Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-09-25


what else we can do, Aunty Rose"
you may be sure. Joseph Stage.
that her room was ready for her a
week ago." Mrs. Kennedy rejoined.
quite unruffied.
The surprised hardware dealer
gurgled something in bis throat
What room?" he finally Stammered.
"That which was her mothers. Han
nah Stages room. 1t is next TO mine
and she will come to no harm there"
"HannahsP' exclaimed Mr.. Stagg.
why. that amt been slept in since
she went away"
1T is quite fit. then" said Aunty
Rose, that it should be used for her
child. Trouble nothing about things
that do not concern you, Joseph
Stage" she added with, perhaps, addi-
tional sternness.
Carolyn May did not hear this. She
now produced the letter 1.esn her law
yer.
There it is. Uncle joe" she said.
Il guess he tells you all about me
in it,"
Hum :" said the hardware man.
! clearing his throat and picking up his
hat. 'Tll read it down at the store"
"Shall-shall | see you again to-
night, Uncle Joe?" the little girl asked
wistfully. You know, my bedtime's
half-past eight"
We'll, if you don't see me tonight
again, you'll be well cared for, |
haven't doubt" said Uncle Joe short
ly, and went out
Carolyn May went soberly back to
| her chair. She did not eat much more.
Somehow there seemed to be a big
lump in her throat past which she
! could not force the food. AS the dusk
fell, the spirit of loneliness gripped
her and the tears pooled behind her
eyelids, ready to pour over her cheeks
at the least 'joggle." Yet she was not
usually a "cry-baby" girl.
Aunty Rose was watching her more
closely than Carolyn May supposed.
After her third cup of tea she arose
and began quietly clearing the table.
The newcomer was nodding in her
place, her blue eyes clouded with sleep
and unhappiness.
1T is time for you to go TO bed,
Carlyn May" said Aunty Rose firmly.
Il will show you the room Hannah
Stage had for her own when she was
girl"
THANK you. Aunty Rose" said the
/ little girl humbly.
! She picked up the bag and followed
/ the stately old woman into the back
hall and up the stairway into the ell.
| Carolyn May saw that at the foot of
| the stairs was a door leading out upon
| the porch where Prince was now NOV
! ing about uneasily at the end of his
! leash. She would have liked to say
good night to Prince, but it seemed
better not to mention this feeling to
Aunty Rose.
The fading hues of sunset in the
sky gave the little girl plenty of light
to undress by. She thought the room
very beautiful, too.
40 you need any help. child?"
asked Mrs Kennedy, standing in her
soldlerly manner in the doorway. 1t
was dusky there and the little girl
could not see her face.
"Oh, no, ma'am," said Carolyn May
/ family.
every WE'LL" said Aunty Rose and
turned away. Carolyn May stood in
the middle of the room and listened
to her descending footsteps. Aunty
Rose had not even hidden her good
night
Like a marooned sailor upon a des-
ert island the little girl went about
exploring the bedroom which was TO
be hers-and which had once been her
mothers. That fact helped greatly.
Then she looked at the high, puffy bed.
How ever can / get into it?" sighed
| Carolyn May
She had to stand upon her tiptoes
in her fluffy little bedroom slippers to
pull back the quilt and the blanket
and sheet underneath it, The bed was
! just a great big bag of feathers!
Just like big, big pillow" thought
the little girl. "And if l do get into
it I'm li'ble to sink down and down
and down till I'm buried, and won't
ever be able TO get up in the morn
ing"