The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-02-10

gold, if it was gold, was all dinted and
smashed fiat, the original pin gone,
and "a needle tied in by the eye with
thread served to fasten it. One large
stone was set in the centre as large as a
pea, surrounded by nine smaller ones.
but one of these was lost out long ago,
and / often tried to find a piece of white
glass to fit the small cavity, but had
failed. The stones were all glass. as l
believed Some of the girls in the vii
lage would ask me why / wore the old
fashioned thing; then [ would show
them the dim Mabel OH the back,
and tell them [ had been named after
the name there. Some one had given
my mother the pin for me when L was
born; and she mother) said l
should bear the same name. The
peddler kept it in his hand, and I
noticed that his fingers trembled.
"Ill bring it you back in three
months time" said he; '"twont be
o no good to me, but I'll take it on
trust. Or, if you can pay sooner, l
shall be about the neighborhood all
next week, and will sleep each night at
the inn
Be you sure I did not hesitate long !;
the temptation was too great; SO,
thrustins the pin carelessly into his
| breast pocket, he tied up his bundles,
and with low bows left the house
could scarcely believe in my good
luck. [ spread out my new frock on
the bed, and held it before me to try
the effect And then I began to repent.
My father l knew would not give me
one cross look but still / did hate to
tell him of the twelve shiilings 1 owed
the peddler. | would be SO saving for
the next three months that he would
lose nothing Oy my bargain, for I'd
scrape it all together myself
When I picked up the linen band to
put it round my neck, [ did not know
how to fasten it with that familiar old
pin; then / recollccted how often the
girls had told me that a bow of ribbon
would look SO much prettier. So, look
ing up small piece of black velvet, |
formed a bow, and felt more than sat
listed.
My father did not get home to tea or
to supper. ] put the children to bed
after their slices OF bread ana treucle
and good washing.
At ten o'clock Il note came, saving
some business had detained my father
that [ better close the house and retire.
This was nothing very unusual, as his
business matters often kept him late
[ was quite 4 staid little woman ia man.
agement, and did as l was bid. NV
father would come in would his latch
key On Sunday morning at
breakfast the children showed him
their watches and doll. [ said nothing
about the dress, for it struck me he was
| looking anxious.
Where's your breast-pin, Mabel?'
he asked, as the children ran out be-
fore the door after breakfasts
The breast pin 1 was frightened at
once. He had never asked after it or
noticed it before He must have heard
of what I'd done and was angry.
q Father, l have not got it, | ex
claimed at once, ready to cry.
"Not got it? What do you mean,
child |? You surely wore it yesterday p
" Yes, sir, | replied, land it's all
safe: was inst going to tell you about
it when you frightened me-"
We'll, ! lon't wish to brighten YOU,
my dear; | mad no thought of such a
thing. Calm Yourself, Mabel, while /
tell you of a letter Irecieved yesterday.
and then you can get it at your leisure.
You can get it -
I" l can get it, father. Or, rather,
you can. But l hope you will not
blame me. What have you heard about
it,"
"Well, my dear, listen. We have
never attached any value to that old
pm, only that good, kind woman
gave 1t to your mother to keep for you,
and so we did keep it because of that.
She was stranger to us, poor lady,
and was IN distress, and your mother
was kind to her. But she left the place
soon after you were born, and we never
heard more Of her. Yesterday, however.
L got letter from long distance. ask
ing about that very pin and describing
1T, even to the name on the back. It Is
very valuable, Mable."
My heart was beating ten strokes
where 1t should have beat but one.
" The pin we have set no store by is
of great value, Mable. The centre
dlmond alone IS worth what to us poor
people would be a fortune. And it is
all yours, my dear; you can convert the
diamonds into money and be at ease for
| life"
| What with the overpowering surprise
and what with fear of my fathers an
ger, L tainted. When [ came too on
the sofa in the parlor. to go to church
tdered, and [ trembled vet.