La Junta tribune., 1914-05-09

taik about him. Probably. anyhow.
that is why she told me not to talk
about him." And Pollyanna. con-
WINGED anew OF her aunt's Kindness
blinked off the tears and looked ca
eerly about her.
She was on the stairway now. Just
ahead, her aunt's black silk skirt
;rustled luxuriously. Behind her an
open door allowed I glimpse OF soft
united rugs and satin-covered chairs.
Beneath her feet . marvellous carpet
Was like green moss to the tread. On
every side the gilt OF picture frames
OF the CLINT Of sunlight through the
tiimy mesh Of lace curtains flashed
IN her eyes.
"oh. Aunt Polly. Aunt Polly"
snreathed the little girl. rapturously:
what perfectly lovely house! How
awfully glad you must be you're 20
rich!"
& "Pollyanna!" calculated her aunt.
eurning sharply about ~ she reached
the head Of the stairs. I'm surpris-
q at you--making . speech like
that to mel"
why. Aunt Polly. aren't your"
queried Pollyanna. In frank wonder.
Certainly not. Pollyanna. hope
Iscould not 90 far forget myself as to
be sinfully proud Of any gift the Lord
has seen fit to bestow upon me-" de-
ciared the lady; certainly not. Of
riches."
Miss po,l,, tu,c.A ..d ,,.,Loa
down the hall toward the attic stair
way door. She was glad. now, that
she had put the child IN the attic
room. Her idea at first had been to
get her niece as far away as possible
from herself. and at the same time
place her where her childish heed
lessness would not destroy valuable
furnishings. Now--with this evi-
dent strain OF vanity showing thus
eafly-it was all the more fortunate
that the room planned for her was
plain and sensible. thought Miss Pol
u.
Eagerly Pollyanna's small feet pat
tered behind her aunt. Still more
eagerly her big blue eyes tried to
look In all directions At once. that no
thing Of beauty or interest In this
wonderful house might be passed un-
seen. Most eagerly Of all her mind
turned to the wnndrously exciting
problem about TO be solved: behind
which Of all these fascinating doors
was waiting now her rOom-the
dear. beautiful room full Of curtains.
rugs, and pictures. that was to be her
very own Then. abruptly. her aunt
opened a door and ascended another
stairway.
There was little to be seen here.
\ bare wall rose on either side. AZ
the top Of the stairs. wide reaches
Of shadowy space led to far corners
where the roof came almost down to
the floor, and where were stacked
innumerable trunks and boxes. II
was hot and stiflihE. too. Unc0n.
sciously Pollyanna lifted her head
higher--it seemed no hard to breathe.
Then she saw that her aunt had
thrown open . door At the right.
'~Shere. Pollyanna. here IL your
rooIu. and your trunk II here. see.
Have you your key?"
Pollyanna nodded dumbly. Her
eyes were little wide and frighten-
ed.
Her aunt frowned.
when ask q question. Pollyan-
ma. prefer that you should answer
sloud-not merely with your head. :"
Yes. Aunt Polly"
Thank you: that is better. ! be-
licve you have everything that you
need here" she added. glancinG at
the well-filled towel rack and water
pitcher. II will send Nancy up to
help you unpack. Supper is st nix
o'clock" she finished. AS she left
the room and swept down stairs.
For . moment after she had gone
Pollyanna stood quite still. looking
after her. Then she turned her wide
eyes 70 the hare wall. the bare floor.
the hare windows. She turned them
last 70 the little trunk that had stood
not 20 long before In her own little
room in the far.away Western home.
The next moment she stumbled
blindly toward Il AMI fell on her
knees Ut its side. covering her face
with her hands.
Nancy found her there when she
came up . few minutes later.
There. there. you poor lamb" she
crooned, dropping 10 the floor and
drawing the little girl into her arms.
II was Just a-fearin' Id find you like
this. like this"
Po1lyanna shook her head.
bat I'm had and wicked Nancy
-swful wicked" she s0bbed. ~
Juse can't make myself understand
that God and the angels needed my
father more than I did"
mo more they did. either" declar-
ed Nancy. stoutiy.
"0h-h!--Nancy!" The burning
horror In Poilyanna's eyes dried the
tear.
Nancy gave q shamefaced smile
aud pubbed her own eyes vigorously.
There, there. child. didn't mean
II. oe course" she cried brtskly.
Gone, 1et's have your key and we'll
get ino16e this trunk aud take out
yous dresses In no time. no time"
Sonswhat tesrfully poilyanna pro-
l...m - a