YOURS WITH ALL MY HEART 



They said, half whispering, ' How can 

 the little thing mistrust it ? ' 



That's just what breaks my heart," said 

 mamma ; ' she knows it already, and she 

 looks at me with such great pleading eyes. 

 She hasn't seen one thing to tell her; they 

 surely can read our very thoughts.' 



'I know they can,' said aunt Mary. 

 'But you can be sure, Stella, that \ve w r ill 

 do all in our power to make her happy. 

 She will be thinking every day that you are 

 coming back, and she will play with Spor- 

 tum, and the doctor will talk to her, to help 

 pass the time away, the same as he always 

 does." 



I shook and trembled as though I had an 

 ague chill; the terrible dread at my heart had 

 taken shape mamma and papa were go- 

 ing away to leave me! 



I know, now, that mamma had almost a 

 mind to give it up for days, as, with a sober 

 face, she found me curled inside her half- 

 packed trunk or an open suit-case. 



I had seen the packing every fall and 

 spring, but I never was so apprehensive 

 before. I would not let papa nor mamma 

 go out of my sight for one moment, but 



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