Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-05-21
TERISE'S GRATITUDE.
BY ETTIE ROGERS.

AeTlse, ulu you see any nlug OF lC!'
inquired Mrs. Putney, who was down
on her knees with her hands and head
beneath carved oak table, under
which she was yainly peering for some
missing article. - SO. '0s'' -.
Terise did not answer. She was Just
then busily engaged brushing the daily
accumulation of dustf from the gorgeous
~ painted pots of counterfeit tulips
which adorned the spidery stands be-
fore the two windows. 4
THAT fifty dollar bill was in the roll
of money had when I went down to
pay the gasman," Mrs. Putney re-
peated, just as she had for each corner
and Granny she had searched. II
dropped it in this room-I dropped it
here and nowhere else! Are you sure
you didn't see it, Terise?''
Still the girl made no reply. In the
rounded cheeks the damask crimson
became more vivid; over the round
black eyes her curling lashes twitched
the least bit irresolutely; but she main
tanned silence.
"You didn't take it, did you, Terisep"
the elder lady asked, with a sudden Gu
rious glance at the down-cast face as
she emerged from under the tasseled
table scarf.
Then the curling lashes hared widely
open, the small head was uplifted fear
lessly, the fairy figure became erect
with resentful dignity.
Il did not,' she said emphatically
well, do you know anything about
it?' Mrs. Putney demanded impatiently,
with another curious glance at the
strangely wagering color in the dim
pied cheeks.
But the question was unanswered
Terise had resumed her busy buster,
and the silence seemed so oddly con-
scious and uneasy.
'You must know something about it
or you would never look like that,
Mrs. Putney remarked with an irri-
tated severity. 1.-The bill never went
out of this room unless it was taken by
the hands of somebody. There has
been nobody here but you and Sophy,
and you didn't'pick it up, did you?"
she said, as just then daintily attired
young lady tripped into the room.
THAT is singular question to ask
me, Susan,' Miss Sophy said, with a
little half-vexed shrug of her graceful
shoulders.
We'll, it neither of you has picked it
up, it must be on the floor somewhere, .
said the elder lady, beginning more
vigorous and extensive search beneath
rugs and ottomans and in every posi-
BILE and impossible crevice.
Mrs. Putney was a widow with a
modest competence; and Miss Sophy
was her protegee aud only sister-a
handsome, indolent, luxurious Young
lady, with neither special impcrfections
nor special talents!
Little Terise was nobodv-at least
she had always been regarded as such
until q certain wealthy and agreeable
young gentleman had appreciated her
sufficiently to select her as his plighted
bride! And as the promised wife OF
Claude FORESTER she had become a per-
sonage of some understanding distinc-
ton in the household. '''
e. O"e SAo Hdu UcoA III OIpndueu anu
impoverished little waif whom, some
years before, Miss Sophy, in freak OF
philanthropy, had brought home and
commended to the generosity Of Mrs.
Putney, who just then CHANGED to need
the services of a small maid, and who
was inclined to be pleased with the &C.
QUESTION. And so the child had stayed
and had grown to girlhood in the house,
where she was esteemed sort Of adopt
ed dependent rather than as an alien.
And her dependence had not been al
together oppressive to her; if they had
given her shelter and raiment they had
given her confidence and some meaore
affections also; if her tasks had some
times been irksome, her labors had
been :lghtened by her omnipresent
sense OF gratitude for what had been
benign in their consid eration for her.
Toward the dainty and lazily amiable
Miss Sophy her girlish admiration was
enthusiastic, her girlish gratitude inn
measurable. And with all her scruples
and sweet humility she had vague mis-.
givings that in appr0priating the de.
votion OF Claud Forester she might
somehow have wronged : young lady
80 much more elegant and desirable
M NJ ot p 49, as,. sua.
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~ s1; Sick n sa,, sas.e. glassous,
Now snr .ens;h1e eou op nos
cor1a ;cnoro snnl, yS ~. 80. at;a,,s
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u noh d - sOs arn sna saP1,.
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g tha To- III, s.; 49, ~, So
aventnally bsspma seas ant;r reIv adaSa
Claude e Ferssstsrl Ana I'd perhaps srb i nc