, 1886-08-11

Miss Van Antwerp took the elevator to
the top story, and Nellie climbed up the
stairs and looked around till she saw her.
Could it bef yes, she really was buying
breakfast cups, and the brown bonnet lay
quite unguarded on the counter.
Nellie's heart beat so that she nearly
~smothered. She crept softly up to the
bonnet. No n was looking. She put
n hand In 1t and adroitly broke the
gathering string OF the lining. She slipped
her fingers inside and felt a soft some
thing. Yes, it was her ragged old bill
Fairly quivering with excitement she
drew 1t out when "Young woman! what
are you doing with my bonnet" sounded
an awful voice in her ears.
Poor Nelliel She gave a little scream
and dropped the hat, still clutching her
bill.
II only wanted my money" she faltered.
at got in the crown by mistake when l
was trimming the hat. / am very sorry.
1 didn't mean" Then she stood and
trembled like a culprit. and wished Fred's
awful aunt would turn her beak-like nose
another way.
BY this time Miss Van Antwerp had
recognized that little snub-nosed thing"
She grew a little sitter and her voice was
a shade harsher as she said:
1ou trimmed That nat you why,
where is@r
Fred is sick" said Nellie, simply.
Then, having recovered herself by this
time. she added, holding up her precious
bill:
at was such a comical, stupid thing to
do; l can laugh. now that l have found 1t;
but l am sorry to have annoyed you"
And, with a little bow, she walked away.
Miss Van Antwerp looked after her. 1t
was her turn to follow now. She caught
up with Nellie just as she left the street.
Tell me about Fred" she said, in an
anxious voice, and Nellie noticed that her
face was pale and drawn, and even her
nose, that invincible feature, had a sub
due look.
Fired has been well" said Nellie, with
dignity, until yesterday. l am going
home to him now"
The elder woman clasped her hands
nervously.
Can I-would you-would he like to
see mel" she exclaimed.
II know he would be very glad" an
swered Nellie, heartily.
They walked along in silence.
is he-are you very poorf" asked Miss
Van Antwerp awkwardly, after a little
pause.
Nellie colored, and then answered
steadily:
1T was very hard al first, but after a lit
tie Fred found a place. / trimmed hats,
because l could do 1t easily and because
they would let me GO It at home. 1 was
trimming that hat of yours when Fred
came home. He had just been paid, and
he tossed thiss $50 bill down in my lap, and
I'm sure | don't see how 1 did 1t, but I
gathered 1t up in the crown. / wouldn't
have tried to find 1t but 1 wanted the
money for medicines and thing for Fred.
l had no idea of thrusting myself in your
way"
The little woman drew herself up
proudly, but old Miss Van Antwerp
scarcely heard her.
Poor Fredl Ny poor dear boyr' she
murmured to herself, with all the pent-up
love and longing Of a year.
They nearly surprised Fred out of his
senses when they came walking in together
and how he laughed when he heard about
the lost bill and the found bonnet
or course they went home to live with
Aunt Susan, and, except for a slight
change in the dramatis persona her old
age was just what she expected it would
be, and she grew SO fond of Nellie and
Nellie's children that she quite forgot all
abJ ut Margaret Steuben.
Nellie has always kept a certain old
brown bonnet. at is the talisman," she
says, that brought us all together" and
she always trims all Aunt Susan's hats
for her. Because" says that lady, mo
one has ever suited my nose so WELL
Chicago Mail.