Beulah | Page 7

want, and do
nothing but read." The impulsive child threw her arms around Beulah's
neck, and kissed her repeatedly, while the latter bent down over her
basket.
"Lilly, here are some chinquapins for you and Olaudy. I am going out
into the yard, and you may both go and play hull-gull."
In the debating room of the visiting committee Miss White again had
the floor. She was no less important a personage than vice president of
the board of managers, and felt authorized to investigate closely and
redress all grievances.
"Who did you say sent that book here, Mrs. Mason?"
"Eugene Rutland, who was once a member of Mrs. Williams' orphan
charge in this asylum. Mr. Graham adopted him, and he is now known
as Eugene Graham. He is very much attached to Beulah, though I
believe they are not at all related."
"He left the asylum before I entered the board. What sort of boy is he? I
have seen him several times, and do not particularly fancy him."
"Oh, madam, he is a noble boy! It was a great trial to me to part with
him three years ago. He is much older than Beulah, and loves her as
well as if she were his sister," said the matron, more hastily than was
her custom, when answering any of the managers.

"I suppose he has put this notion of being a teacher into her head. Well,
she must get it out, that is all. I know of an excellent situation, where a
lady is willing to pay six dollars a month for a girl of her age to attend
to an infant, and I think we must secure it for her."
"Oh, Miss White! she is not able to carry a heavy child always in her
arms," expostulated Mrs. Williams.
"Yes, she is. I will venture to say she looks all the better for it at the
month's end." The last sentence, fraught with interest to herself, fell
upon Beulah's ear, as she passed through the hall, and an unerring
intuition told her "You are the one." She put her hands over her ears to
shut out Miss Dorothea's sharp tones, and hurried away, with a dim
foreboding of coming evil, which pressed heavily upon her young
heart.
CHAPTER II.
The following day, in obedience to the proclamation of the mayor of
the city, was celebrated as a season of special thanksgiving, and the
inmates of the asylum were taken to church to morning service. After
an early dinner, the matron gave them permission to amuse themselves
the remainder of the day as their various inclinations prompted. There
was an immediate dispersion of the assemblage, and only Beulah
lingered beside the matron's chair.
"Mrs. Williams, may I take Lilly with me, and go out into the woods at
the back of the asylum?"
"I want you at home this evening; but I dislike very much to refuse
you."
"Oh, never mind! if you wish me to do anything," answered the girl
cheerfully.
Tears rolled over the matron's face, and, hastily averting her head, she
wiped them away with the corner of her apron.

"Can I do anything to help you? What is the matter?"
"Never mind, Beulah; do you get your bonnet and go to the edge of the
woods--not too far, remember; and if I must have you, why I will send
for you."
"I would rather not go if it will be any trouble."
"No, dear; it's no trouble; I want you to go," answered the matron,
turning hastily away. Beulah felt very strongly inclined to follow, and
inquire what was in store for her; but the weight on her heart pressed
more heavily, and, murmuring to herself, "It will come time enough,
time enough," she passed on.
"May I come with you and Lilly?" entreated little Claudia, running
down the walk at full speed, and putting her curly head through the
palings to make the request.
"Yes, come on. You and Lily can pick up some nice smooth burrs to
make baskets of. But where is your bonnet?" "I forgot it." She ran up,
almost out of breath, and seized Beulah's hand.
"You forgot it, indeed! You little witch, you will burn as black as a
gypsy!"
"I don't care if I do. I hate bonnets."
"Take care, Claudy; the President won't have you all freckled and
tanned."
"Won't he?" queried the child, with a saucy sparkle in her black eyes.
"That he won't. Here, tie on my hood, and the next time you come
running after me bareheaded, I will make you go back; do you hear?"
"Yes, I hear. I wonder why Miss Dorothy don't bleach off her freckles;
she looks like a--"
"Hush about her, and run on ahead."

"Do, pray, let me get my