The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-12-11
casion to acquit herself quite cred

l
itably.
The next few days were eventful
ones, and Lucy was growing rather
tired of her masquerade, when Mrs
Falkner entered the next room
were Hattie was sitting as usual
The doors were open between the
rooms, and Lucy could not help
hearing the conversation.
"There is such a lovely white
poplin at s." Hattie said, with
energy. "You could scarcely tell
it from silk, it is so thick and heavy
But unlike silk, the dead white is
relieved by scarcely perceptible
tinge of pink. Can ! not have it,
mother? You know Ada Hyatt is
to be married this month, and it
will be just the thing to wear to the
wedding"
"Well, really, Hattie, l don't
know that / can afford it," said
Mrs. Faulkner, "for my expenses
at present are quite heavy. But
you do need a new dress, for / no.
ticed your silk was looking quite
shabby; so if you will promise not
to ask for anything else till after
New Years, 1 will give you the
money for the poplin."
"I'll promise you, mother" said
Hattie; and then Lucy heard the
rustic of bank notes.
And while Mrs. Faulkner and Hat
tie were discussing how the dress
should be made, its trimmings, and
so forth, Lucy was busily engaged
in laying more plans.
A half hour later, Hattie came
singing into the room; but she
stopped short when she saw the
young seamstress, with her head
bowed in her hands, sobbing bitterly.
"Why, what is the matter, Miss
Ray?" she asked kindly; but there
was no answer from the weeping
Lucy. "Do please tell me-" she
coaxed, stealing her arms round
Lucy's neck.
"Oh, nothing, Miss" sobbed the
little hopocrite.
"But l know you would not cry
so if you were not unhappy. Do
tell me what it is troubles you."
So Lucy in a broken voice and
with convulsive sobs, told the old,
sad story of an invalid mother,
drunken father, helpless little ones
and heartless landlord, who threat
ened to turn them into the street if
the rent was not paid that day ;
and even if the rent was paid, they
had nothing to eat; and even if
they had something to eat, they
were still shivering with cold. Hat
ties bright face grew sad, and the
tears filled her brown eyes to over
flowing, and at the conclusion Of
Lucy's story, without one. selfish
regret, she laid the crisp banknotes,
the price of the white poplin, in
Lucy's lap, and insisted upon her
leaving her sewing and going home
Immediately, for fear the poor
mother or the little ones were suf-
fering. And Lucy felt very guilty
as she put on her hat and shawl
and departed. But instead of 60
ing directly home, she went to-'s
where she purchased the white
poplin, and ordered it sent to Mrs.
Faulkner's.
That evening, much to Lucy's
delight, Alfred came home.
Alfred" said Lucy, ~ take back
every word l ever said against Hat
tie Faulkner, for she is the dearest,
the sweetest, the darlingest little
thing, with the kindest, warmest
heart in all tile world"
81 found that all out long ago."
said her brother, provokingly; "but
l should be delighted to know what
has changed your opinion"
And then she told him how she
had been playing seamstress, and
the result.
He scolded her a little for the
deception she had practiced, but
Lucy knew he was not angry.
Hattie wore the white poplin at
Ada Hyatt's wedding, and looked
very prettv in it. She always sup
posed her father had heard her ex-
press a wish for the dress, and sent
it to her as a surprise. And it was
not until she became Mrs. Remsen
that she new the truth, and that the
seamstress who had so worked upon
her sympathies was no other than
her wealty and refined sister-in-law
Tucv