Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-08-24

Nlu-H anu put lutih ou hcI ittic huEtl.
/ let her do il. And she said: 20 my!
and kept smiling.
remember il was in the evening and
/ had just come up from playing in the
public parlor, and had on my
"chrushed-strawberry" dress and an
orange in my hand. And 1 remember
i asked her; docs your little sister
that you told me of wear curls?' And
she said: "No; she don't ever does. y
That was the best Lena could talk.
Then she gave me back the rings.
and / was going right TO bed. SO l put
them in the box on the bureau-or
thought I did-and Lena stood at the
door and looked nj me the whole time.
There was pink cotton in the box, and
the sweetest picture on the cover. Then
auntie set up the screen between the
bed and the light. and / undressed and
went right TO sleep.
How l did sleep! I'd been playing
blind-man's buff, and / slept ever so
late. Liar came in and fixed the fire,
and Lena came in and brought the
towels; but | never opened my eyes till
] heard auntie and Cora laughing about
me. Come, you little sleepy girl, -
said auntie, and she kissed me on both
cheeks. ! never once thought about
the rings, but got up and let her curl
INV hair. She said: This is Washing
tons birthday said she; and curled a
curl and laughed, for Cora was so
hungry waiting.
And | remember how il rained; hard
or than IL does now, ever So much. And
after breakfast Cora aud stood by that
beautiful window and looked down to
see the soldiers parade. They didn't
mind the rain dripping on their pretty
caps and uniforms and white gloves.
First, they put out one foot and then
they put out the other foot. all ut the
same time, O the music. Cora said il
was like wooden dolls with joints in
their knees.
She didn't see that hadn't any rings
ON my fingers. and didn't see il myself
We were watching the soldiers on the
street. and the people on the pavemen;
following on after the soldiers. The
people all had umbrellas. You couldn't
see any heads ut all; all you could see
was umbrellas.
We wanted TO dress up our dolls like
soldiers. They were all girls and
\ wore Kate Grecnaway dresses, but
auntie said they could be woman's
rights soldiers Just the same; and she
made some shiny black caps. and
We tucked mp their curls, and so cum
ming and brave as they lookedi
Afterwards, | remember auntic went
tO the reNt room To read To- old Mrs.
Locke. and ! waited for her; and Cora
went down To lunch. But O, the mo-
mrnt Cora was gone, thought of those
rings and went To- the box on the bu-
rcau. but just think. grandma. they
weren't there, There was the pink
cotton in the box, but not ring 10 be
seen.
\ perfectly awful feeling went over
me. | know / turned pale, for had
to pour my handkerchief wringing wet
with cologne. Why. YOU lust think!
Did y0H ever have anything So terrible
happen To- y0Ul Why, those rings cost
more money than / had i'm this world!
And COra's grandfather gave her the
red ring, that died.
hunted and hunted. under the bed
and under the rugs, and pulled the
drawers all out. And / knew papa
would have To- pay for them, and he'd
think | was very expensive! He would
have to cure ever so many sick pco-
pie and ride in the night for DAYS
and weeks to pay for those rings.
Specially the beautiful red one with
white currants round it. And she
thinking so much of her grandfather
too! | knew she'd never forgive me.
but always go around with her head
thrown back; and how / should feel
| wished then I'd obcyed auntie and
not borrowed what didn't belong to me.
10 was just awful to have auntie know
IL. i wished i needn't be obliged to
tell
She came in from reading to that old
lady, and | was crying on the bed
First ! wanted To say Twas crying about
my silver mug that Baby Griswold
dentcd all up, striking it against Tn,
gate; and so / was-a little. | could
always cry about that! But my truly
tears were for the rings, and | wouldn't
let myself be so mean rs not to tell the
truth. Besides, | wanted auntie TO hell
me find them, YOU know
When | told her, she said: "Ah
little Mary, so you've been borrowing
again"
knew she was disp!eased, because
she was so cool i'm her manner. | asked
her u ''please not blame me- said
and told her / was sure Lena haC
stolen the rings, for she knew wher,
they were and saw me put them in the
box "Oh, little Mary, is that all tn,
reason YOU have for saying SOP" sale
she. You shouldn't make n remark
like that, unless you know it to b,
, true
but do know IL, auutie," said I
Lena always admired those splendiC
rings. and when she came in this morn
ing with the towels and found me asleep
she could take them rs well as not.
always thought she had horrid face
she looks a If she'd steall"
spoke so sure and certain that ex
. pectcd auntie would ring the bell fo
Lena, and | was going to hide under tn,
bed when Lena came in. But instea,
, she only stood there and said: 30
little Mary" again.
Then She talked about the Colder
Rule. WAS it kind IN s'pcct people, >
she said; "was il right?''
IL made me feel So ashamed To hav,
her blame me. grandma, for she's m,
. favOrite friend mean except YOU AM
. papa and mamma and the rest of tn
family. But thought Lena took tn,
rings just the same.
Then auntie began to hunt every
where; in all my pockets, and in m,
dolls pockets, and in the waste-basket
and in the books and under the table
The more she hunted and didn't fin,
them the worse felt. l kept thinking
she'd say Little Mary again, and
Now | hope this win be lesson {,
you, and don't you wish you'd obeyeC
me, little Nary" But she was just a
sweet! She went with me to early din
ner, and let me have lady-fingers an,
ice-cream and three nuts and six raisins
just n always.
And after dinner she began to hum
again without scolding one bit. She
took all the clothes out of the closet anC
| qhOoE fhpua and mt thaf,n ba,I oer.;,