Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1892 — Eminently Proper. [ARTICLE]

Eminently Proper.

The little girl sitting in the midst of a pile of baggage, near the end ol the last bench but one, bly sweet. She was so very small that her head did not reach the top of the seat, and her feet were a long way fropa reaching the floor. She had a thoughtful look in her dark-brown eyes, and the portly old gentleman with glasses could not forbear to pause and smile benignly upon her. The child fixed her glance upon his ruddy countenance, but her sober expression did not Foften in the least. , The old gentleman felt Interested, and smiled more pronouncedly. The little girl never moved a muscle. “Bless me, I must speak to her,” thought the portly party. He cleared his throat and peered over his spectacles in the most friendly way imaginable. “And whose little girl is this?” he cheerily inquired opening his eyes very wide. The child 'tact his advances with the Fame steadfast gaze, but never a word: The old gentleman removed his spectacles and thrust his head forward in the awkward manner which is popularly supposed to touch a responsive chord In the hearts of verj young folk. “And where is mamma?” There was no reply whatever either by syllable or gesture. “H’m—and does our little girl like to ride on the cars?” ' , Not the faintest suggestion either of approval or the contrary was to be detected in the baby’s face, with-Its dark eyes and frame of soft-brown hair. The old gentleman moved gradually closer to her, smiling all the time as only old gentlemen with ruddy faces can smile. “And how old is our little girl?” The child stirred. One of the chubby hands played nervously with its glove. The fresh lips parted. She was about to speak. The old gentleman resumed an erect posture and beamed with the utmost satisfaction, inclining his head meanwhile, in exaggerated attentiveness. The child spoke at last with great deliberation: “Until I am assured, sir, that your intentions are entirely proper I cannot in justice to myself and my family, which is, by the way, a noted one, permit mySelf to -be drawn into a conversation which is likely to reveal facts of a private nature.” The old gentleman was not a little puzzled until he saw a spectacled female gather together a mass of baggage, tuck the little girl under her arm, and inquire about the next train that went to Boston.