The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-01

1ueal tOHlC lot young anu oio. ~ ~
At druggists.
1--WE heard II you see the new moon
over your right shoulder and bow
seven times and make wish yon'H
/ get it, she piped.
Grandmother Pollard frowned, Lit
| tie girls should be seen and not
heard"
Well, shouldn't be surprised"
/ Mr. Barry said "if we had another
/ snowstorm before we see summer"
Gosb-all-fire-locks!
This vulgarism burst from Valera.
The bloodrot'll all be froze to death.
saw 'em peepin' out all white where
the now'd melted today"
Grandmother Pollard rose rigidly.
Mr.. Barry's shoulders shook. hut his
face seemed grave.
Valera, where-who uses such Ian,
guage?"
Leah Gardener, gran'mother." Va
lora replied, '.her papa says it. so she
does"
Tell Mr.. Barry good night, chill
dren." Grandmother Pollard led the
way from the room
He held out his hand as though
nothing had happened; Narcissa let
him see that she felt the disgrace by
her silent dropping retreat Valera,
hugging the candy, huddled behind;
at the door she looked back to see
what he and Aunt Doddy might be
thinking of her and saw their look,
then she knew they were thinking Of
each other
Grandmother Pollard said her bad
ness involved the whole family, even
Narcissa who really behaved like
little lady. Narcissa got quietly into
bed and said nothing of the two pieces
of candy she struggled by way of de-
serving comfort. Also Valora's con-
duct would set Mr.. Cal Barry wonder
ing what kind of person her Aunt
Doris must be.
And what do yon s'pose he thinks
of me-" Grandmother Pollard de-
manded
Valera couldn't say and her dear
grandmother blew out the light and
silently left them. Presently Aunt
Doris began to play her guitar and Mr..
Barry to sing. He sang beautifully.
Way down upon the Suwanee
River" and "Jnanita," but Valera pre-
ferred Nellie Gray" ooh, my dar-
ling Nellie Gray. they have taken her
away" he finally began They have
taken her to Georgia. there to wear
her life away. and I'll never see my
darling any more
He must have been imagining that
If nm Alol t.1-
away, his voice was SO sorrowful. Va.
lora found her pillow wet with tears
when the song ended and turned II
over quickly in the dark. Then the
singing stopped and she knew they
| were having the drop cakes and lem
onade. Narcissa had fallen asleeI
with a piece of candy In her mouth
, melting and choking her: Valera
! nudged her sister and she swallowed
and turned over. Valera felt aw
, fully alone then completely
: alone with her sins. They were all
!, around her. She covered UP her head
i and thought. She yearned to be for
i given and said several prayers. Their
she remembered something from Sun
n day school about sacrifices She knew
v splendid sacrifice loose from
!. tooth. Narcissa had long wished II
- pull it out-well, on the morrow sh.
!. should do So 1t would hurt, though
), Narcissa said it wouldn't; 1t 1gds
i. sacrifice then, and all she got out o
q 1t was the tooth to add to her treas
), ure box. After this she fell asleep.
n 1t was Uncle Cal laughing tina
e awoke her. She thought 1t was morn
v ing. Then she saw the starry SIX
fhrnnph tho mi
d moon. Uncle Cal was on the door
', step beneath the window which wa
Y open. Valera sprang out of bed an
d leaned out. She heard Aunt Dori
there, too, telling something in 10,
" voice. She waited, to make her pre-!
d ence known by a spooky imitation q
v an owl; but suddenly she caught Aur
It Doris saying. about the children
h mamma"
h Valera stretched out eagerly.
1t She had been performing in TIL
atrical company when she married til
- children's father, and when they wei
;, younger then she--well," Aunt Dor
; seemed to hate to go on-"she got res
:. less; they say you never get over /
70 you know" She spoke as of a sic
~ ness, "and she went away. back to
~ again for few months and then OF
= day she came home quite unexpec
eddy"
: Well" Uncle Cal said after m
er ment. Just so she came home, bar
ir to her husband and children"
Re She's very" Aunt Doris stoppe
IL I'VE love her, but it has made goss
and the poor children hear it and dor
10 understand. We can't tell them she
ry been an actress, so long as she hasr
told them; anyhow, they wouldn't u
as derstdnd"
OF Valera strained her hands to h
X, mouth to keep from screaming o
On how well she understood what an a
40 tress was. how they were "litt
Evas,' and little Eva's mothers" al
ELIAS" and "Topsys!" How she hi
- seen three Uncle Toms Cabins; ONT
before her mamma went away. al
- twice she had taken her and Narc,s
= since she came back, to matinees. @
how well she knew How much mo,