marmaduke shrank close to his moth
er's side. At the end Of the procession, pass-
ing close in front Of him, shut up in a cage,
was tho bear its small wicked eyes shining. its
nose working, its head moving horribly from
side to side. The bear looked at him. and
its eyes said distinctly: 'I know you; I near
ly got you, you naughty little boy"
Don't be frightened, darlng.a said Mummy,
get at you, it couldn't possibly get out Of its
cage"
Still with his eyes meaningly fixed ON Arch
ibald Marmaduke the bear passed. receded
into the distance, became a mere speck in
a tiny cage, disappeared.
There, it's gone" said Mummy.
will it come back?' The question was put
anxiousy.
mo, never; it's gone to another town
Archibald Marmaduke gave little skip.
far, far away"
Mummy little knew ali that Law behind
that ecstatic skip and those bold words.