The Bozeman courier., 1927-01-14

then It blOtted out poor Alice's picture as
though it had never been; made a thorough
| job Of AshtaS red sweater and some OF
her hair, and managed to splash a big
black tear half way across the shop upon
Miss Burntfield's beautiful fur coat. Then,
with a pOnderOus dignity, decreasing in
speed until 1t reached the door, its river OF
black came to rest in q pool which widened
about the can as its center. Through this
the kitten ran and painted a set or eX-
quisitely perfect black tracks all about
/ the floor.
"Hoiy MOses!" said the King Ashta be-
gan to cry very hard. For few moments
nobody else said anything. Then they be-
gan to say a great deal. Suddenly there
was only one voice. 1t was very angry.
/ 10 was angry at her. The others had not
! been angry. IL became fiercer and louder,
| and something furry and terrible pOunced
upon Ashta; she felt herself shaken and
slapped. In Ashtas family this sort Of
| thing was not done. They we're not that
sort Of family. She stopped crying; she did
not even say "Owr She was too sur
prised. Then the Kings hand closed down
stern and hail on those angry wrists, and
there was no more slapping and shaking.
Gasping and very sticky with paint,
Ashta lay limp in Alice's lap.
Shed be wen punished If she were
mine, I can tell yOu"-the angry voice
had an edge like knife. Nothing golden
about it now. Perfectly ruined-a five
thousand dollar cOatr"
"If it goes to the cleaner right away"
said the Kink evenly. "there won't be a
trace left At all events, the child is not
to blame in the least"
mot to blamer' laugh accompanied
the words, but it was not a harp note
laugh.
"Of course, nOtr' This was Alice, and
Ashta could feel how Alices knees trem-
!, bled like her voice. Besides, she's been
sick She's hardly over the ,,tlI MeaslesPGoI
that! How could your
: Il just wanted to give you my glasses"
, hiccOughed Ashta.
z you old petF' said Alice "Just think
: Of that! She saw I hadn't my glasses and
; was trying to get out Of that crate to give
me hers. You shall give them to me. Here,
I'll put them on Now can see you Ny
o O-my What a cleaning up you'll have
I to have!"
l voice of ice broke in to ask-very
: pOlitely-if the King would please tele-
phone for n taxi, as 1t was impossible to
= walk through the village in such a state,
ones nerves being simply a wreck. And she
would wait outside till IL came.
y Through her tears and myOpia Ashta
had a dim view Of a face-nOt beautiful,
e but blowsy and twitehing and singularly
II was gone. But when the King made as IL
e to open the door, it banged shut right in
II his face. He did not seem to mind, though.
-, He smiled, and stood with his hands on
L his hips, looking at it; said softly Gee
whiz!' and then went TO the telephone.
2 When he had finished ordering the
'e taxi, he came over and stood looking down
Ell at Alice and Ashta, where they still sat
T. on the floor, AShta in AliCe's lap.
re "lt isn't" hiccOughed Ashta, "because /
re care anything about that great big bully.
Is I'm not afraid Of her. II it hadn't been
lg was just getting over the measles I could
IN have licked her all by myself but'-heI
as voice quavered and broke and she bur
rowed her PANTY head into Alices shOul-
IN IN der, but your picture" she walled. And
he the houses. And you were going tC
ne give it to him for Christmas!"
s 1.-The picture! Why, you old skeezix! AS
Ie If the picture mattered I can make
40 better one. 7 tell you what we'll do. YOJ
eg shall help. me paint it. How would yOI
is The crying ceased at once. Ashta smiled
II Sobs still shook the smile; they were higl
as like waves after the sun is out and tn
no wind down, but the worst was over.
nd with your paints! Can I do the win
ier dow and the wreath2 VIII it be done to
he morrow ?"
n "Of course it will be done tomorrow
* Now you go and get mother to clean yO
bic up, and then III take you home with m
and Wen begin work on it right away.
are But the mouth corners reversed once mOr'
me "The house All the hOuses-and th
op, Long Distance Moving Van"
use "Isiffle," said the King placidly, yet wit
7ed a thrill Of excitement, too, under tn
eld placidity. Il was about through with theI
aler anyway Speaking Of Christmas present
his though"
10 He picked her up and took her to a IA
lice corner Of the shop.
Just stay there minute till I spea
TO Alice about something"
un- Yet he did not seem in a hurry abOl
ia $ what he wanted to say, for he went baC
md to Alice slowly and stood looking at b.
one oddly across the pool of black paint.
or last he said in a low vOice-but Ashta
helf ears were sharp "WiH YOU take d
ist- house for a Christmas present Alice? o
ean house"
ling Ashta did not remain where she hi
ally been put She came and danced circl
The about them while Alice's paint smear
the mackinaw blackened the Kings coat.
You're going to be married" sa
put Ashta, a dozen times over, "and live in
her house, and it's the day before Christina
say I must 90 and tell mother must go a
Ent- tell mother and Aunt Ella right away
was Copyright: 1925: BY Georgia WO
the Pangborn)