Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-08-31
hy.,eric.lly to herself I. ,he though, Of t.

II
and Why had .he been so earsles, . TO
lose that money! She needed IL 50. Fred
had come home sick the day he gave her
the bill. and il was ell the money she
would have Tor some time. She hadn't
told Fred ye, Of ,hi. las, ridiculous piece
Of ill.luek.
81 might go TO the house and see II
She. in.' thought Nellie. "And II shes
out. could say there was some mistake
aboa, the hat. and ask to see Il. could
find on, in second whether ray bill Is
there"
SO slowly and With heavy heart. she
walked in Mis-. Van An,serp'. house. 10
Freds old home but there her heart
failed her. and she was about to reirse,
her steps. when .uddenly the door opened
and who should come oai but old Miss
Susan herself. and wearing ihA, very
identical hat.
Nellie watched |, as II fascinated by IL.
Mis-. Van An,~erp did no, see her ahd
walked down the avenue. while Nellie
followed. her eye. f,ed upon the bat,
which she frli she must no, Ie, 70 oa' Of
.iga,.
"Uh. IL the wind would only blos !,
oa." she sighed. III she'd only run
sssin., .ign or something
but nothing Of the Kind happened.
Mis-. Van Antssrp walked on At sdisni'
fed pace. ard presently catered large
dry good. store
Nellie brea,hle..ly followed.
Mis-. Van Antwerp took the elevator
TO the ..ory above sld Nellie climbed up
the stair, and looked around I'LL she saw
her.
Could II be-ye.-.hs really was buy.
Ing breakfast cups. and the brown bon
net lay unsuarded on the counter
Nellie. hear: bsA, 90 tbs, ,he nearly
.mo,hsr,d. She erp, softly uP TO the
bonnet. No one "a. looking. she pat
one hand in /, and adroi,ly broke the
gathering string Of the lining. She slip
ped her hngers inside aud felt 'o',
something. Ys', !, Vas her ragged o'd
bill
Fairly qaiverins with excitement. she
drew Il out. when. "louns woman
wha, are you doing with my bonnie,
sounded an awful voice 10 her ears.
Poor Nellie, She gave little scream
and dropped the bat. ''ill ela'eh'ns the
bill.
"I only wanted my money" ,he fal-
tered. "Ii 70, in the crown by mistake
~hen va. trimming the hat. | AIN very
sony. | didn't mean"
Then she stood and ,remblsd like a
culpri,. and wished Fred. Asfal aunt
would turn her besk.like nose another
way. .
By ,hi. time Mi.. Van An,serP had
recognized "iha, little .nub.no-ed thing.
She grew little sitter. aud her voice
va. a shade harsher. a. she said
"Yoa trimmed ,hA, ha,-yoa-shy'
where il"
FIRED i, sick" said Nellie simply.
Then having recovered herself by this
time. she added. holding up her precious
bill.
"l, wa. such a eomis.l. iupid thing 10
do; can laugh now ,hs, | have found
/, bu, | an very sorry TO have annoyed
you" and. with little bow. she ~Alksd
away.
Mi.. Van Antwerp looked after her.
II W. hr,urn 10 follow now. She caught
up with Nellie jus, a. she lsf, the store.
"Tell me Abou, Fred" she said, IN an
an,iou. voice. and Nellie noticed that
her face wa. pale and lrswn. and that
even aer nose. ,hA, inyineible feature.
had a subdued look.
"Fredha. been well, said Nellie. With
dignity. "an,il yesterday. am going
home to him now
The elder woman ela'pei her hands
nervou.ly.
"CAn would you-woull be like TO
see me she exclaimed.
I'll know he would be very glad. ap-
.wtrrd Nellie. heartily.
They walked along in silence.
IL. he-are you very poor s'ked
Miss Van Antwerp awkwardly. after =
little pause.
Nellie colored. then answered steadily
at va. very hard a, first, bu, after q
little Fred found place. Trimmed hats
because | could DO il easily and because
they would le, me do iiai home. | va.
trimming ,hs, bat Of yours when Fred
lie home. lie had jus, been paid. aud
be tossed this ,wsniy.dollAr bill down In
my lap. and I'm sure | don, see how !
ever did II. but gathered IL up IN the
crown. | wouldn't have tried to find !,
bu, | wanted the money for medicine.
and ,hins. for Fred. | had no idea OF
,hrus,ing myself in your way.
The little woman drew herself up
proudly, ba, old Miss Van AntserP
scarcely heard her
Poor Fred My poor. dear boy !''he
murmured TO herself, with all the peni-
up love and longing Of year.
They nearly surprised Fred out OF his
senses when they came walking In to-
ge,her, and how he laughed when he
heard abou, the los, bill and the found
bonnet
or course they wen, home 70 live with
Aun, Susan. aud exeep, for a Sigh,
change in the drsmatis personals her old age
was just wha, she expected Il would be,
and she grew 50 fond Of Nellie and Mel.
lies children that she quite forgo, all
about Margaret S,euben.
Nellie has always kept a certain old
brown bonnet. "lt Is the tAlisman.' she
says. "ihs, brough, US all together" and
she always trims all Aunt Sasan's hats
for her. "leeause." says thai lady. mo
one has ever suited my nose 20 well.
4 IL. 10