Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-05-29
TERISE'S GRATITUDE.
By ETTIE ROGERS

RnP3ln WI van ''''NF
which she was vainly peering for some
missing article.
Terise did not answer. She was just |
then busily engaged brushing the daily |
accumulation of dust from the gorgeous
" painted pots of counterfeit tulips |
which adorned the spidery stands be-
fore the two windows
That fifty dollar bill was in the roll
of money / had when ! went down to
nav the gasman," Mrs. Putney re-
heated, Just as she had for each corner
and crafigy she had searched. Il
dropped it in this room-I dropped it
here and nOwhera else. Are you sure
YOU didn't see it. Tersc'
Still the girl made no reply. In the
rounded checks the damask crimson
became more vivid; over the round
black ewes her curling lashes twitched
the least Bit irrcsolulcIy; but she MAIN
tanned silence.
You didn't take il, did yOu, Terise?
the elder lady asked, with a sudden GU
rious glance at the dOwn-cast face rs
she emerged from under the tasScled
table scarf
Then the curling lashes fared widely
open. the small head WAS upliited fear
lessly, the fairy figure became erect
with rescntful dignity.
II did not" she said cmphatically
and proudly.
well. do YOU know ANYTHING about
it?' Mrs. Putncy demanded impatiently,
with another curious glance at the
strangely wavering color in the dim
pied checks.
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. The bill never went
out of this room unless il 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 dantily attired
Young lady tripped into the room.
That is singular question To ask
me, Susan" Miss Sophy said, with a
little half-yeXed shrug of her graceful
shoulders.
well. if neither of you has picked it
up. il must be on the floor somewhere"
said the elder lady, beginning a more
vigorous and extensive search beneath
rugs and ottOmans and in every posi-
bic and impossible crevice.
Mrs. Putney was q widow with q
modest competence; and Miss SOphy
was her protegee and only sister-a
handsome, indolent, luxurious young
lady, with neither special impcrfections
nor special talents!
Little Tcrise was nobody-at least
she had always been regarded as such
until certain wealthy and agreeable
young gentleman had appreciated her
sufficiently to select her as his plighted
bride! And is the promised wife Of
Claude FORESTER she had become per-
sonage of simc condescending distinc-
ton in the household.
But she had been an orphaned and
impoverished little waif whom. some
years before. Miss Sophy, in freak OF
philanthropy, had brought home and
commended 10 the generosity of Mrs.
Putney, who just then CHANGED 10 need
the services of small maid. and who
was inclined 10 be pleased with the &c,
QUESTION. And 80 the child hal stayed
and had grown to girlhood in the house
where she was esteemed Il sort of adopt
cd 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 haC
given her confidence aud some meapr,
affections also: If her tasks had some
times been irksOme, her labors ha,
been lightened by her Omnipresen
sense of gratitude for what had beer
benign in their consideration for her
Toward the dainty and lazily amiabl
Miss Sophy her girlsh admiration wa
enthusiastic, her girlish gratitude i'm
measurable. And with all her scruple
and sweet humility she had vague mis-
givings that in appropriating the dc
Votion of Claud Forester she nigh
somehow have wronged young lad
So much more elegant and desirabl
than her own humble self.
Mrs. Putney was certainly incline
10 deem her handsome sister grievou,
" sighted. She could not understan
how any sensible young gentlema
could ignore sucn superior AtractlOn'
nor how he could be allured and capt
waited by an inferior and unaccomplisl
ed dependent. And perhaps Mrs. Pu
ney would not have been MORALLY sorr
if the too captivating Terise migi
eventually become less entirely ador;
BILE i'm the sight of the very eligib
Claude Forester! And perhaps ii
mystery of the missing iifty-dollar bi
might change everything. she med
tated, with more irritation than malic
as she scrambled around the pedals
the piano and strained cramped ar
toward the last UNEMPLOYED niche.
There is no use searching for it,
she said. GROSSLY, as she scrambled bac
across the overturned piano-stool an
through a shower of dislodgsd musi
cit is gone, and somebody knows whel
it is. You are not turning pale an
red like that all about nothing, Terise,
she added. with sharp significance.
That Terise meant neither to adm
nor TO deny the accusation was cviden
and Mrs. Putney felt no less perplexe
than wrathful as the girl quietly an
silently finished her busting and left III
room.
ssShe had taken The bill-there is a
therc 10 about that she observed d.
e5nively.