The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-01-19

Chn SutNCllCl dt ut
shauce. would sell it myself, but vas
not going to the city for dis long, long vile,
und needs the money. Ten tollars vas
gifng dot necklace away"
Polly had been thinking of many things
us the peddler spoke. One of them was oil
party she was to attend Mt the village
hotel that night; party that was to be the
grandest affair of her life. Then she was
going to the city next day to spend week
with young girl who had recently spent q
month with Polly. Last of all, she thought
of crisp ten-dollar bill upstairs in her own
little purse.
Her grandmother had given her the bill
on her sixteenth birthday, only week be.
fore. She was free TO do as she liked
with this money, but she had not thought OF
spending it without the appreciation Of her
parents. She had, in fact, said that II
should be the nucleus of fund with which
she intended going away to school for six
months during the coming year.
"Are you sure could sell it for twenty
or even fifteen dollars in the city2" she
asked, slowly and thoughtfuly.
~ vas shust so sure as dot vas alive"
"Even IL had worn il a littlep
"Dot would mex no tiff'rence."
The end of it all was that when the ped
dlcr went away he had Polly's ten-dollar
bill in his wallet, and she had the necklace
hidden away, and was going about her work !;
but she was not singing now
WELL did you get the ribbonl" asked
Mrs. Pringle, when she came into the
kitchen while Polly was laying the cloth for
dinner.
"Yes," replied Polly.
Didn't get any thing else but that and
my thread, did you!"
Polly had suddenly found something to
do in the pantry, and affected to be so busy
there that she had not time to answer her
mothers question.
Mrs. Pringle was not to be put off, how
ever. She stepped to the pantry door and
said
"Didn't get any thing else, did youi That
peddler stayed in the house so long as l
was afeerd he'd coax you into buying some
thing else, and l dunno as you'd really
ought to have bought that ribbon, moneys
so skeerce. Did he try to wheedle you into
buying some of his other gewgawsp'
"No-o.o," said Polly slowly as she bent
over the bread-tray with a crimson face.
Polly was 2 good girl and hated false
hood. She had told an untruth before she
realized what she was saying, and now she
began trying to excuse herself, and to per-
suade herself that she had not really told
falsehood
"Itisn't as though had really bought the
necklace to keep," she reasoned with herself:
''rm only going to wear it might and
few times may be when l go to the city to
visit Hattie, and then / shall take it to
ieweler and sell it before come home and
get twice as much as gave for it. Then
I'll tell mother all about it, and she'll be
glad got it, so it really isn't telling story
not to tell that have it now'
But this reasoning did not relieve Polly's |
conscience. She was strangely silent at
Inner and did not resume her old cheer |
Tulness even when the subject of the COM
ug party at the hotel had been brought up |
,y her purents. Heretofore she had been |
Ill animation whenever the party was men |
,ioned.
"Aint you feeling well, Polly9" asked her |
mother, noticing the change in her manner. |
Better take a little nap when you get the |
fishes washed, aud kind o. rest up for to-
light.r
II guess / WILL" replied Polly, and she
vent up to her room an hour or two later.
Her new white muslin dress was lying on
he bed, its tiounces crisp and fresh, and
he ribbon she had brought of the peddler
snotted into a graceful bow, with long
,nds, and pinned to the waist. Polly's |
spirits revived when she looked at her first |
,arty dress, and, instead of lying down. she
Tipped off her dark calico dress, and arrayed |
herself in the muslin. Then the new neck.
ace was clasped around her slender neck. |
Z was easier now to make herself think |
hat she had done nothing wrong. and she |
TODD before her little mirror for long
ime, viewing herself in this light and in
hat, with a satisfied smile on her face.
Her mother helped her to dress for tho
,arty.
II guess you'll look about as well as the
,est of EN-" she said with motherly pride, |
yhen Polly was ready to start. "That rib
,on is the finishin' tech. I'm real glad you
rot it, after all o. how would You like to
year my gold chain and pencil your pa gave
ne wnen we was married. You can, if you
want to. It's to be yours some day, any
low."
The day before Polly would have thought
his a great privilege, and would eagerly |
lave accepted the offer; but now she STAN
nered as she said:
T-I-don't know, mother. Mary Hazel
las some lovely pink roses out, and she said
he'd bring some to the hotel for me to
year"
", lldJ UC DelJCT tudu tlc CudlH,
Irs. Pringle. 1.-THE chain wOaid be a good
eal for Il girl of your age to wear. To my
way of thinlsin', there amt nothin' so nice
or girls to wear as natchrel flowers. It's
urtier'n all the jewlry they can pile on"
The necklace in Polly's dress pocket
eemed to burn her fingers, as she touched
! at that moment. She intended putting it
n after she reached the hotel, and she did
o with feeling of pride that rose above all
er sense of deceit and shame for the false
oo5s she had told and acted.
She noted with secret satisfaction that the
iris of her acquaintance looked admiringly
t her necklace. and some Of them praised it
penly. Mary Hazel had brought the roses,
ut Polly wore them thrust into the ribbon
her belt, and not at her throat. But when
he lay in her bed, late at night, thinking it
II over, her truer nature asserted itself
gain, and she went to sleep with a troubled
cart.
Two days later she went to the city to
'isit her friend, Hattie Martin. She was
ager to go for several reasons, chief OF
,hich now was her desire to exchange the
eclzlace for the money she had given for it,
ven though she got no more. Then she
'ould tell her mother all about 1t. 1t would
O easier 10 do it then, she said.
Hattie Martin had arranged for sevearl
artes for Polly's pleasure and they were
lvitcd out several times. Polly wore her
ccklace on these occasions, but with dimin-
,hing satisfaction each time.
When she took it off for the last time. it
,as with feeling OF relief. The next day
,as the last of her visit and she quietly
tipped out of the house alone, and went
own town TO the iewelry store in which
Il IL IN