Show M r 1 a Ox rS V BELMORE On ENDICOTT 1918 1916 BY Y DODD fD CAROLYN AND PRINCE MAKE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF AUNTY ROSE MR STAGG'S HOUSEKEEPER Synopsis Her Her father miller and mother reported lost at sea when the Dunraven on which they had bad sailed for tor Europe was sunk Carolyn May Cameron Cameron Hannahs Hannah's Hannahs Carolyn Carolyn Is Is sent from New York to her bachelor undo uncle Joseph Stagg at The Corners The reception given her by her uncle Is not very enthusiastic CHAPTER I Continued I I 2 2 A voice calling Chuck 1 I Chuck I Chuck Chuck-a-chuck I came from behind the tho old house A few feathered white fowls that had bad been In sight scurried wildly away In answer r to the sum sumS coons mons Mr Stagg still looking at the little girl set down the bag and reached for tor the dogs dog's leash The The loop of the latter he passed aro around nd the gatepost I tell you OU what It Is Carlyn May You'd better bettor meet Aunty Rose nose first alone rye Ive my fears about this mongrel mon mon- grel Oh Uncle Joe 1 I quivered his bis niece You go ahead and get acquainted with her urged Mr Stagg She dont don't like dogs They chase her chickens I and nd run over her flower beds Aunt Aunty Rose nose Is peculiar I might say Oh Ob Uncle Joe Joel I 1 repeated the little girl faintly Youve got to make her like you If you yon ron want to live here the tho hardware dealer ealer concluded firmly He lIe gave Carolyn May n a little shove up p the tho path and then stood back and mopped his brow bror with v.-Uh his chief Prince strained at the leash and whined wishing to follow his mistress Mr Stagg said better keep mighty quiet dog If It you ou want your home address to be The Tho Corners sing small l I Carolyn May did not hear this but disappeared after the fowls around the corner of ot the wide vine-draped vine porch ch The back o. o The pleasant pleasant yard was I lUll or 01 On un the gravel path pate beyond the old well with Its long sweep and bucket half halt a hundred chickens some guineas and a n flock of ot turkeys scuffled for grain which was being thrown to them from an nn open pan That pan was held in the plump hand band of a n very dignified looking dignified looking woman woman wom worn an nn dressed In drab and with a sunbonnet sunbonnet sun sun- sun sun-I bonnet on her head I Aunt Aunty l' l Roses Rose's appearance smote the the- little girl with a n feeling of awe There was no frown on her face It was only calm unruffled It simply seemed as though nothing either material or spiritual could ruffle the placidity of Aunty Rose nose Kennedy She came of Quaker stock and the serenity of body and spirit taught by bythe bythe bythe the sect built a wall between her and Everybody else Child who are yon you asked Aunty nose Pose lose with some curiosity The little girl told her name but perhaps It was her black frock and fiat at that Identified her In Aunty Roses Rose's mind after oil all You are Hannah Stagg's little girl she filie said If If you ou please Carolyn May confessed faintly And how bow came you here alone If you ou please Uncle Joe said Id I'd better come ahead and get acquainted ac ne- with you first U First What do you mean first asked Aunty Rose sternly First First before before you saw Prince responded responded re re- the perfectly frank little girL Uncle Joe thought maybe you wo wouldn't care for tor dogs I Dogs I INo No maam ma'am And of course where I live Prince has to live too So SoSo SoSo So- So So brought you your dog Yes maam ma'am Of course said Aunty Rose nose composedly composedly com com- I I expected you to como come here I do not know what Joseph Stagg ex ex- But I did not suppose you would have a n. dog Where Is Joseph Stagg He lie Re he's hes coming With With the the dog Yes maam ma'am Aunty Rose nose seemed to take some Bome sometime sometime time to digest this but she made no farther t comment In regard to the matter matter matter mat mat- ter only saying I Let us go into th the house Carlyn May You must take ot off your batand hat bat and bathe your face tace and hands Carolyn May Cameron folio followed ved tho the stately figure of Aunty Rose Ros Kennedy Into the blue and blue and kitchen of th the theold theold e old house houe with s something the of-the feeling feel teel- ing lug of ot a n culprit on tho the way to th the block Such a n big kitchen as It was wash I Th The little girl thought it must be almost almos t as ILS big as ns their whole apartment In Is Harlem put together The little girt girl took ot off her plain black hat shook back her hair an nd d pa patted ted It smooth with villi her hands the then then n I plunged her hands bands and face Into hito t the l e basin of cool water Aunty Rose hose ha h had d' d I her at nt the sink The The dust dus t was nIl all washed away and a fresh tresh glow came Into her face Aunty Rose watched her silently Such a n dignified upright unresponsive unresponsive sive siva woman as she seemed standing there thero I 1 And so particular neat and Immaculate was this kitchen I Carolyn May as she dried her face tace and hands bands heard a familiar whine atthe at nt atthe I Ithe the door It was Prince She wondered Wondered wondered won won- dered 1 If she had bad at nt all nIl broken the ice for him with Aunty Rose nose Oh the little girl mused I wonder wonder wonder won won- der what she will say to a n. CHAPTER II Going to Bed fled I Mr Stagg had fastened Princes Prince's strap to the porch rail and he now came carne In with the bagIs bagIs bag Is that all the childs child's baggage Joseph Joseph Jo Jo- Joseph seph Stagg asked Aunty Rose nose takIng taking tak tak- ing lag It from his hand band Why Why wh why I never thought to ask her the man admitted Have you youa youn a n trunk check Carlyn 1 No sir They sent you up with here only that bag Mr Stagg said with some exasperation you got any clothes but those you stand in 1 Mrs Price said said sald said they weren't suitable explained the little girl You see they arent aren't black Oh I exploded her uncle You greatly lack tact Joseph Stagg said Aunty Rose and the hardware hardware hard hard- ware dealer cleared his bis throat loudly as ns he be went went to the sink to perform his I I tt h l I 1 Y I i l f f fr r Child Who Are You Asked Aunty Rose With Some Curiosity supper pre ablutions Carolyn May did not understand just what the woman meant Ahem 1 said Uncle Joe gruffly Spose I ought read rend that letter before What's come of It Carlyn I May Iny 1 But Just then the little girl was so deeply Interested In what Aunty Rose was doin doing that she failed tailed to hear bear him Mrs Kennedy brought out of the pan- pan fry a tin pie plate on which were scraps of ot meat and bread b besides a goodly marrow bone If It you think the dog Is la hungry Carlyn May she sho said eald you would I better give him this before we wo break our fast tast Oh Aunty Rose Roso I l gasped the little girl her sober faro faco all nIl a a n Hell HeU be de de ed She carried tho the pan out to Prince When the door closed again Mrs Kennedy went to the stove and instantly Instantly In in- with the opening of the oven the rush of delicious odor from It made Carolyn Mays May's mouth fairly water Such flaky biscuit two biscuit two great pans full of the brown beauties I 1 Mr Stagg sat eat down n at nt the tho table and actually smiled The Tho little girl took her Sher her Indicated place at nt the table timidly Joseph Stagg said Aunty Rose Rose nose sitting down ask a blessing Uncle Joes Joe's harsh voice seemed suddenly sud Sud- Sud Suddenly denly to become gentle as he reverently reverently rever rever- said sald grace Mr Stagg was in haste baste to eat and anel get back to the store Or that Chet will try tr to make a n. meal o off l some of the hardware I guess h he be e said sold g gloomily Oh dear me Uncle Joe J I exclaimed d Carolyn May If fit lie he did that hed he'd di die ne neof e of Indignation Huh nuh l' l oh Ohl 1 I 1 guess cause c Indigestion agreed her ber uncle node I Aunty Rose did not even smile Bless me I Mr Stagg exclaimed suddenly that on the mantel Aunty Rose That aller letter A telegram for you Joseph Stagg replied the old composedly Well Well l I muttered tho the hardware dealer and Carol Carolyn n May wondered 1 If it ho were not afraid to express just the emotion he felt at nt that Instant His face tace was red and he got up clumsily to secure the sealed message Who brought It It and ond when 1 he ask asked d finally having read the lawyers lawyer's lawyers lawyer's lawyers lawyer's law law- yer's night letterA letterA letter A IIA boy bore This morning said Aunty Rose nose utterly calm I And I never saw It this noon grumbled the hardware dealer 1 Mrs Kennedy quite Ignored any suggestion of Impatience In Mr Stagg's voice or manner But Bat he seemed to lose taste for tor his supper after reading the telegram Where Is the letter that this Mr Price wrote and sent b by you Carlyn Carlyn Car lyn he asked as he was about to depart for tor the store Tho The little girl asked permission to leave the table nn and then ran to open her bag Mr Stagg said doubtfully I 1 sp spose se you'll have to put her some Borne where where for for the present Dont Don't see Bee what else elso we can do Aunty Rose You may be sure Joseph Stagg that her room was ready for tor her a week ago Mrs Kennedy rejoined quite unruffled The surprised hardware dealer gurgled something In hIs hia throat What room he finally stammered That which was her mothers mother's Hannah Hannab Hannah Han Han- nah nab Stagg's room It Is next to mine and she will come to no harm there Hannahs I exclaimed Mr Stagg Why that aint been slept In since she went away It Is quite fit then said Aunty Rose nose that it should be use used for her child Trouble nothing about things that do not concern you Joseph Stagg Sta-gg she added with perhaps additional addItional additional addi addI- sternness Carolyn May lIay did not hear this She now produced the letter from her law law- yer There It Is lB Uncle Joe she saidI said I I 1 I gue guess s he be tells you all nIl about me meIn mein mein in It it Hum I said the tho hardware man clearing his throat and md picking up his hat Ill read rend It down at the store Shall shaU Shall shall I see you again tonight tonight tonight to to- to- to night Uncle Joe the little girl asked wistfully You know my bedtimes bedtime's past half eight Well 1 If you dont don't see me tonight again you'll be well cared for I haven't a n doubt said Uncle Joe shortly shortly short 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 I Lump in ner throat past whIch sue she could not force the food tood As the dusk fell tell the spirit of ot loneliness gripped her and the tho 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 It Is time for tor you to go to bed Carlyn Df fay l y said Bald Aunty Roso nose firmly finnly I III will show you the room Hannah Stagg had for tor her own when she was wasa a 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 Carol Carolyn n May saw that at nt the foot toot of the stairs was a door leading out upon the porch where Prince was wal now moving movIng ing ng about uneasily at the ead e d of his leash lensh She would have liked to say good night to Prince but It seemed better not to mention this feeling to Aunt Aunty l' l Rose nose The fading hues of ot sunset in the tho sky gave the little girl plenty of light to undress by She thought the room very beautiful too Do you need any help child 1 asked Mrs Kennedy standing In her soldierly manner In the doorway It was waa dusky there thero and the little girl could not see her ber face tace Oh no maam ma'am said Carolyn May faintly Very well said Aunt Aunty Rose and turned away Carolyn May stood inthe in inthe the middle of of tho the room and listened to her bel descending footsteps Aunty Rose nOBe had not even bidden her goodnight good goodnight night Like a n marooned sailor upon a desert desert des des- ert Island the little girl went about exploring the bedroom which was to tobe be hers hers and and which had once been her mothers That fact tact helped greatly Then sho she looked at the high puffy bed How However ever can cnn I get into It sighed Carolyn May She Sho 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 n. great big bag of feathers I Just like Uke a n big big pillow thought the tho little girl And If It I do get into It Im I'm Uble lible to sink down and down and down till Im I'm burled and wont won't ever bo ho able to get up in the morn ing lag Joseph Stagg Is filled with dismay dismay dIsmay dis dIs- may when he learns from a lawyer lawyer lawyer law law- yer friend of his law brother that Carolyn has haa been left penniless pen pen- penniless and has been consignee consigned to his care caro His frame of mind does not promise well for Caro Care Carolyn's j I lyns lyn's future happ happiness ness I j II TO BE DE CONTINUED |