Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1918-08-16

without awakening her.
Aunty Rose came away softly and
closed the door and while she finished
getting dinner she tried to make no
noise which would awaken the child.
Mr., Stagg came home at noon, quite
as full Of business as usual. To tell
the truth, Mr.. Stagg always felt bash'
full In Aunty Roses presence; and he
tried to hide his aiillctIOn by conyersa.
ton. SO he talked steadily through
the meal.
But somewhere--about at the pie
course 1t was-he stopped and looked
around curlOusly.
"Bless me" he exclaimed, "where's
Hannahs Car'lyn?"
"Taklng a nap" said Aunty Rose
composedly.
"Hum can't the child get up to her
vlctuals2" demanded Mr.. Stage. "You
begin serving that young one sepa'
rately and you'll make yourself work.
Aunty Rose"
"Never trouble about that which
doesn't concern you, Joseph Stage"
responded his housekeeper rather
tartly. "The Lord has placed the care
of Hannah's Car'lyn on you and me
and I'll do my share and do 1t proper"
Mr.. Stage shook his head and lost
Interest In his wedge Of berry pie,
"There are Institutions" he began
weakly; but Aunty Rose said quickly:
Joseph Stage! I know you for what
you Ore-other people don't. If the
nelghbors heard you say that they'd
think you were heather. Your own
sisters child" "n,S epS ,ASih1.
"Now, you send Tim, the hackman,
up after me this afternoon. I've got
to go shopping. The child hasn't q
thing to wear but that fancy little
black frock, and she'll ruin that play.
Ing around, She's got to have frocks
and shoes and another hat-all sorts
Of things. Seems a shame to dress q
child like her In black-lt's punish.
ment. Makes her aflllctlon double, ]
DO say" "a. G.&. II, Ky.
swell, l suppose we've got to fiat.
ter Custom or Custom will weep"
growled Mr.. Stagg. "But where the
moneys coming from"
Didn't Car'lyn's pa leave her none2r
asked Aunty Rose promptly.
"Well-not what you'd call q for
tune" admitted Mr.. Stage slowly.
THANKS be you've got plenty, then.
And IL you haven't l have" said the
woman in a tone that quite closed the
question Of finances.
(Which shows me just where l get
off at" muttered Joseph Stage as he
started down the walk for the store.
II knew that young one would be a
nuisance"
Carolyn May, who was quite used to
taking nap on the days that she did
not go to school, woke up as bright
as newly minted dollar, very soon
after her Uncle Joe left for the store.
"Tm awfully sorry missed him."
she confided to Aunty Rose when she
danced into the kitchen. "You see,
l want to get acquainted with Uncle
Joe just as fast as possible. And he's
at home so little l guess that it's going
to be hard to do it,"
"Oh, is that so? And is 1t going to
be hard to get acquainted with me?"
asked the housekeeper curlously.
"Oh no" cried Carolyn May, snug.
Cling up to the good woman and pat
ting her plump bare arm. "Why, I'm
getting 'qualnted with you fast, Aunty
Rose! You heard me say my prayers
ana when you laid me down on the
couch just now you kissed me-"
Aunty Rose actually blushed. "There,
there, child" she exclaimed. you're
too noticing. Eat your dinner that
I've saved warm for you"
isn't Prince to have any dinner,
Aunty Rose?' asked the little girl.
you may let him out, if you wish,
after you have had your dinner. You
can feed him under the tree"
Carolyn May was very much excited
about an hour later when a rusty
closed hack drew up to the front gate
of the Stage place and stopped.
An old man with a square-cut chin
whisker and clothing and hat as rusty
as the hack itself held the reins over
the bony back of the horse that drew
the ancient equipage,
81 say, youngun, amt you out o. yer
balliwick?" queried Tim, the hackman,
staring at the little girl In the Stage
yard.
Carolyn May stood up quickly and
tried to look over her shoulder and
down her back. 1t was hard to get
all those buttons buttoned straight
81 don't know" she said, perturbed.
Does it show?"
"Huh?" grunted Tim. "Does what
shOw?'
what you said" said Carolyn May
accusingly. 81 don't believe it does"
Hey" chuckled the hack driver
suddenly. 81 meant, do you low Mrs.
Kennedy knows you're playing in her
front yard?"
"Aunty Rose? Why, of courser