Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-09-09

cake had been fastened over her mouth.
When there was a demand for the
candy basket, enc little heart went
thumpl thump, as if candy baskets had
been known to contain instruments of
torture.
Tommy Potter watched Mamie as
she took out the candy. ''One more CO
cOa-nut cake, Man," he said, as his sister
put down the basket
No." she said, 'that's ALL
81 know better" said Tommy. "0ne,
two, three. four. five (get your hand out
of the way, will your six, seven, eight,
nine bought EN- myself, ought to know,
ten, leYen-I paid for twelve; and
when pays for thing gets it! Some
body has hooked a cocoa-nut cake"
They all laughed, not excepting Becky
She will never forget how much 1t cost
her to laugh that day.
You don't s'pose l care for cent Co
coa-nut cake, do you?" said Tommy, al
most wrathfully. "But 1 hate to know
we've got fellow in the party mean
enough to take it."
"Sit DOWN. said Mamie, you have
made speeches enough. How do you
know 'twasn't a girl took it"
"0h, never, neverP said Jerry, gal
lantly.
III leave it to Becky, now," declared
the investigating Tommy, ''if when she
had the basket there wasn't twelve CO.
coa-nut cakes ??
II really did not count them" said
Becky, ,coolly, wondering at her own self
possession.
Come, now," persisted Tommy, 81 re-
member there were only three pink ones.
Did you notice that, Becky ?"
81 did," said little Nathan, coolly.
Poor Becky Had she been the means
of bringin her own accuser?
There, therew said Tommy, "hear
that. When did you see them, Natl"
when she" (p0inting but not looking
at Becky was a-setting the candy bask-
ct right"
what difference can it make, any
way?" said one of the girls, seeing
Becky's confusion; Deacon, will yon
please tell Tommy to be quiet"
The deacon smiled, but said nothing
he was anxious himself to see how they
would come out.
you saw three pink cakes, Nat, are
you sure ?" said Tommy.
II know did," said Nathan; "two big
ones and little mite of one"
Remember Becky's grandfather is a
Judge" said Jerry, laughing.
Where was the last you saw that lit
tie pink cake, Nat?" said Tommy, excl
tedly.
"In my hand" said Nathan.
BeckY's hand went involuntarily to her
pocket. The small pink cake was gonet
Where did you get it?" cried Tom
my.
"Becky dropped it and picked it up"
"Why didn't you give it back to
Becky?"
None of your business"
"Tut, tut" said the deacon.
Nathan threw the little cake among
the others.
"If you paid cent for that you got
cheated" said one of the girls.
IT was worth stealing, anyhow" said
Tommy
All through the trial Nathan had not
cast his eyes once toward Becky. Did
he know the truth?
After dinner they went to the meadow.
Becky tried in vain to get near enough
to little Nathan to question him about
the cake. HE knows I meant to take
it, she thought; why did he say he took
it?"
She thought the deacon looked sor-
at him, when he said so coOlly
II did"
The deacon was stretched out now un-
der the trees, with great red silk hand
erchief over his face. Becky went back
and sat by his side. Il will. not leave
this seat she said to herself, till 1 tell
him that 1 took that cake instead of
Nathan"
In few minutes he said: "Who is
that?"
"It's Becky" she answered very hum
bly,.
He was about to draw off the hand
kerchief from his face, when she said,
please leave the handkerchief on, Dea-
con, want to tell you something, and
am ashamed"
Hard, indeed, must have been the dea-
cons heart that would not have been
touched by her humble, penitent voice.
whats the little girl ashamed Off"
he said kindly.
GOOA GilC pllAA COSOd-nul CdhC, uCtt-
con, instead of Nathan
81 thought it wasn't much like Ma
than to do it." said the deacon smiling
ly.
She looked up, and on the other side
of the veiled deacon stood Nathan, max
ing motions to her not to tell.
81 thought ought to tell you" said
Becky, trying hard not to cry.
''She only dropped it. deacon, and !
picked 1t up"
"Why didn't you give it back to her.
then?" 1t was Tommy's question. The
deacon sat up, pulled off the red hand
kerchief, and looked at Nathan, who re-
manned silent.
Because" said Becky, tearfully, "it
fell out of my pocket"
"Well, what if it did?" returned Ma
than; "you had the care of the candy,
and could carry it wherever you wanted
to-"
"They all think you took it, Nathan"
said Becky; and l can't, oh, tell them
I did it! Will you please do it, Deacon"
The deacon returned to mediate be-
meath the red handkerchief. When he
again emerged, be it to his credit or
shame-I say not which-this great pu-
ritan deacon said: Let it go as it is,
Becky; think you have suffered for
your sing enough"
The great wagon rolled away from
the "other farm" As they passed thBo'
the gate they all saw Natnan's sturdy
little figure leaning against the open
gate. "Good-byel good-byel" cried Becky,
waving her hand, and one or two sun
bonnets bobbed pleasant good night;
but he felt that most of them could not
forget that he had taken the little cake.
81 don't care" he said, as they drove
out of sight; "she was the only one that
asked me to CO.
Tommy" said Becky, as the wagon
stopped at the Judges front gate, 81 took
the little pink cocoa-nut cake. Nathan
only said he took it to save me. want
everybody in this wagon to know that
Nathan didn't take it,"
Brave little Becky!" muttered the old