Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-05-25

ere. w mere on uctTtn ulu you get tUlS
ere, sir, if may make so bold as to
ask? For didn't know, give you my
word of honor, as there was one like it
in the city,"
1t was now Mr.. Franklyn's turn to
open his eyes. "The young lady whom
you call Alta Graves brought it 10 me"
said he; sand 1 supposed, of course, that
you had sent it,
"Alta Graves!" repeated MIR. Simp-
son.
OR Alta!" shortly spoke Aunt Sa-
rah. "Then as true as my name is
Sarah Simpson she have stole it-and
out of our very stock. And she knowed
of it all the time, the ungrateful mink,
while we was turning over heverything
to find match for the banner that you
brought here. And you paid her, you
say, sirp Her 90
"Certainly did," said Mr.. Franklyn,
becoming more and more puzzled and
uncomfortable. For as to the ovalfaced
little maid with the liquid brown eyes
being thief, he did not believe a word
of it.
every well,' asserted Simpson;
"this settles the 'ole haffair. There
can't be no doubt about it now; for she
ave never paid US the cash for this 'ere
satin banner"
sI always suspected she wasn't relia-
ble," said Aunt Sarah, slowly wagging
her head to and fro. "She's q deal too
good looking. l never had no faith in
good-looking shop-girls myself. Didn't
I tell you so, SIMPSON,
And Alta Graves, who was unpacking
large hamper of cups and saucers and
Enthusiastically patterned plates down in
the moldy basement, was promptly
summoned up by mouth of an eager,
painting little errand-boy. She came,
coloring and little abashed, but pref
tier than ever.
"Young woman" uttered Simpson,
majestically, "what does this mean?''
ssConfess at once, you base, unprin-
cipled grill" said his aunt.
"Look here, Miss Graves,' spoke
Franklyn, s'I'm awfully sorry to startle
you so, but there seems to be some
thing wrong about your sale of this ban
ner to me.''
"There is nothing wrong,'' said
Alta, quietly. 81 dill sell it to you''
"And where did you get it?'' sternly
demanded Aunt Sarah. "Confess, base
u.
won't do here.''
Atlas cheek crimsoned; her eyes
blazed into sudden brilliance.
81 never stole it, she cried. Do
you think I ana thief? o, Mrs. Simp-
son, how can you, woman, be so hard
upon me, friendless girl? made the
banner myself. bought the satin, and
the embroidery silk, and the gold thread
out of my savings, and | sat up two
nights to embroider it, so that l could
earn a little more money than the poor
wages you pay me, to buy wine and
fruit for my mother. who lies at home
dying of consumption. There! If that
is being thief, L stand condemned"
And here poor Atlas dignified bear
ing gave way all at once, and she burst
out crying like child.
"Don't fret, my DEAR" soothed Aunt
Sarah, who was kind-hearted woman
in the main. "It's misunderstanding,
that's all. Don't fret"
"It's very good limitation of the
Japanese style-very," remarked Mr..
Simpson, closely scrutinizing the gleam-
ing lines of embroidery. sReally, Alta
Graves, 1 think you ave genius.'
"Pray forgive me for my laundering
awkwardness," said Mr.. FRANKLIN.
And Alta tried to smile through her
tears, and said that she would. s'She
was ashamed of having made such a
scene. The whole thing was a matter
of no consequence whatever"
The satin banner was lined and
mounted, and Mr.. FRANKLIN took it to
his aunts, who could scarcely be ecstatic
enough in its praise. 1t was gem, a
beauty, marvel of art. Such a thing
could never, never be gotten up any
where but in Japan. And it was so
good of Frank to find it for them, after
they themselves had secured the high
ways and by-ways in vain. The love of
an ibis! And that exquisite Sacred
Mountain! They never could thank
their nephew sufficiently.
Mr.. Franklyn went the next day to
see Alta Graves's mother, on the dreary
top floor of the tenement-house, where
the uncompromising sunshine that
poured through the curtainless window
revealed every flaw in the plastering,
every mildewed stain on the ceiling. He
came home grave and reflective.
"Aunt Belinda" he observed, 'syou
said the other day that you were not in
tending to use your seaside cottage at
Asbury Park this yearp''
ssNOt if we 90 to the mountains"
said Aunt Belinda, looking up in some
surprise; "and believe that that is
our plan"
'May I borrow it of youP" asked
Frank.
"Borrow ite" repeated Aunt Belinda
And then Frank opened his heart, and
told them all-about pretty Alta with
the limpid eyes; about the pale invalid,
with the two little girls who played at
cat's-cradle so quietly at the foot of the
bed, and hushed their baby laughter so
as not to disturb mamma; about the
hand-to-hand contest with want and dis
ease, in which the sick woman was get
ting SO sorely worsted.
''She shall have the COTTAGE" said
Aunt Belinda, enthusiastically.
"And will send my own maid down
to make it all comfortable for her as
soon as the month of May comes" added
Miss Beckley.
And so, perhaps, the old ladies were
not so mich amazed in tho autumn