Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-05-21

LITTLE RoS|E'S FATHER
BY L. M. STEVENS.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,

Two QueSLlOnS seriously trOuDleQ
Rosie. Where was her father? Why
didn't Rachel have a beau? Rachel.
who was her mother, had long ago
concluded the child was an oddity and
paid little or no attention to her end
less queries and singular habits,
though oftentimes she would pause in
her work to gaze at Rosie, rocking to
and fro, with kitten hugged tight In
her arms and singing in shrill voice
a quaint little song.
Rachel invariably sighed. Her rela-
tion to her child was not of an inti-
mate nature. She was always too over
worked to encourage friendiness and,
therefore, Rosie seemed strange and
remote. Romance enveloped her and
she lived in world of her own crea-
ton, far removed from her humble
surroundings. She went to the little
whitewashed schoolhouse on the hill,
and at recess played with the children,
but afterward she came home and sat
on the doorstep alone.
One day little girl, who was ex-
ceedingly small, but very important
because her father was the store
keeper began to swing on the school
yard gate and looked Rosie over with
contemptuous disapproval.
why do you stick after us?" she
asked.
81 don't" said Rosie quickly, "and
think it's mean of you to say So
"Oh, do you?" cried the little girl.
I'D like to know why, when my
mamma said 1t was a pity we respect
able children had to play with you.
and that you didn't have a father.
even, and"
"My father" Rosie paused. She
knew she could say one Of two things.
He is away" she ended triumphantly.
Away, Is he coming back?" she
asked with newly awakened interest.
Yes" said Rosie, "he Is coming
back some time," and suddenly she
turned and fairly flew down the sum
bathed road
Rachel sat on the doorstep mending
Il garment She was thin and frail,
with a pink flush on her sunken
cheeks and a burn in her dark eyes.
She smiled as the child rushed up and
let her work fall in her lap.
We'll, what is it?" she inquired.
listlessly.
They all have 'em--whero is my
father" she cried, In little pants.
when is he comm back?"
Comm back" Rachel echoed in
amazement
Yes. I told Mamie he was comm
some time"
well, he's not"-an angry light
darted in her eyes-"you haven't ore,
even, and tell her so If she asks you
again. Little idiots" she added. more
to herself than to the child
Rosies arms had fallen limp at her
sides Horror astonishment and be-
lief successfully came In her face.
The next morning In the schoolhous
several of the children were gathered
around the teacher, SO Rosie shyly
joined the group and heard the last
part of the conversation.
Little Lucy Harlow is going to
start to school today, and you must all
be especially nice and kind to her, for
she hasn't a father"
Oh! oh! Rosie's heart beat tumultu-
ously. At last there would be one Of
her kind.
Lucy Harlow and her mother came
in just before the last bell rang. Rosie
did not attempt to probe the differ
ence, but she knew Immediately that
Mrs. Harlow was curiously unlike the
other mothers in the village.
One evening Rosie stood at the gate,
gazing up and down the road, until
finally her diligent watch was re-
warded. a man, wearing a shabby
blue suit, gay necktie, patent leather
shoes, and carrying a travelling bag,
walked briskly towards her.
Rosie looked dubious. She knew
she could not buy soap, and yet.
Prince Charming had been too long
in coming to allow him to escape now
that he stood upon their very thresh-
old. Rachel would soon turn the bend
in the road. but until that moment she
had not considered that it would be q
very dirty, tired-looking Rachel. A
happy thought suddenly occurred to
her.
Il tell ycu what" Rosie raised her
shining eyes. Come again bout dusk.
My mother will be home by that
time"
well, say you're an uncommonly
polite little girl. III be back" and to
Rosie's astonshment, Prince Charm
ing lifted his hat and went leisurely
towards the village.
When her mother returned, she
said:
"You beat all, you queer little thing.
But | wouldn't dress for soap agent
or a prince tonight, why, Pm actually
too tired to eat" and with a sigh she
sank wearily on the steps.
Down the road came the soap agent
81 am selling SOAP he began and
stopped abruptly,
Frank" she cried placing her
hand to her forehead in a piteous eff
fort to suppress her emotion.
He gazed at her dumb-struck, until
the appeal In her faded, bitter face
gave him understanding.
Tell her." said the soap agent, and
there was an unmistakable tremor In
his voice, Prince Charming Is here"