The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-07-19

from carrying Mr., and Mrs. Brinley to
the train.
That afternoon Mabel gave her friends
q long drive. Ruth, who had hut one
session of school, went with them. II
looked like rain when they started, and
when they had gone between two and
three miles il sprinkled. But they did
not mind that in carryall. 1t rained
fast; they put up the boot and went on &.
Then there came CLEAN Of sunshine
and they gloated over their perseverance
and drove to the next little town. where
they paid visits TO their friends in com
mon. There came no more sunshine, the
show ers were frequent a"d 1t Numbered
and lightened, though not sharply. But
four meErier faces never peeped from
under cover to meet the splashings Of
the rain, and four happier girls never
met under Mr.. BriDley's hoepitable % T..
When the guests had gone home Ruth
threw her arms around her sisters reck
and declared that Nab was perfectly
splendid. And Nab, before she went TO
sleep, had one more look at her triumph
as she began to name her unbrOken bill.
The days that followed were more or
less like this one. At the end of the
week the girls two cousins, Constance
and Kenneth Brinley. arrived unPxpect
edly. They had arranged to come q
month later, but a change in their plans
brought them now. They were twins,
nearly eighteen city people, and lived
in more style than Mabel, hut not at all
more comfortably, They we're very
welcome, hut the young girls felt the
responsibility that had fallen upon
themselves. Nab even cOndescended to
consult Ruth. whore bright wits were
full Of resources. az TO amusements.
One day II was picnic for hnr cousins.
small party that Mabel had invited.
and for whom she chartered the pref
tiest picnic wagon in town. Had she
not hundred dollars untouched
The following week Mabel resolved to
give small party for her couslnE-that
is to say. recollecting that they were
used To city assemblies, she called il
small; tu' az she issued fifty invitations
and nearly all were accepted, it seemed
10 her quite an affair. She had long
condolences with Mary, who was an eI
cellent cook and would do anything for
Ma e.. The result was a supper that
Com, ance pronounced recherche.
In NJ ,bel's new method she had
bought ut stores without asking pricr-;
she had but 10 assure herself that she
had 800 and all doubts dissolved. Be-
fore the party, however, she INDUCED in
one expense that she realized was some
what costly for II temporary hou>' keep
er. The ice cream plates would fall
short. She rejected Ruth's suggestion
that mamma would mike up with sau
GERS and that the cream would he so
nice that nobody would notice. Her
mother had intended to buy some #
these platrs. Here were necessity and
opportunity. She ordered three dozen,
so pIe'ty that Constance went into rap
lures over them, which confirmed Ma ri
IN her judgment, and one d, z II sp IONS
her mother had often said that they
needed them for an cxtraordra'y y Occa-
sion. and had not Mabel he money! One
hundred dollars untouched would do a
great deal.
] Nothing could be more successful than
The party was. Mabels own enjoyment
set her guests al ease. But there was q
dignity and senRe of propriel about her
which kept her from deteriorating into
a romp.
| The next LAY but one after the party
Mabel strongly expected her mother and
father. The fortnight was not quite out
but they were due by any train after ten
days had gone by. Therefore, as she
drove out that morning with her COUSINS
she stopped at the different stores and
collected her bills, which she put un-
opened into her pocket.
Two hours later Ruth said to Con-
stance, Where's Nab?
In her room. I'm afraid something 10
the matter. called her and she didn't
answer, and then knocked, but believe
she heard me. The door was locked.
Ruth flew up stairs. Nab, Nab, she
cried. let me in right away.
Are you alonei
Yes.
The door was unbarred and Mabel,
with eyes red and swollen, drew her sis
ter into the room and bolted the door
again.
| Ten minutes afterward there was q
soud Of wheels on the drive. A carriage
stopped. Mr.. and Mrs. Brinley had ar
rived. Ruth drew him aside cautiously.
Hush ! papa, she said. Now promise
you won't be angry with her. It's about
the money. We've been adding up the
bills and. oh papa, they are one hundred
forty. nine dollars and eighty seven cents
and we can't make 'em any less, and
Nab can't imagine how il happened.
| Bills 2 cried Mr.. Brinley.
Yes, papa. Dear Nab was 90 very,
very careful of that one hundred dollars
she would never break it for fear IL
would go too fast, And Ruth explained
her sisters method. And l don't see
about thIa, she added, aud she's just
found 1t out--and Ruth gave q sympa-
thetic sob-but she has been awfully
lovely. and we've had, oh, just the very
jol-best Of times. and, papa, you won't
be angry will you And Ruth held her
fathers hand very fast and looked into
his eyes. There was something restrain
ing in their glance as Mr.. Brinley an
swered.
won't be angry long.
After he had explained to Mabel the
dangers of her financial system and had
given her the money 10 clear up her
debts he handed her another hundred
dollars, and told her that he did not ap-
prove of people giving up beaten. he
wanted to try her another fortnight on
the cash system.
NAB looked at him with tears OF graf
itude.
Oh, papa, I'll do well, she said.
And she did.
Mr.. Brinley afterwards apologized to
bis wife for this temporary usurpation
OF her place.
couldn't stand the poor little wound
ed PRIDE. he said Francis C.Sparhawk.
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