The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-01-05
EFFkE'S DOLLAR BILL


Il was a bitter cold night, the full
moon shining with freezing light over
cold expanse of glittering snow, the
branches of the glen tinkling aud
cracking under the weight of icicles,
the stars glittering aiar off | had to
run across the beaten path that led
from the house to the barn, to get some
Of the red Baldwin apples that were
packed SO sDugly in the o,.t bin, for
old Mr.. Cornell who had come to
spend the evening, ana my MOTHER
took pride in her unpre'ending hospi-
tality. But Just as stopped to lift
the lid of the bin, rustling noise in
the hay startled me. Before | could
utter low cry that trembled on my
lips, saw that it was Stella Severn.
Stella Severn, Mrs Lockwood, $
"bound girl" was wild, reckless
thing, who received bad name at
every ones hand, and contrived,
somehow to get blamed for every
scrape that was going. Whether she
was really bad or not nc one could
tell-but somehow she was perpetu-
ally under the ban.
Mrs. Lockwood, a stiff, rigid dame
Of the puritanic type, knew no more
how to manage Stella Severn than
the matronly hen comprehends the
nature Of the wilful duckling that
takes to the water in spite of every
thing-and for some recent escapage,
the full details of which | did not
know, Ibad been forbidden by my
mother even 10 speak to Stella.
"Yes, it is l." said Stella, slowly
rearing herself out of the recesses of
the hay, and staring at me with her
big, Andalusian eyes And | am,
oh-so coldn
What are you doing here ?" |
asked, holding up my lantern in sore
perp!exity,
Il am trying to sleep" said Stella;
81 have run away"
Run away! What for?"
Because | couldn't stand it any
longer. Mrs. Lockwood accused me
of being q thief-she had lost some
miserable old teaspoon or other-aBd
| won't be called a theft"
But, Stella" | cried, my conserv-
ative nature thrilling with terror al
the mere idea Of such bold measures
as these, what ore you going to
do ~
THE Lord only knows" Stella an
swered, with more reckless truth
than reverence.
Perhaps mother would let you
sleepIn our spare room," | said.
Perhaps she wouldn't" scornsul.
| ly retorted Stella. "No decent per-
son lets me in
al mean to ask"
ASK, then and get scolding for
your palms." laughed Stella, bitterly.
But il is so Cruelly cold ,and know
mother wouldn't shut out even a dog
in such weather as this"
Perhaps so-but I'm worse than
d dog. You mean kindly, Ellie
Heartt, but you'll find out the folly
of it.
! made 20 answer, but ran back to
the house, where, breatbless and
painting, l preferred my request.
"A thief, A runaway in my
house ~ cried my mother.
"a lazy goodfor-nothing, who
would rather lie in the sun than
work, any time" echoed Deacon
Cornell.
"Go and warn her off the premises,
Immediately" said my mother.
Il dunno but what | ought to go
for the constable ~ obviously remark
ed the Deacon, feeling his stubby
beard.
| slunk awav disheartened. Stella's
prophecy had been correct. But |
was determined not to desert my
playmate thus. Creeping TO my
room, | took a solitary dollar bill,
treasured toward new blue sash for
a spring muslin, and wrote a short
note to Hubert Leslie, young ar
list who had boarded with US the
summer previous, asking him to be-
friend the friendess. | believed he
would do as much as that for my
sake, and then hurrying once more
to the barn, | crept up to Stella's
side.
Stella, said !, you must so away
from here"
81 thought so, responded Stella,
calmly.
But here is o dolar-aIl the mon
ey | have it will take you to New
York, il you walk fast and reach the
depot in time for the midnight train.
And here is note to gentleman,
who may perhaps, help you find
something to do"
Stella threw her arms about my
neck, and | could feel her tears wei
and warm upon my cheek
"Efiie Heartt," sobbed she, "if all
the world was like you, perhaps ]
shouldn't be as bad as / am. Yet I'll
do my best. Give me the money and
let me 60"
watched her dark form ploddine
away over the snow until the black
speck vanished under the wall ol
trees that lined the road, and then
went back into the house, where my
mother and the deacon were discuss
ing their cider and apples.