The Opelousas courier., 1888-03-10

Il AVN oAAN
maybe" she said hastily, as she rolled
up a pair of slipperS a small shawl and
an apron. "Nora'll help you dress, and
I'll stop in and ask the belongs to call
for you. Your father can't go"
Dorking, though a large village, pre-
served, its simple ways, and after sup
per, John Burt looked IN TO say that he
had MrsnHolden's permission to escort
his old school-fellow to his uncle's
house, and that he would come at eS.
actly eight o'clock. "Ye're parfec'ly
splendid!' said Nora, whom Winnie was
dressed. 'aee nave such a swatc figure
fur the founces, Miss I'd be haviu' me
pink braige male loike that now, if 7
had more shapes to me-"
"Nora," said Winnie, with nervous
haste, go over to Mrs. PettigreWS,
the back way---and ask her to lend me
Carries scarlet cloak. TeE her I'll be
very careful of it."
Hiding her establishment by looking
at the floor, Nora started on her errapd
as if borrowing were ope of her daily
duties, bet she shook her head at the
bushes, as she Scnt through the garden.
'It's the avll communications, list as
Father O'Farrell was tellin' rs last Sun
lay she said to herself. ats caught
it she has, loike it war the maysles or
tn itch"
As Winnie went down the street at
John Burt's side, she was conscious that
all the Pettigrew children, save Carrie
and the baby, were gazing at her
through the fence, and she heard them
whisper, one after another, between
their mouthfulSof molasses and bread
''That's Carries cloak our Carries
cloak" It was little comfort to her
thqt her companion did not appear to
hear them, but talked busily Of his
work in the hospitals. Every house she
passed seemed to echo derisively, "Car-
rie's cloak, that's Carries cloak and
she gladly laid it off.
DR.. Grannis lived in a rambling, old
fashioned house, standing away from the
road, ia a fine oak grove. As the par
lors and wide hall were throaged, the
younger guests drifted out to the
spacious verandas to- enjoy the moon
light, and the quiet chat possible in the
shelter of the great succeed pillars.
The night, though warm, was damp.
John Burt WAS a medical student, and
he was very fond of Winnie. Noticing
her thin ~draperies, he compelled her to
owrap herself in her cloak. The re-
freshments were in tho care of Chris
topher Cruncher, the best caterer of thu
city of N, ten miles away; and being
a great admirer of tn, Doctor, he hal
come to superiatead things him
self. Pompous, nervous aud short
sighted, his presense usually
brought such a traia of
consequences with it, that his chief
waiter called him "oll calamity9
This time an Evil genius p pmpted him
to carry a tAy out Oh ii veranda.
Upon it was a large pitcheNoS coffee,
and a little pitcher filed with cream.
Hearing the jinglqeof crockery behind
her, Winnie nervously started. Mr..
Cruncher started in his turn, struck his
long foot against a board which had
been warped by sun aud rain, and in a
moment the scarlet cloak was ruinedsg
"Your dress is not hurt" said John
Burt, as he snatched the dripping gar
ment from her. sI'm not sorry it's this
thing, instead of that pretty white
Pve seen you wear"
"It will cost fifteen dollars to replace
Spf' said Mrs. Holden the next morning,
Naen Winnie had made her confession,
az they had come to the question Of
reiSacing the red cloak. II really
don't know how to ask your father for
the money, and we must not wait"
'sWad ye believe it, mum!' saids
Nora, putting her curly head in at the
door, "Mr. Pettigrew's big grocery's
shut up, an It's failed they're sayin,' he
has, and ruined entirely"
"Dear mel" exclaimed Mrs. Holden,
almost with satisfaction. tits just
what I've been expecting this long
while
THE baby's sick, and Mrs. Pettigrew
asked me yesterday to let Ann Eliza
Markham know that she wants a
months sewing DONE" said Winnie
thoughtfully. ~ believe I'll go over
there directly, and have this done
WITH
Mrs. Pettigrew was sobbing and weari-
" rocking q fretful baby, while Carrie
was trying to mend a small stocking. 81
don't want you to pay a cent" said Mrs.
Pettigrew TREMENDOUSLY, when she had
heard Winnie's story. II can't see how
it was your fault"
1T was all my fault; the fault Of my
careless disposition, and my weakness
for Borrowed fnery. I hate myself for
Winnie was going to say "borrowd
ing but she closed her sentence ncr-
vously by a~dding-s'for being SO fool
!. GEAEa