New Britain herald., 1928-03-24

sion just outside the dining hall doors Sally and her little charge among he But only the slap eyes or the other orphans could have detected that the cd "ho clung forornly to sallys hand newcomer The go- den curls had disappeared and in their place were two short yellow brads, the ends tied with bits ot od sEoe string The small face, scrubbed clean of it's powder and rouge pale Says. And instead of lace-tmmmed pink crepe de chine silk socks, and white kid slippers Elose clad, like every other orphan Tn snmpy fock of faded gngham black stockings and heavy black shoes.
 And when the marching procession of orphans had ds- tbued itself before long, backess benches drawn up to long, narrow pine tables covered with tol muc-sclubbcd white ocoth Eoise coached in that ritual well as in many others sacred in the institution, pped up with all the others her voice as monotonous as theirs
 Our heavenly Father thank Thee for hls food and for all the other blessings Thou gveth us.
 Sally Ford, keeping watchfu, ptying eye on her new charge who only nlbblng at the unappetlzng tood' found herself looking upon the familiar with the eyes of the frightened little orphan. It was game that Sally Ford often played imagining herself someone cse seeing familiar things through eyes which had never beheld them before.
 Because Eoise "new gr' Sally permitted to keep her at her side after the noon dinner It was Sally w,o eowod her all the buildings of the big orphanage, pointed out the boys dormtories separated from the girls quarters by the big kitchen garden; showed her the bare schoolrooms in which Sally herself had just com- pletcd the third year of high school It Sally who pridctuly showed her the meagey equipped gymnasium, the gift of mlaculously phianhropc session of the state legislatures it Sally who conducted her through the many devoted to hand crafts suited to girls showing off bit as she eXpertly manipulated hand loom or ran quick seam sewing machine.
 Eoses hot little hand cung tightly to Salys on the long trip of inspection of her new nome But her cry, hopeless and monotonous taking on little of the institutional whine, still the same heartbroken protest she had uttered upon her arrival in the dorml tory: l don't want to be an orphan don't want to be orphan, Sal-lec'
 Tt an't-I mean isnt-so bad" Sally comforted her. Sometimes we have lots of fun. And Christmas is avfy nlce Every girl gets an orange and little sack o candy and present. And have turkey for dinner and ce cream"
 My mamma gave candy every day." Elose ,whin'- pered Her friends brung it to herboXes and boxes of it, and flowers, too God was mean to let her de and make an orphan Outa me.'
 And because Sally herself had frequently been guilty of the sinful thought, she hurried Eose, without reukng her, to the front lawn which always made vis tors excaim. Why how pretty! And homeike! Aren't the poor little things fortunate to have such beautiful home?'
 For the front awn upon which orphan allowed to set foot except in company with lawnmower or cp ping shears, beautiful. Now, in early June it lay in the sun like an immense carpet studded with round or starshaped beds of bright flowers From the front the
 building looked stately and grand too with it's clean red bricks and it's big futed white pillars They the only two orphans in sight except pair of overaled boys their tow heads bare to the hot their lean arms bare to the shoulders in their ragged shirts, pushing steadily against whring lawnmowers.
 "Oh, nastultiu1s Eoise crowed the first happy sound she had made since entering the orphanage.
 She broke from Saly's grasp sped down the cement walk then plunged into the lush geenness of that vast velvet carpet entirely unconscious that she conlmt ting of the major crimes of the institution Sally after stunned moment, sped after her, calling out breath lessly:
 Don't dast to touch the flowers, Elose! We aint al lowed to touch the flowers. They'd skin you aivev'
 But Eloise had already broken the stem of flaming orange and red nasurtum and cddng it against her cheek.
 Put it back honey' Sally begged, herself committing the unpardonae sin of walking the grass There isn't any place at all you could hide and if you carried in your hand you'd get licking But don't you cry, Elose. Saly'l tell you fairy story in play hour this afternoon
 The two, Sallys heart already swelling with the sweet pain of having found child to mother Eloises tear reddened sparkling with anticipation, hurryng up the path that led around the main building to the weaving in which Sally to work extra hour punishment for her mornings "pay-acting," when Clara Hodges shrieking from behind the building
 "Salee. Salee Ford! Mrs. Stone wants you. In the offce she added, her voice dropping slightly note of horror
 What for?" Sally pretended grown up unconcern, but her face, which had been pretty and glowing moment before was dull and institutional and sulen again.
 lheys nan-a farmer nlan--talkng to Stone Face, Clara whispered her eyes urve and they dart cd about to if she overheard. 'Oh, Saee don't let dopt you. We wouldn't have nobody to payact for and tell stories! Please Saee! Make faces at him when StoncFacc an't lookn' sos he won't like you!'
 I'm too big to be adopted' Sally treasured her. "No- body wants to adopt 16year-old girl Here, you take Elolse to the weaving room with you
 Her voice that of managing, efficient, albeit lov- ing mother but when she turned toward the front steps weighted with fear which reflected in her darkng blue eyes, and in the deepened paor of her cheeks But oh, maybe it wasn't that! Why did she always have to f|ot- 4bo4 cho Inv dnt