The Red Cloud chief., 1881-04-07
JE1KrR's GRADUATION DRESS.

JE2NIE'S GRADUATION DRESS.
"Now go on with your studying
Jennie. It's useless to discuss the mai
ter"
"But, mother, I don't see"
"O course you don't see, dear, bu
when your father has decided, he ha
Ddeciied, you know. Don't think an
more about it. Come, l cant spare 20
but fifteen minutes more. You mus
help me ON Johnny's iacket-just tn
button-hOles, my eyes are SO poor"
"ANhy don't you get Miss Stitchson :
make the button-holes
"Don,t ask me. What did your fathe
say yesterday noon, and again just a
supper-time? II you will make them
a get the jacket finished to-nigh,
He needs 1t enough"
snow, mother Mayberry, it's to bad
Toms suit is shabby. but don't believ
he cares. One day more won't max
much difference, any way; and
will help IN the button-holes tomorrow
afternoon, il Prudy don't come for m,
to practice that duet with her."
"No, no, dear. Never putoff till to
morrow what q be done today
Grandma's motto, ron know, I wish 20,
would bear It in mind more than you do
There-now you mustn't say another
word-keep your thoughts on you
lesson. 1. shan't speak for fifteen min
utes."
At this Jennie resumed studying, fol
she was as DESTROYS as her mother wa.
for her to be correct i'm recitations. Shl
had been dreading this last review in
history, which was to determine heI
rank in scholarship. And her father
was anxious that she should stand high
at graduation-only three weeks hence.
He had even taken pains to go over with
her all the battles OF the Rebellion and
the events of the Franco German war,
dates were such a trouble to her and
taught her an old method of his own for
memorizing such things accurately.
She went on patiently with the words
of the book. But | am sorry to say her
thoughts wandered to Prudence Winn's
new dress, and to a small package in
her pocket which she had not yet had
the courage-Opportanity, she would
have said-to show her mother; vet
which she must see this very evening if
her long-cherished hopes were to be full
filled.
A pencil was needed to mark the
battle of the Wilderness for her memo
rizing method, and in taking it from her
pocket out came the package also. Her
pink cheeks took on q deeper hue As
she hastily snatched at it before il fell to
the floor, and there was n confused
droop of her %quivering eyelids be-
fore her mothers questioning glance.
Not a word was said, but Mrs. May
berry extended her hand, and Jennie
dared not ignore the unspoken request.
"What does this mean, daughter?
Jordan and Mdrsh's shop bill BLACK
silk-sanpies" said Mrs Mayberry,
as she unfolded the little pack
age.
81 wanted to know what it would
came the reluctant words, as the
girls nervous fingers turned and re-
turned the pages of her history. "Other
girls, lots of them, do"
"Do what?n
"Send for samples"
without consulting their parents?
! hope not, Jennie. How could your"
There was no answer, and the ques-
ton was repeated. But before she had
time to reply Mr.. Mayberry and Tommy
had been busy over an hour in
The barn locking after the comfort of
the little heifer and Nan, her mother,
and seeing that Jinks, the old roam, and
Daisy, the pony, were all right, and
about the premises snug and
orderly-came hurrying in.
Mr.. Mayberry, quick to read faces,
Jaw that something unpleasant was
under consideration. Presenting it was
he same subject-graduation and its ex-
p~enses-which had been talked over
tea-time, he said: s'I've been think
ng it ali over, Jennie. 1 can't bear to
nave You feel unhappy and dissatisfied,
Ind instead of giving money for hiring
music that day and evening Ill let the
lass have the use of our piano-you and
'rudie Winn can play well enough for
anybody who'll be there. How do you
ike that? FIJI take it to the school.
house, and back, too"
Jennie did not answer. She had re-
from her confusion, and only q
ickfy smile showed that she had I'M
his suggestion.
"a good idea-don't you think so,
ne added, with a little CHR
upy laugh, which Mrs. Mayberry an
wered with another-but hers was
orced and hollow.
Tommy saw the samples of silk, still
his mothers hand. "Something for
~ new jacket-trimmings, is ftp" he
sked.
"Oh, no. Jennie you might as we'll
ELF your father all about it," was the
csponse, in low sad tones.
Jennie began to cry.
eli! hi!" said her father, cheerily.
This won't do for a seventeen-yesr-
Id young lady. What's up? don't
anything to cry about. You're get
ng nervous, sis. Too much study, I'm |
fraid. / shall be glad when YOU get
this terrible last term. But
ou're coming out well-that's not the
'ouble, / hope? Let's run over the
attles again, so IS to be sure of Them"
nd he took up the book which sho had
ushed aside. +
Mrs. Mayberry aid the strips of silk
pom the book. "What do you think
| thosee" she said, gently.
"Thcse?" he asked. "Why, what ara
icy? How came you by them?"
sis it best for Jennie to have o grad
like either of them?"
sour Jennie? Good grandmother of
Our little Jennie rugged
1t like a ffty-year-old? You're joking,
ife!r
Jennie had ceased crying and now
oked up anxiously. !
"Never wasI more in earnest, john"
So Well, 1 don't pretend TO know
,out these things. But you don't really
ant it, do you. childf Such .
oomy thing. Why, you oughtto have
mething bright and cheerful then, it /!
ems to me-" ]
"It would be very serviceable,' said
,nnie, meekly.
Observation-Disclosures" queried her