The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-05-01
TERISE'S GRATITUDE.

AAoIP NHAAAOOH'
"Terise, did you see anything Of it2" in
quired Mrs. Putney, who was down on hel
knees with her banda and head beneath q
carved oak table, under which she was
yainly peeriug for some, missing article,
Terise did not answer, She was just
then busily engaged brushing the daily
accumulation Of dust from the ~gorgeously
painted pots OF counterfeit tulips which
adorned the spidery stands before the two
WindowB.
"rhRt fifty dollar bill was in the roll Of
money l had when Invent down t0,psy
the gaSmsn," Mrs. Pntney repeated, Just
Rs she tad for each corner and Granny ahe
had searched. II dropped 1t in this room
II dropped 1t here aud nowhere else
Are you sure You didn't eel II, TeTlss? %
Still the girl made II reply, In the
round cheeks the damask crimson be-
came more vivid; over the round black
eyes her curling lashes tYitohed the least
bit i~rresolutelyi but she maintained
silence No. 3
"You didn't take it, did you, Terise2"
the elder lady asked, With'a sudden curl
Gus glance at the downeast face as she
emerged from under the tasseled table
scarf.
Then the curling lashes aared widely
open, the small head was uplifted
tearlessly, the fairy figure became erect
with %resenttul dignity.
II did not" she said emphatlCally and
Well, do you know anything about IN"
Mrs. Putney demanded impatiently, with
another CuTious glance at the strangely
Wavering color inthe dlmpled cheeks.
But the question was Unanswered.
Terise had resumed her busy duster, and
the silence seemed 80 oddly conscious and
uneasy.
"You must know something about Il or
you would never look like that" Mrs.
PGtney remarked with an irrltated sever.
ity. 1.-THE bill never went out Of this
room unless 1t was taken by the hands Of
somebody. There has been nobody here
but you and SOphy, and you didn't pick
it up, did your she said, as just then q
daintily attired young lady tripped into
the room.
"Fhst is a singular question to ask me,
SUSAN Miss Sophy said, with a little
half.vexed shrug Of her graceful shout
ders.
"Well, il neither Of you has picked 1t
up, 1t must be on the hoor somewhere"
said tho elder lady, beginning a more Wig.
orous aud extensive search beneath rugs
and ottomans and in every possible and
impossible CreviCe.
Mrs. Putney wasa widow with q modest
competence; and Miss Sophy was her
protege and only fsister-a handsome, in.
dolent, luxurious young lady, with neither
special imperfeutiops nor special talents!
Little Terise was nobody-at least she
had always beea regarded as such until 8
certain wealthy and agreeable young gen.
tleman had appreciated her sufficiently To
select her as his plighted bridel And as
the promised wifsot Claude Forester she
had become O parsonage OF some Conde-
sCending distinction In the household.
But she had been an orphaned and i'm
poverished little waif whom, some years
before, Miss Sophy, in a freak Of philan.
thrOpy, had brought home. and commend
ed to the generosity OF Mrs. Putney, who
Just then CHANGED to need the services OF
q small maid, and who was inclined TO be
pleased with the acquisition. And so the
child had staid and had grown to girlhood
in the house, where she was esteemed as
d sort OF adopted dependent rather than
as an alien. And her dependence had
notbeen altogether oppressive to herr II
they had gwen her shelter and rRiment
they had given her confidence and some
meagre affection also; II her tasks had
sometimes been itksome, her labors had
beenlightened by her omnipresent sense
Of gratitude for what had been benign in
their consideration for her. Toward the
dainty and lazily aniable Miss Sophy her
girlish admiration was enthusiastic, her
Observation-Disclosures. And with
all her %HCruples aud sweet humility she
sheNh vague misgiyings that In appro-
p~riating the devotion Of Claud Forester
shemiGht somehow have wronged a young
lad 30 much more elegant and desirable
than her own humbleaelt. D
Mrs, Putney was certainly inclined 10
deem her handsome sister grievouBly
sighted. She could not understand how
any sensible young gentleman could ig-
more such superior attractions, nor how
he could be allured and captivated by an
inferior and unaceomplished dependent.
And perhaps Mrs. Pntney would not have
been MORALLY sorry II the too captivating
Terise might eventually become less en-
tirely adorable in the sight Of the very
eligible Claude FORESTER And perhaps
the mystery Of the missing ftty.dollar.bill
might change everything she mediated,
with moro Irritation than malice, as she
scrambled around the pedals Of the piano
and strained q Cratnped arm toward the
last 1nexplored niche.
"There 10 no use searching for It," she
said, oruBtily, as she scrambled back across
the overturned pianosBtool. and through q
shower Of dislodHed music III Ia. gone,
and somebody knows where II Is. You
are not turning pale apd,fed like that all
about nothing, HeriAe, abe added, with
sharp significance.
That Terise meant neither to admit nor
to deny the accusation was evident, and
Mrs. Putney felt no less pefplexedt than
wrathiul as the girl quietly and silently,
finished her busting and left the room.
"9he has taken the bill-there ID all
there is about thatp" she observed, dsoi.
"Oh, you'll find It, Susan. / shouldn't
worry about the money II | were you,''
Miss Sophy returned, with lazy indifer.
enoea .f HN
Al had intended to buy her bridal out
az and give her q little dot, too" Mts.
Putney continued .but II she eau be
guilty Of such dishonesty, ] shall do moth
Ing tot her. l think, indeed, ought to
warn Mt. Forester agaihst her."
mi. Forester might decline the warn.
ing-as enchanted people always do"
Miss Sophy laughed. "But, then. Terise
never took The money, Susan she 10 40
Innocent as / am, " she said, BobeFly.
But Mrs Putney did not concur with
The opinion. That conscious silence, those
Crimsoning bushes, that uneasy averted
iaCe-t6 her seemed scarcely emblematic
Of innocence.
Mfa, pntney, too, was oharaGiaYislically