Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-11-21

matte nelghbor, just opposite, whether
they could do her any service while they
were out shopping.
81 es, dear, Josie answered. "Go on,
Milly-I will overtake you at the door. q
milly went on, as directed, very leis-
urely, and buttoning her gloves as she
descended the stairs.
When she reached the lower hall, Nhe
waited for Josie before opening the
door.
Minute after minute passed, and grow
| ing impatient, she amused herself by
drumming with the tips of her fingers
on the banisters.
Five minutes passed, and, with a slight
exclamation, she ran half way upstairs
again.
Come, Josie-it is getting latel" she
called out, as she retraced her steps.
"We will find nothing worth buying" :"
ooh, dear, dear!" responded Josie, in
voice Of mingled distress and per-
plexity.
Milly hurried up the remaining stair,
and hastened into their room.
Josie was wildly searching about the
apartment, moving table, chairs, bureau
even the bed-in a state of utter de-
spair and bewilderment.
Milly could not repress a slight
laugh, her friend looked so wildly anx-
ious and distressed, for no apparent
cause.
"What in the world is the matter
Have you lost anythingl"
"Anything9 Everything!" was the
tragic reply, with an appropriate tone
and gesture. 1.-The money! Our ten
dollars is gonep'
"Good gracious but is it possible p
Milly gasped for breath, and sank
into the nearest chair, with even greater
despair written on her countenance than
had just given rise to her merriment
when she saw it depicted on her friend s
face. But Josie didn't laugh. The
situation was far to serious for her too
see any comic phase of it.
$50 thought, too, when l first missed
it; but | have searched every corner of
the room, every inch of the carpet, every
impossible and possible place, and the
appalling fact becomes more convincing
the money is gomez
Again and again every article in the
room was moved out of its place, and
every likely and unlikely nook and crev-
ice searched, but without success.
Occasionally a remark was made by
one or the other of the girls, and alb
sently replied to; and still the search
went on, until, tired out, they both sat
down and dospairingly removed bonnet,
jacket and gloves.
There was now no. occasion for going
out; the merry magketlphg to ,Thtfh Thfh they they
sure, was no longer possible.
Instead, they must find some way of
sending word to their invited guests that
unforeseen circumstances had interposed
to prevent their little festivity.
Josie was quite heartbroken, blaming
herself for her carelessness; and though
NIilly tried to comfort her, she could not
help thinking that she would have been
more careful of the treasure they had so
long and so faithfully striven for
And, to make everything worse, an un-
mistakable, though indescribabIe, cold,
ness sprang up between these warm
friends.
"You and Josie King are net such
friends as you used to be" remarked q
second acquaintance to Milly Barry, some
weeks later.
The speaker was Kate Weeks, one OF
the party who had been invited to the
Thanksgiving dinner which never took
place; and the young girls CHANGED to be
talking together for few moments dur
ing the brief noontime.
"No, we are not-though | love Josie
King dearly, and always shall, " returned
Milly. "The trouble dates from the los
of that unfortunate ten dollars. Yol
see, no one else was in the room from th'
time she laid the money on the bureau
until it was missed, except ourselves
And where could it go? | am sure tn
same thought is in both our minds-no
that either of us really suspects the othe
of taking the money-that would be i'm
possible we are both miserable
from fearing that we suspect each other
and we have neither of us the courag
to come to an explanation. The idea o
such q thing seems SO unutterably mean
Oh, dear | had rather have lost tel
thousand dollars than have given way t.
the wicked thoughts and doubts forceC
ON me by the loss of that wretched ten.
A young man, who was passing alon:
the crowded aisle Of the great emporium
at that moment, CHANGED to overhea
these words; for, in her excitement
NIilly raised her voice, and spoke wit
great distinctness.
This young man looked at her wit
marked attention, and before he left tn
store he had, by much perseverance, ant
by assuming his most engaging manner
adroitly managed to ascertain Milly'
name, and also her place of residence
without either giving oifense or subject
ing himself to snubbing for his curl
osity.
That evening, Josie aud Milly wer
much startled by the receit of a car
sent up by a gentleman who had aske
for them both, and was now waiting i
the paflor.
2'Say we will come down., said Josi
to, the gaping maid .all-work, VIII
evidently shared their amaZement, fC
neither Miss Barry nor Miss King had eve
, received masculine visitor before, sine
taking up their abode in those lodgings
"Albert Merton,n Josie read from th
card, as the door closed behind the sci
want. 81 know of no such person.
must be some friend of yours, Milly.n
"No, indeed Inever heard the ger
, tlemans name before. But it's yer
/ pretty name. Suppose we go and see
' the owner is worthy of his name"
Both girls fastened to the parlor, an
tall, good looking, elegant young mar
"quite as pretty as his name," Mill
subsequently remarked rose to met
5 them.
"Miss Barry" he bowed to Mill!