Evening star., 1913-12-09

him whooping joyously moment later.
| Touched the bye for Rosie, yah. She 8
it,"
She pulled herself wearily through the
cellar window, crawled up the stairs ana
out on to the back veranda
I'm not playing any more 2tter 70
It," she announced, tragicaily 1 wouidn
| play now, only I'm 1t.
When the game was over she refused
to give any explanation. but staiKeo
stiffiy into the house and upstairs TO ner
bedroom. ;,
Her fingers were shaking as she turned
| the key and listened. Nobody could Dc
heard.
| Standing with her back to the door. she
gazed straight across the room to the
dressing table mirror. With the blessed
| unconsciousness of childhood she had
never thought very much about her actuaI
appearance. But now. for the first tlme,
she was facing with desperate eyes
| somebody she had never seen before
somebody with struggling hair. with a
stubby little nose and freckles.
AS she groped for a handkerchief her
fingers touched the leather case that held
her fathers picture The sObs grew
quieter for a moment as she looked
through streaming tears at the beloved
face, but a new misery was crowdins
fast upon her first grief A great pity
daughter possessed her.
Dear Lord she sobbed, crouching
on the bedside rug. 1T isn't fair-not a
bit fair, You didn't have a right to le'
me grow SO homely that he couldn't love
me. 1t isn't fair at all!
Presently she heard the twins pound
ing her door. We're playing mill
linery store." shrieked Elsa. Come on
out and trim hats We found elegunt
trimmins up in the attic!
She opened the door slowly.
The twins were fearfully and wonder
fully arrayed as became real milliners,
in sweeping skirts and elaborate bodices.
Elsa was adorned with a gorgeous neck
lace, which in its humber, prehistoric
days had begun existence as brass cur
tain chain. Eloise's jewels were more
simple, but quite as effective. From a
lengthy green ribbon about her neck there
dangled a queer looking locket. IT'S
ole black tin, guess. I play it's
vanerty box. only it won't open," she
scolded. mot even when wou bite it
But when Mrs. Remson sought for them
at supper time she caught at the van
erty box with an exclamation of sur
prise
Its Frederick's old gutta- -percha lock-
ct. she explained to her sister-in-law.
He wore it on his first watch fob, and
we used to tease him SO about it." She
ficked her thumbnail at the spring
fastening as the children crowded eagerly
about her. The locket flew open.
who is the pretty lady?'' asked Rosa,
shyly.
Aunt Remson put the locket gently into
the girls hand. Its your mother, sweet
heart" she said.
Rosa's fingers closed swiftly over it as
she fled. Upstairs once more, crouching
on the bedside rug again, she gazed
rapturousy at her treasure. The locket
was fat and thick, and under the dusty
glass shone queer old tintype. The
cheeks were tinted very pink, the hair
very yellow. 1t was not stingy looking
hair: 1t was wonderful curly hair. The
eyes smiled: the lips smiled; Rosa smiled
back at them, happily.
This was a very much nicer mother
than the faded photograph with the tired
eyes that hung on Aunt Remson'S wall.
under the glass. was a curl Of yellow hair
tied with a bit of blue ribbon. On the
little oval paper was written in very
small letters: ''To Frederick, from Goldi
locks"
During the rest of Aunt Vance's visit.
and indeed long after she had happily
terminated her stay. Rosa was quiet
enough to satisfy the most exacting aunt.
She moped over books, or sat lost in
day dreams.
After all these sober days Aunt Renason
sighed with relief one afternoon when
she heard Rosa's little gurgle of laughter
and watched her race excitedly into the
house with the others.
4 ''The bottle man is coming" shrieked
Billy. us four is going to get milleryuns
of bottles for him.
1.-TWO cents for big ones this year,
cried Rosa, with shining eyes II know
where there's a whole raft of 'em!''
"'Nd a cent for mejum sizes.' painted
Elsa.
"Tennys a cent an two for cent,
mammal Eloise screamed.
Whence came the mysterious rumor no
one seemed to know, but the entire neigh
borhood engaged busily in the absorbing
pursuit. The Remson children ransacked
the attic, the medicine chest, the pantry
shelves and even the stable.
hac a az afternoon a