The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-05
THE HANDKERCHIEF.
IPhiladelphla Times.l
OLIVE LOGAN.

| luneSI
Paul Devereux and his wife were discus
sing the ethics of the French proverb, "Va
te faire pendre ailleurs" Ego get hanged else
where. The young lawyer was of opinion
that failure to punish rogue for his roguery
when discovered was moral cowardice of the
most contemplate kind, since it threw the
necessary yindication o. outraged law upon
some one brave man, perhaps the last of
| score ofvictims
| His learned disquisitiOn was interrupted
by the announcement of a call from his wife's
| friend, Miss Millington.
| Miss Millington, though not a beauty, was
a very attractive young woman. Ladies
! exclaimed, "How stylishw Men said,
"Deuced fetching!'' Her manner was
sprightly, and her apparel positively splen-
| did.
Wilmington" repeated Devereux. swell,
Mary Devereux's name was Mary
'Tm off down town. BY the way, George
Rockford, at the club last night, announced
his engagement to Miss Millington.''
Naturally Mrs. Devereux's greeting took
the form of congratulation on the happy
event.
"Ah! yes, dear George!' exclaimed Miss
Millington with enthusiasm. lone couldn't
have better husband-in one sense"
in every sense, l should imagine from
what l know of him. said young Mrs.
Devereux
George Rockford isyoung, good-looking
and Christian; good qualities those, eh,
Mrs. Devereux?"
II should think SO, indeed!"
"Still there is one great drawback to his
desirability as husband" explained Miss
Wilmington; she is far from being rich. He
has. fair salary in wholesale house, but
no independent fortune"
Love will Suffice" observed sweet little
| Mrs Devereux, remembering PauPs parting
| kiss.
Miss Millington looked as if she were
about to utter doubt of the value of love as
circulating medium, but feeling perhaps
! that it would be useless to comment on
condition OF affairs which she had accepted
for better or worse she dropped the subject.
II came to get you to go with me for
walk, said the fetching one, airily. "The
weather is charming. The stores are be-
| wllderlng. Can you Gomez
Mary Devereux complied with delight.
| Walking. alone is dull business. Before
leaving the house she called her cook am.
gave some necessary direction.
"4Ou have changed your cook since | was
last here" remarked Miss Mjlllliiinngton, when
they were in the street.
Yes, I'm sorry to say we found that the
other woman was dishonest"
"How sh0ckjEgl"
lunch we missed three sterling silver spoons.
| MATERIALLY, she had to go.'
ibid you charge her with the theft?"
r "Oh, no." said Mrs. Deyereux, looking
our own piece of mind not to have any ex-
pose. 1t was as much as could do to pre-
vent Mr.. Devereux from causing her arrest.
l said, shell get caught sooner or later-let
somebody else arrest her. He said that was
moral cowardice. Perhaps it was a bit of
weakness on my part. Still | am not the
first who has elected for that course You
elsewhere +"
"We shall be hanged on the straps in this
most fetching smile; st is packed"
Obliging males favored the two charming
young women with relinquished seats, and
the democratic vehicle, which runs for all,
soon brought them to the special spot where
they desired to alight
All, the fascinating occupation of admiring
shop wind0wsl IT'S this one has the love-
liest things-no, it's that! There's just what
l want,there's something that would be
article like one Mrs. Vansnoozer brought
| from London.
'Uh-h-h-h-hv'
"A suDuueu scream from the carmlne lips
of fetching Miss Millington. A few-but
only very few-of the passerS in the
thronged thoroughfare turned to glance at
the pallld features and quivering lips of the
| young woman, who stood with her hand on
"What has happen enc r9 asked M Mary Deve-
| re,X anXiOusy,
Only in disjointed phrases at first could
Miss Millington explain terrible mishap.
~. my purse-stolen-snatched out of my
Let us tell this policeman" cried Mary,
excitedly pushing her towards an officer who
| was approaching
mo, MOP sobbed Miss Millington. "Re-
publicity. Bear anything rather than endure
that Besides, l could not recognize the
hief-it all passed like flash"
| - Let us go home-to my home," said Mary
Deyereux. I'VE can talk it over quietly
| there"
The return trip was a gloomy one, in
marked contrast to the gay of the outward
| Journey. Arrived in Mrs. Devereux's draw
ing room, Miss Millington flung herself dis
| consolately in an easy chair and closed her
| eyes, thus shutting out the vision of this
| troublesome world
How much money was in your purse?"
asked Mrs. Devereux in sympathizing
| voice.
Fifty dollars" replied Miss Millington
with deep sigh. sand it was not my money
| at ALL it was my aunt's, had drawn it from
the bank just before came here. She needs
1t, must have 1T the first thing tomorrow
| morning to pay the rent"
II think persons in our set suppose You
and your aunt to be very well off, said Mary
| quietly; you dress so fashionably,"
"Oh am handy and make things 90 a
long way" explained Miss Millington. 'My
aunt supports me-she has very small in
come-and now | have lost her fifty dollars!
| Oh! what shall do?"
Mary neyereux was sadly perplexed. She
counted the money in her own purse-twenty
dollars.
"Dear Miss Millington," she said, Twill
this be. OF any service to you? 1t is ali have
by me-"
Miss Millington gathered the crisp bits of
green paper to herself, but heaved another
sigh of despair.
Thanks" she murmured family, but it
Is not enough. must have fifty dollars.
Then my aunt can settle her rent, and will
repay the sum by degrees-after am mar
The case was so urgent that Mary felt
justified in going to her husbands private
desk, where, to her great delight she found
twenty-five dollars!
Miss Millington absoded the financial re-
Enforcement with some appearance of salts
faction, but her voice rang with added
tragedy as she queried where the remaining
five dollars were to come from?
Never would the proposal have been put
by Mary Devereuz that the servants should
be appealed to 1t was Miss Wilmington who
suggested the necessity of laying the case be-
fore them as women and sisters. Their
hearts were as soft as their hands were hard,
and between them the needed five dollars
were without difficulty raised.
Scarcely had the arrangements reached
this happy conclusion when Paul Devereux
returned.
still here, Miss Millington p he exclaimed,
in his pleasant, hearty voice. "Glad of it.
Stay to dinner and go to the theatre with us
this evening""
And oh such pretty present as he had
brought home for his wife. A handkerchief
of finest French cambria with frill and en-
tredeux OF Valenciennes, and the letter M
embroidered in one corner. Just like my
darling husband!' said Mary Devereux kiss
ing him furtiyely, when Miss Milliugton's
back was turned.
AT dinner Mary showed her new treasure,
which Miss Millington greatly admired
"HOw sweetly pretty!' she exclaimed, ex-
aiming the dainty mouchoir with her eye
glass. Marked with your initial, MINNIE
too, by the way"
"One which you will soon lose" quoth Paul
archly
"Oh no. you mistake she replied. my
name is Matilda"
~, The dramatic performance was interesting.
Inc three young people were in high spirits
ttv.r xrfhn