A Little Florida Lady

rney to

f the year. Mrs. Davenport stood at a second story window of a room of the Gilsey House, and looked down idly on the bleak thoro

Davenport entered, carrying in her

p. She almost always radiated sunshine, and her face was generally lighted with a smile, the outcome of a warm heart. Sometimes clouds sli

d in greeting, but, at the same

r, what's the ma

miled. "I'm a little unhappy over leaving all o

n't be u

you help

ny pleasant things to think about that I just never think of the unpleasant ones,

is so good to me. The chambermaid just gave me this dear, dear kitty.

that would

door into an adjoining room op

here a min

to an open trunk. Impatiently, she began pulling things out. She burrowed almost to the very b

dle, and scampered guiltily to the other end of the room. Not an instant too soon to escape immediate detection, for Mrs. Davenport re?ntered the room, followed by a girl of thirte

s on the floor," she said,

have you b

ther, and did not answer. Without another word, Mrs. Dav

live in here," and she drew out

her go in the trunk,"

t back to the chambermaid." Marian left the room with it

having your own way, I hard

a mischievous smile. "You'd better call

as at my wits' end to know how to manage you when I thought of him. Even as a little

y meant it when you said I was a naughty child, and not your nice

d dress of which you were very proud, and cried, 'I'm your Beth. Don't you know my pretty red dress? Don't you se

, yelling, 'I won't. I won't.' I could hardly keep from laughing. My young spitfire looked very funny capering around and around, her long curls rumpled about her determined, flushe

"You said, 'There, that bad girl has come bac

, crying, 'Mamma, whip me, but don't send me away.' I knew better t

naughty not to get my usual good-night kiss. I do try to be good, but it's very hard work sometimes. But I

d the room. He was a tall, dar

n the trains," he said. "It's time for us to

d his wife. "I fear we'll find it ver

tly deserted thoroughfare. The Davenports were glad of the shelter of the carriage which carried them swif

Marian?" asked Beth, as they descen

fully, remembering the friends she

ets, and the family immediately boar

er think of the first colored person she had ever seen. She remembered even now how the man's rolling black eyes had frightened her, although it was

et as black as that man, do I? Do

t cleanliness had nothing to

de?" Beth questio

rt. Clean thinking makes even th

tful about making up with the porter. But he proved so very genial that before night arrived, he and

ept as peacefully as if the

de. A stream of sunshine flooded their berth, blinding Beth f

ummer," cried Beth,

r out on the back platform while the engine was taking on water. To the

you?" asked Beth, and her eye

n widened, "I ain't got any

t. "Bob, it's very wrong to tell stories. These

nto shape again. "Ha, ha, ha. Dem my chillun! Ha, ha, ha. Law, honey, dem ain't

hey're not yours

s' culled

train was soon under way ag

utside, but he says they are not his chil

nd that Bob had told the truth. Beth sat very stil

ike little balls of snow, only they can't be. It's

is c

ving on them a little of last year's fruitage that was n

tton field a very pretty sight.

nshine. Beth, however, liked even the pines, being a lover of all trees. They seemed almost human to her. She believed that trees could speak if they would.

hot box. While it was being fixed, Bob took Beth for

, "I never before sa

ull some of dat hair for you, missy," and he raised his g

added, "I'm afraid it'll hurt the tree. I know

eth grew ashamed, and meekly accepted the

that Jacksonville was not reach

ld in his arms, and car

" he murmured, before ha

nd his neck while her e

e me, Bob.

ing more until she wakened in a

park, and afforded Beth her first glimpse of tropical beauty. Strange trees glistened in the glorious sunshine. From pictures she had seen, Beth recognized the palms,

ort entere

s? It's fully eleven, and I

? What have y

nd then I drove far

t you waken me

the dining-room. Your mother had some breakf

e, papa? W

old you." This was all the satisfaction sh

said Mr. Davenport as she c

ve the surp

You must have patience," he answere

you," he said to Mrs. Davenport and

Mr. Davenport of Beth, indicating a middle-aged neg

rinkles lurked around his eyes. Beth saw two rows of pearly teeth though his mouth was partly hidden by a mustache and beard. His nose was

the horse is bea

o down and ta

is stovepipe hat that had been brushed until the silk was wearing away

at yo' wuz tellin' 'bout? I'se p

repressible Beth was a little awed

January

queer name,"

hink you are in fairy-land. Everything will be so different. Do

ooked at the bay horse behind which she was soon to have the bliss of driving. She thought it about as ni

massa. Why, she runs to me from de pasture when I jes' calls, while she's dat ornary wid o

rse wh

lly he

honey. It ain't her rea

too? She's like me then.

sked with pol

I'm called that only

m dem,

I can't help having them-tantrums, you know. Just like the little girl with

, I nebber tinks I am, but Titus 'low

alled Beth's thoughts to the ho

I tole yo' dat she '

she jumped to her feet, a

nts and Marian smile as

se. January said so.

ears as if she unde

language. She took a stale piece of candy out of her pocket, and gave it

running up to her father. He smiled enigmatic

s bowing with Chesterfieldian poli

," cried Mr

ith January,"

en, therefore, scrambled up in front beside the dri

ignity fitted the occasion. His

drive the car of Phaeton, himself, had she been given the chance. She had littl

go faster?"

dly. "Missy Beth, yo' jes' wait until her racing blood am up,

cing blood. Its truth, however, was to be proven by

uary was sitting so straight that it seemed impossible for

I reckon. She could clean beat ebbery horse far and near. Many's de race I'se ridden her in, an' neb

are you,

sa. I reckon I'm n

terrupted Mrs. Davenpor

her Mary, and so from the start he addressed her in Southern style-"I can't say 'xactly, but I know I'

s ago, January," broke in Marian,

new him, the more they realized the truth of this. Sometimes he would make himsel

tention to this mild command than she would ha

t, she took the reins. Dolly soon noticed a difference in drivers. P

ing trees. To the right of them, between the openings of the trees, the g

l hammock yonder,"

ricate growth of shrubs, trees, and vines which forme

d. "It seems a very que

that such a mass of green is called a hamm

nks of the river grew higher and nice house

In this case, the lack of such green was made up by a waving mass of blooming cardinal phlox, behind which was an o

oing in here f

pretty place?" retu

prettier plac

who o

? I don't know any

hey are to live here. I bou

ittle Florida lady henceforth, hardly seemed possible. She thought she must be a fairy-story prince

a good fairy offered to grant me three wishes, I should

w it. So what's the use of talking abo

" returned Beth, nothing daunted, and added, "

, the former owner, was called North by the death of his wife. The agent brought me out this morning, and I was so