The Monitor., 1888-11-09

down the walk to the back gate, without
deigning to look back
''I'm just glad she's gone-spiteful old
thing. 1 reckon my mother knows as much
as her mother does, and more, too,n NUT
tered Myrtle to herself, the angry tears
filling her eyes.
She sat down with her crocheting again,
but somehow the joyousness had gone cut
of things. What did make Emma talk so
insultingly-of course it was insulting to
hint that little wine jelly might have
caused cousin Harry to go on that dis
graceful spree She just wasn't going to
think about it any longer; besides, she
needed that premium money so badly.
Her papa had been sick so long IA the
winter, and the doctor bills had been so
heavy, that it seemed like they never
would have any more spending money.
There was that grand steamboat exeur-
sion just two weeks after the fair Mrs.
NIenager had said she could go with her
family as we'll as not, but the fare was
two dollars, and it hadn't seemed worth
while even to think of it before, because
they didn't have the two dollars to spare:
besides, she had not dress fit for the oc-
casion.
Now she could go as well as not, if she
got the jelly premium. How delightful it
would be; the boat cutting her way
through the clear water, the band playing,
the girls in their light dresses and dainty
ribbons and laces 1uttering in the wind,
and the trip back by moonlight past the
beautiful cliffs and the long sweep Of low
lands where the cypress-trees looked like
great green plumes, and the trumpet vines
hung out their wealth of scarlet blossoms.
Myrtle's heart beat fast with excitement
as she thought Of it, and yet, somehow,
the words that Emma had said hung over
her like great black shadow.
If she had even the faintest belief that
Cousin Harry had been tempted by that
wine jelly, she'd never make another
bit as long as she lived, After all,
though, even if he had been, that needn't
keep her from competing for the premium
at the fair. Harry would't eat any of that
jelly, at any rate, but--some other boy
might.
After awhile she went in and told her
mother, ana they talked it all over togeth-
er, both agreeing that Emma and her nam
ma were entirely too particular in the mat
ter, and that Myrtle should make the jelly
by all means.
But somehow when Myrtle knelt down
by her bed that night, and prayed 'lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil,'' vague fear crept into her heart that
after all she might have led Cousin Harry
into temptation. She lay awake a long
time, thinking it over, and promised her
| self that she would never make another
ounce of wine jelly afser the fair. She just
couldn't give up the hope, certain, almost
for her mamma said she didn't believe
anyone could make better jeliy-of getting
the five-dollar premium that meant so much
| to her.
A pretty new white dress, instead Of
the shabby, old-fashioned one, and fresh
ribbons instead of the faded ones So she
went to sleep at last, only to dream that
she was making wine jelly in kettle as
big barrel, and that Cousin Harry fell in
to it, and vanished in a puff of steam.
The next day she made the jelly-elear,
transparent amber; certainly nothing of
the kind could have been prettier, and her
mamma assured her that without doubt
the five dollars would be hers. She was so
exuberant, so joyous, that she had almost
forgotten the occurrence of the day before,
till Cousin Harry came out on the porch
where her jelly was cooling, and where she
had gone for the twentieth time to admire
it.
''Did you ever see anything so lovely,
Harry? I wish the days would fly till I
get the premium for it, she said, gaily.
Harry picked up glass and looked at
it admiringly.
"Yes, think it is food fit for the gods
The very odor makes a man lose his senses,
he said lightly. bur Myrtle noticed, with
little thrill of apprehension, that his eyes
began to shine with strange kind ofeager-
ness and feverish look came into his face.
"Say, Myrtle, please give poor fellow
a taste, can't you? 1t makes me desperate
to smell it -
Myrtle suddenly grew serious.
"Ceusin Harry, tell me the honest truth
now when you taste or smell wine jelly,
does it make you want to drink? On your
honor as a gentleman now, remember p
"Why. whatever put such foolish no
ton into your head - he said cvasively.
THAT isn't fair, now, Harry-answer
me yes OF no, she said persistently.
"Well then, if you must know, yes. |
don't believe should have made such
beast of myself on the Fourth, if it hadn't
been the jelly ate at dinner 1t seemed
like I'd sell my soul for glass of wine
or beer, after got the first taste of it.
Myrtle stood perfectly still for moment,
and looked at him, her face so white he
feared she would faint. Then she took up
the tray upon which her glasses Of jelly
were sitting, and went into the kitchen
where her mother was getting dinner.
Before Mrs. Matthews realized what she