Evening star., 1914-10-04

half-fnghtened movement Then she
crossed the strip of uncarpeted floor and softly slid
back the bolt
The door flew wide under the urge of master
full hand, revealing middle-aged woman the
threshold.
a told you when you first t. my house to live
you wasn't to lock your door, the woman said
sharply. did you ferget a'ready?"
The culprit hung her head her cheeks pink with
bushes. mo, Aunt Jane she murmured family,
Il didn't forget; but"
"Well?' interrogated the "You didn't fer
get! Then you must ben up t. somethin you didn't
want me t. see.'
She stepped briskly into the room her gray eyes
alert and nqusitive terriers She was tall wo-
man, with abundant iron gray hair twisted into
uncompromsing knot top of her head but the girl,
her BARE rosy feet drawn under the hem of her white
gown, topped her by inch.
Il called you when first got out o bed the woman
went on, "an' you answered. Why in creation amt
you dressed?'
window. On it perched very large, very ugly
doll, with wide, staring blue eyes and bulging red
checks
"My grief" calculated the woman. a do blieve
you've ben playin' with that redic'lous-"
@Not playing, Aunt Jane: l was only dressing
her."
4Dressin' herr cried the woman. "Do you mean t.
tell me you put in your time dressn an undressin,
that dol?"
@Ethelnda has to go to bed the girl said doggedly
Il couldn't leave her sitting in chair all night-alone
in the dark"
The woman stared at her unbelievingly. @An' you
a great, big girl O sixteen past! You'd ought t. be
ashamed of yourself Rose Caldwell, downright
ashamed
The girl uttered Short sharp cry the
pounced agley upon the doll. APlease, Aunt Jane!"
But Miss Caldwell holding the forlorn travesty of a
child at arms length, shook it violently, terrier
would shake rat. The dolls disproporonate china
legs dangling awkwardly from beneath its abbre-
waited petticoats clashed loudly.
@If you should-break hcr' half sobbcd the girl.
@Her-her legs are delicate!"
The woman broke into a cackle of harsh laughter.
"Delicate, be they? Her legs is delicate! Time some
body put stop to sech redc'lous nonscnsc"
TANE CALDWELL turned swiftly her grim lips
tightly puckered over her somewhat prominent teeth
But the girl before her. barricadng the open door
with her slim white Beneath the curling tangle
of yellow hair her blue eyes cleaned defance angry
burned in her checks.
"You sha'n't have Ethclinda!' she cried in low
fierce voice. "You shan't!"
@Ethel-lnda!" Knocked the woman "Well, l never!
Get out o my way!'
@Please, please, Aunt Jane! She's all the friend-I
have-in the world"
"Now amt that nice way to talk? All the friend
you got in tn word-an' me a takin you in under my
roof, t feed an cothc an do fer! won't put up with
more foolishncss You got whr in an learn work
an make yourself useful an the quicker you git busy
the better. Dress yersclf this minute! I'll take care
Ethel-linda"
"Aunt Jane, II promise you l won't be late
again. I-Ill hurry an'-Ill work hard. I'll do what
ever you tell me- Only, please-please give me
Ethelindai"
ing face under its cloud of curling hair 1You certny
do beat all, Rose CALDWELL" she calculated. aWhy,
you're tallern be this minute an beggin' fer doll
baby. like you ski"
you'll give her to me? You wil-oh YOU don't
know I've always had Ethelinda. l talk to her, and
she-understands-pease Aunt Tane"