Connecticut western news., 1878-11-13
VOL. VII.

proceed. I presume you won't call mother unfair, so she shall draw the names, and the one that comes first shall choose first.
 Had the moment really arrived My heart palpitated, it was almost like cleo tion day when they begin to count the votes. Mother, in her placid, gentle way, drew one of the slips, and we all shouted, for it held her own name.
 "Oh, mother, who would have thought you were so sly l" laughed Will. "Well, come to the table and choose your box"
 I thought to myself, if mother got the lavender she would give it to me. But the suspense was not long she took the box nearest her and opened it. It held the white crape embroidered.
 Rose laughed uneasily. One of us would have to draw the black one now. It was growing serious.
 Mother drew another slip. It bore Roses namo, and the color went and came in her cheeks as she looked at the three boxes and hesitated. You may think it was curious we should care so much but we were none of us rich, and handsome crape shawl would be great addition to either of our wardrobes. Rose at last, all in futter, took the box farthest from her. It contained the white shawl, the pure, creamy white, and Rose pouted.
 "What made me take that one?" she said, respectfully. But the deed was done.
 Mother drew another slip and read my name-Georgie Waite.
 Just at that moment cold tremor was seizing me. It was not that my name was being called; it went deeper than that; it was that I recognized which box held the lavender. The slightest mark, the merest pin-scratch, down in the corner of the lid; but letters of fire could net have seemed plainer to me at that instant. I had noticed it in the morning without speaking of it, when we were so busy planning the distriba- tion it had passed out of my mind at once, and had not remembered it since. But there it was it had suddenly caught my intent eye, now could look at nothing else. It seemed so plain, as if every one must see it, as if every one must know that that one of the two held the precious, the beautiful lavender shawl And there was mother calling my name and the rest waiting for me to take my choice. Oh, didn't they see, didn't they know? Suppose took it, would it be shame fastened upon me forever Should be magnanimous and choose the other box ? Then must go moping about in the black shawl; and I imag- ined Cousin Nell, always statelier and fairer than l, making herself yet more fair and stately, wrapped in that exquis- itely tinted drapery, vision of loveli- ness all summer long, whenever she went abroad in the streets of our little town. Only the night before I had thought from something Steve Bolden said that he thought was pretty; but DOW no one would notice me any more no one would have eyes for anybody but Nell. But-I had not yet chosen.
 "Come, hurry, Georgie! 7" exclaimed Rose, and mother looked at me wonder ing. Oh, what should I do? Would it be so very dreadful :? Perhaps the tiny dent was providential, on purpose to guide my hand to what wanted so much. And Nell always looked handsome in black; she would not mind very much. There she sat, tastefully dressed as usual, and I in my poor old pink and gray things! No, I would not make the sacrifice Down, conscience, down
 Istepped forward and laid my hand on the black Chinese case.
 "Open it !" cried Rose, impatiently. But I absolutely could not, and Will opened it for me. There it lay, the beautiful wonder that I had bought with a price.
 "Oh, Georgie, Georgie, you got it after all !" said Rose. "Lend it to me once in while, won't you? And Nell must take the black. Poor Nell hope it isn't bad omen."
 "I don't care much for omens," said Nell, quietly, drawing the remaining box toward her.
 "I will take the omen myself" ," said dear mother; "let us exchange, Eleanor The black will be much more suitable for me and what could I ever do with this shawl covered with rose-buds ?"
 "I don't know what to do with the rose. buds either," replied Nell, ruefully. She never made choice of such gay contrasting colors.
 1T de, then," interposed Rose. "Come, let's arrange it in this way. Let mother take Nel's, and me mothers and Nell take mine. Then we shall all be suited, though not as well as Georgie of course"
 So the exchange was effected, while sat apart breeding over the coveted lavender, now my own. Of course i was my own; no one doubted that Mine, with it's soft, curdling, silke1 texture; mine with it's fascinating color and Rose said how queer was, not tt triumph more in my success. Blu something kept running through m, brain and beating in my heart-a haunt ing memory of the high honor of ou Winthrop race and the portrait of great aunt, who died before any of u were born, hanging on Wills wall seemed to look me through and through witt stern blue eyes. That portrait had