Maida's Little Shop

Table of

Indian summer had come and each new day dawned more perfect than the last. The trees had become so gorgeous that it was as if the streets were lined with burning torches. Whenever a br

just being out-of-doors. But she did play a great deal for she was well enough to join

he would play jackstones with the bigger girls in the afternoon. She would play running games with the crowd of girls and boys, o

in on her side. But whether she called or awaited the cry, "Liberty poles ar

oyfully one day. "My leg is getting stronger.

s rapid. She learned to ju

pe and hat all velvety jet-blacks, satiny olives and brilliant crimsons-Maida slim, delicate, fairy-like in her long squirrel

ld answer, she went on. "You look like that little mermaid princess in And

ale, too. You're like Rose-Red in 'Rose-Red and Snow-White.' I think," she added, flushing, for she was a l

t I think of you," Ro

black hair,

n hair," Rosie said. "N

er a moment of thought, "peopl

ent came over her. She was proud to think that she had caught the trick-that something inside would warn her when to jump-that she could be sure that this warning would not come an instant t

t it up long into the twilight. Sometimes Granny would have to ring the dinner-bell a half a dozen times before Maida appeared. Maida did not mean to be disobed

tiny trim houses and their tinier, trimmer yards, the doves pink-toeing everywhere, their throats bubbling color as wonderful as the old Venetian glass in the Beacon St

one day. The next-Rosie came rushing

ing has happened. Laura Lathrop's got d

w dreadful! Wh

es went there three times yesterday. Anni

man," Granny murmu

aura," Maida said, conscience-stri

nued, "Harold can't go near her. Nobody goes

the situation. But the noisy fun of the older children ceased entirely. They gathered on the corner and talked in low voices, wa

nking," Rosie said

f it colored

e shining with hope. "And they think she's a little better." But late the next

better. Oftener she was worse. Dr. Ames's carr

don't think she'll live through the night. Oh, won't it be

aida awake a long time that night. When she arose her f

ay on her way to school "but," she

to see the undertaker's wagon drive up. But it did

ing better," Rosie rep

ter. But it was many days befor

all gather in front of the house to-morrow at one o'clock, she'll lift Laura u

delighted. Seizing each other by the waist,

good to Laura when she

r. "The last thing I ever said to her was

led Molly by one hand and Tim by the other. Rosie led Betsy and Delia. Dorothy Clark held Fluff and Mabel held Tag. Promptly at

d Rosie declared afterwards that even Fluff looked excited. But Maida stood still with the tears streaming down her che

he window. One feeble wave of her

" Rosie said one night to Maida and Billy Potter. "She's read all her books to her and

f a new toy-but Laura has everything. And then the trouble with toys is that after you've played with them once, there's no more fun

o have Mrs. Lathrop's permission though." He seized his hat and made f

that the children gazed after hi

t's going to be, Maida

't the least idea. But if Billy makes it

ndred questions. But they could not get a

ed doings that, for a long time, were a mystery to everybody. A crowd of excited children fo

astened one of the little pulleys on the sill outside her window. Third, he did the same thing in Rosie's house, in

g." "Oh, I wish he'd tell us," came from the chil

bundle-this time, out came

r called up to him,

y gr

m," was all Arthur would say to

ra's window, a second between Rosie's and Laura's, a third bet

. Out dropped four square tin box

it!" Maida and Rosie screamed

sed. He went from house to house

put it in the box, pull on the upper string and it will sail over to her window. Suppos

faces appeared at as many windows. The telephone worked perf

r that I wished to speak to you about. That little Flynn girl

Lathrop," he admitted, "she lived in t

earnestly for she had been touched by the sight of Maida's grief the day that she

, I assure you she is

ame of the Wes

Fairfax W

is she

d, his eyes beginning to "skrinkle up" ag

irl," Mrs. Lathrop went on, "for they certainly are very good to her. It is q

Lathrop. They were made for

ndow to window until long after dark. The girls kept her informed of what was going on in the neighborhood and the boys sent her jokes and conundrums and puzzle pictures cut from the newspapers. Gifts came to her at all hours. Sometimes it would be a bit of wood-carving-a grotesqu

window and watch the games. The children remembered every few moments to look and wave to her and she always waved back. At last came the morning when a very thin, pale Laura was wheeled ou

a letter in the mail. It was written on gay-tinte

given by Miss Laura Lathrop at 29 Primrose Court on

gan to be troubled about Rosie. For Rosie was not the same

se" with the little girls. Suddenly, Rosie tired of this game and sent the children home. Then for a time, she f

" she commanded, "I w

Rosie's mind for whenever the scowl came between Rosie's eyeb

ked, "do you reme

ways smelled so sweet-whenever I see any flowers, I think of her. And she wore such beautiful dresses and jewels. She loved sparkly things, I guess-sometimes she looked like a fairy queen. Once she had a n

" Rosie said i

ials in diamonds on it. Papa ga

d?" Rosie asked after a pause

ig

id she

next week' and 'next week' and 'next week' until one day I got so impatient that I cried. Then they told me that my mother was living far away in a beautiful country and she would never come back. They said that I must not cry for she s

sobbed, "that's exactly what they say to me when I ask them-'next week' and 'ne

, no, no-your mother is not dead. I

hall I do? Think how naughty I was! What shall I do?"

't know your mother is dead. And I

e thing to you," Rosie

aid that I might die if they told me the truth. But whether your mother is alive or dead, the only way you can mak

s I'll go home now," she said, "and see if I can help Aunt Theresa with the supper. And I'm goin

e shop with the happiest look t

e announced, "and set the table and wiped the dishes. Sh

," Maida

ck and she said the same thing, 'Next

a insisted. "And now let's not talk any

ence to Rosie, Maida skipped home t

ve got a visitor," she said. Maida could see that she was trying to ke

m. Her father jumped up fro

-Cheeks. No need to ask how

u think you could give up Wall Street and come to live in this Court? You might open a shop too. Papa, I know you'd make a good shopkeeper although it isn't so easy as a

ent. My gracious, Posie, how you have improved! I never would know you for the same child. Where

name always brought, darkened his face. "Ho

d. "Really, papa?" She ran over to the mirror, climbed up on a chair

ight of her woe-begone face, he laughed. "That's because you've sto

d to a smile of perfect happiness. For, sure enough, pricking thro