The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-05-11

it to Anoko's to be mounted on ivory
| And now l shall have to go around there
myself. Very stupid of me; bet then
often am stupid. But how pleased my
aunts will be, bless their dear old
hearts And what wonderful pair of
limpid hazel eyes that little girl has
got ?"
And all day long Alta Graves sweet
pea face came between him and the
dusty pages of his prosy law-books, like
vague dream of what might have
been, had she not been shop-gi and
he bachelor close on the forties
He went home early, and on his way
he stopped at the establishment Of
Tado Anoko.
Mr. Simpson uttered an exclamation
Of omazement at the sight of the ibis
and the sacred peak Fusiyama. "Well,
never !" cried he. "Aunt Sarah, look
ere. Where on hearth did you get this
ere, sir. if may make 30 bold as to
ask? ForI didn't know, L give you
my word of honor, as there was one like
it in the CITY,"
IT was now Mr.. Franklyn's turn to
open his eyes. "The young lady
whom you calliAlta Graves brought it
to me-" said he "and 1 supposed, of
course, that you had sent il"
Alta Graves y repeated Mr.. Simp-
son.
"Our Alta |" shortly spoke Aunt
Sarah, "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 a-turning over heverything
to find match for the banner that you
brought here. And you paid her, you
say, sir? Her"
Certainly did," said Mr., Franklyn,
becoming mora and more puzzled and
uncomfortable. For as to the oval.
faced little maid with the liquid brown
eyes being thief, he did not believe a
word of it.
every WELL" asserted Simpson; "this
settles tho ole haffair. There can't be
40 doubt about it now; for she ave
never paid us the cash for this ere satin
banner"
81 always suspected she wasn't relia
bic, said Aunt Sarah, slowly wagging
her head to and fro. "She's deal
too good-looking. 1 never had no faith
in good-looking shop-girls myself.
Didn't I tell you so, Simpson p
And Alta Graves, who was unpacking
large hamper of cups and sauoers and
fantastically pattern plates down in the
moldy basement, was promptly sum-
m0ned up by mouth OF an eager, painting
little errand-boy. She came, coloring
and little abashed, but prettier than
ever.
Young woman" uttered Simpson,
inaiesticaliy, " what does this mean?"
"Confess at once, you base, unprin-
cipled girl !" said his aunt.
"Look here, Miss Graves spoke
Franklyn, "pm awful sorry to startle
ynu so, Eut there seems to be something
Trong about your sale of this banner to
na."
"Thcre is nothing wrong" said Alta,
quietly. II did sell it to you"
And whero did you get it ?" sternly
demanded Aunt Sarah. Confess, base
girl, that you stole it. Prevarications
WON'T do here"
Atlas cheeks crimsoned; her eyes
blazed into sudden brilliance,
81 never stole it," she cried Do you
think ana thief? Oh. Mrs. Simpson,
how can you, woman, be so hard upon
me, a friendless girl made the banner
myself. l bought the satin and the
embroidery silk, and the golG thread
ont Of my savings, and sat up two
nights to embroider ii, so thai could
earn q little moro money than the poor
wages you pay me, to buy fruit for my
mother, who lies at home dying Of
consumption. There If that is being a
thief, then 1 stand condemned"
And here poor Atlas dignifed 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. cts a Misunderstanding,
that's all. Dent fret"
"lt's very good limitation of the
expane:e style-very," remarked Mr..
Simpson, closely scrutinizing the CLEAN,
ing lines of embroidery. Greatly, Alta
Graves, think you ave genius"
Pray forgive me for my blunderine
aWkwaydress, said Mr.. Franklyn.
And Alta tried to smile through bel
tears and said she would. "She was
ashamed of having made such a scene.
The whole thing was matter Of no con-
sequence whatever
The satin banner was lined and
mounted and Mr.. Franklyn took it to
his aunts, who could scarcely be ecstatic
enough in its praise. 1t was o gem, 9
beauty, marvel of art. Such thing
could never, never be gotten up any
: where but in Japan. And it was sc
good of Frank to find it for them
after they themselves had secured the
, highways and by-ways in vain. That
love of an ibisi And that exquisite
I sacred mountain They never could
thank their nephew sufficiently.
\. Franklyn went the next day tc
SEQ Alta Graves mother, on the dreary
top floor of the tenement house, where
the uncompromising sunshine thai
: poured through the curtainless window
revealed every flaw in the plastering
! every mildewed stain on the ceiling. Ht
came home grave and reflective.
! "Aunt Belinda" he observed, "yor
said the other day that you were no
intending to use your seaside cottagl
at Asbury Park this year?'
"Not if We go to the mountains,
said Aunt Belinda, looking up in som'
surprise; "and 1 believe that that is ou
plan"
"May I borrow it of you ?" asked
} Frank.
"Borrow it ?" repeated Aunt Belinda
And then Frank opened his heart
and told them all-about pretty Alt
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