The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-11-19

,
Margery felt bad because she could
not attend the picnic. She look.
very pale and i'll, but no doubt she
would be glad to see you. Now
run, dear, and see your new dress
The dress had no attraction fol
Edith, but she went into the room
where the girls were promenading
before the long mirror, admiring
the effect of their dresses, "How dc
they look Ede?' inquired Jennie
spreading out the folds of her pret-
ty white null, Aren't they toe
sweet and simple for picnic
dressesT "Very," was Edith S
brief reply as she flung her white
dress over her arm and went up
stairs to her little chamber. She
did not pause to try it on, hung il
up in the wardrobe and closed the
door with a snap, thus shutting the
dress. and alliher happy expectation:
of the picnic from sight"
Then she drew up q chair to the
open window and sat down to
think. The Greenvi'le academy
closed that evening, and on the
morrow was to be given a grand
picnic. Great preparations had
been made for the occasion, and ev.
cry boy and girl looked forward to
the day with delight.
Edith had also, but she was a girl
who wished far more to give pleas
ure to person than to receive it,
She was not one of your-too- good
for-the-world girls, but she always
tried to do right and generally sue.
ceeded. OF Judge Maxwel's three
daughters, Edith was his and the
Whole households favorite. She
was ever ready to offer her services
to those who needed them, and il
grew to be a natural thing for the
girls to say when any work was tC
be done: "Oh let Edith do it,
have to practice my music, "or 81
havn't finished this painting yet"
And Edith cheerfully did it.
The picnic day came The
weather was perfect, not a cloud to
be seen and a gentle breeze rustled
the trees and stirred the flowers in
the Maxwell garden, waiting their
sweet perfumes in through the open
doors and windows of the mansion.
At 9 o'clock Mrs. Maxwell, Jennie
and Louise got in the pheton and
rode away to the pianic grounds,
leaving Edith to go when she chose
to Margery's.
When the girls learned of Edith 8
sudden resolve, they merely said,
Its just like her."
Laden with basket Of most de-
licious edibles the pantry afforded,
several late magazines and a charm
ing bouquet of roses, heliotrope and
smilax, Edith set out. She passed
down the broad avenue, then enter
ed a quiet secluded street, and soon
stopped at the gate of a low, un-
painted house, with bit of yard in
front, and fine apple tree leaning
over the little board fence"
A woman, sad and weary looking,
opened the door and asked Edith in
with such kind smile that made
her homely features really beaH IT,
tul. The room Edith entered was
uncarpeted, its furniture consist
ing of only a rough table, two bat
tered chairs, bed and one rocker,
in which Margery sat. She was q
pale, emancipated girl, with dark
circles around her large, dark eyes
which lighted up when she saw
Edith.
'How glad 1 am that you have
come" she said, holding the bou
quet to her face to inhele their fra
GRANGE; "and isn't it perfect day
Why didn't you go to the picnic
EdIth?"s
"Oh, because 1 would rather
spend the day with you, Margie."
"How good you are," exclaimed
Margie, with a grateful smile; ''anC
the magazines are just what 1 want
l haven't had anything to read fol
week, have /, mother?"
NO." replied her mother, who
was bending over the wash-tuh; 81
am as glad as Margie is YOU'VE
come, Miss Edith. Seems al
though Margery would pine righ
away if it wasn't for the sight o
your sweet face
81 would have been down before,
said Edith, "but we've been havini
examinations at school, and
couldn't leave"
Out in Mrs. Whites yard, unde
the great, spreading apple tree
Edith and Margery spent the Who'll
day laughing and talking, till Mar
gerry forgot about her troubles AM
was as much of a girl as ever. A
noon they spread feast and Mrs
White came out and lunched wit
them.
In the afternoon Edith produce
her checkers, and that helped tn
day to pass quickly. When sh
, went home at evening, Mrs. Whit
: accompanied her to the gate, an,
said, while grateful tears filled he
eyes:
"Oh, Miss Edith, you don't knoV
how glad I am that you come to
, day. Margery just seemed her oil
; self again, and looks ever so mucl
; better. But you denied yourself t
come here"
"Oh, no, Mrs. White" returne
Edith, 81 am thankful if was tn
means of making her feel better
; and now since school is out, ca
, come often. Goodnight"
They parted, and Edith Wake
rapidly toward home. On the wa
t she saw her fathers stately cal
riage, drawn by two prancing bays
r approaching, and signaled for hir
to stop. When cozily serted b
r his side, and the horses were ono
more on the trot, Judge Maxwe
} asked:
"Were you at the picnic to-day
Edith?"
mo, father; 1 didn't care to gC
r / spent the day with Marger
) White, and we had a nice timt
And, ,father-we have plenty of ROOF