The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1886-09-04


neighbors arrived in best caps and
gowns. each with II work. bag OF diff
ferent pattern, and the, Osmund par
[lols We're full Of humming voices, us
the quilt was tackled on the frame, and
each old lady began on her own partic.
plqr portion, while Patience flew light
~ to and fro finding the SCISSORS for one
threading a refractory needle for an
pther, bunting the thipblee of q third
FROM slnle leIunhetrd|o or hiding place un-
der the sofa, and keeping the while q
igenerab oyereight on the supper table in
the back room. aiu.lD5tp
Like your gal, Mrs. Osmund2"
asked old Miss Farrar, during one Of
Patience's temporary absences.
''She amt so bad" was the old ladv's
mon to1bhittal answer.
She has got q pleasant face," said
Mrs. Johhes. 'f''''' =,
Looks amt everything" observed
IsMiss Pellets, whom the village lads had
.mischievously christened ''Medusa."
eve allknow as beauty is only skin
deep" said Bethah Willis, whose
eyes did not match, and whose teeth
protruded like the fangsi of ,alrodent.
Patience is q good gai, ;; sad Mrs.
Osmund.s "I'm seriously thinkin' OF
adopting Patience for my own. I've
Fpo relations nearer than second cousins
and there's something about the gal
that is to be depended onl'
| Tue neiRhbors looked at each other
in amazement. Mrs. OsmuDd sewed
OH in tie odd, jerky ways that she had;
and, as she sewed, the little garnets
and emeralds set around the rim Of her
old7fashionedltgold thimbler-more than
century old, the >gossips safd-flashed
like tiny eyes OF red and green fire.
well, neverl' said Mrs. Johnes.
Guess her mind must be goim',"
whispered the drugglst's wife.
"Old fools is so queer" commented
Miss. Farrar,, who was staring her eigh-
tfeth birth day in the face.
The supper served presently was a
complete success. The old ladies were
compelled reluctantly to admit that
Mrs. Osmund s. quilting bee had been
to the other quilting bees Of the neigh,
borhood what the sun was to liiafe
stars. This was as they went home at
night. :
The next afternoon a sensation thrill
ed through the place! Patience Meade
had been sent away from her situation
at an hours notice. and following close
upon this circumstance, old Mrs. Os-
mund had 'sstroke." n...A-s
"Queerl" SAID Miss Farrar; "and she
only two-and-seventy,' 7
81 knew there must he something
wrong with that pretty, simpering-faced
GIRL" said Bethlah Willis,r who seemed
to be we'll posted in all the particulars.
s'It's the gold thimble, sot with preci-
Gus stones that's been IN the Os-
mund family for a century. She's
stole III could a-told how it would
be.''
1t was true that!tbeIgold thimble had
been missing when old Mrs. Osmund
looked through her treasures next
morning. 1t was also true that she had
accused Patience Of the theft, and that
In default Of her confession and resto-
ration Of hetrinket, the girl had been
unceremoniously turned out oe doors.
Four hours asterward the old woman
fell in a fiji
Patience Meade did not know where
else to go, SO she went to Lucy Lynde,
Harry's sister. Harry himself came to
the door.
"Oh, Harryl" she gasped, shave you
heardp Did they tell youpp ttliUH
81 have heard,"' SAID Harry, with
stern, grave eyes. And never was so
much astonished In my life. ,llf YOU
are really guilty, Patience, you should
confess It at once There can be no
use in equivocating." ~ ) II
s'Ifl'' She lifted her large, Elue.gray
eyes to his. 'Ifl then have assured
ly come to, the wrong place. Goodbye
and she was gone.
From house to house she went. but
no one took. her in except Fanny OAR
ton. who worked in the factory, and
whose brother, Milo, had charge Of the
telegraph office.
Get outl,' honest Milo shad said.
"Y OH may as we'll try to make me be-
lieye that took old Mother Osmund's
gold thimb]e. Patience, indeed! What
air folks thinking OFF" a6g II
's''The most ridiculous nonsense ever
heardp' said Fanny.
And 1t was to these true hearted par
tsans that Patience carried her broken
heart; and nothing had ever sounded
half 80 sweet In her ears as Milo's cor