Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-10-18

Let us tell this policeman" cried
Mary. excitedly pushing her towards
an officer who was approaching.
No, no. sobbed Miss Millington.
Remember you have just been say
ing-no publicity. Bear ANYTHING
rather than endure that. Besides. |
could not recognize the thief-it all
passed like q flash"
Let us go home-to my home, F"
said Mary Devereux eve can talk
it over quietly there"
The return trip was q gloomy one.
IN marked contrast to the gayety OF
the outward journey. Arrived in
Mrs. Devereux' drawing room. Miss
Millington flung herself disconsolate-
ly 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 a
sympathizing voice.
Fifty dollars" replied Miss Mill
ington with a deep sigh. "And it
was not my money at all, it was my
aunt's. | had drawn it from the bank
Just before | came here. She needs
it, must have it the first thing to-
morrow 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 l am handy and make things
go long way" explained Miss Mill
lngton. ''My aunt supports me-she
has very small income-and now
have lost her fifty dollars! Oh! what
shall l do?"
Mary DevereuN was sadly perplex-
ed. She counted the money in her
own purse-twenty dollars.
"Dear Miss Millington," she said,
will this be of any service to you?
1t is all 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 set
tie her rent, and ! will repay the sum
by degrees-after am married"
The case was so urgent that Mary
felt justified in going to her husband s
private desk, where, to her great de-
light she found twenty-five dollars!
Miss Millington absorbed the finan-
cial reinforcement with some appear
ance OF satisfaction, but her voice
rang with added tragedy as she
queried where the remaining five dol
lars were to come from?
Never would the proposal have been
put by Mary Dovereux that the serv-
ants should be appealed tot 1t was
Miss Millington who suggested the
necessity of laying the case before
them as women and sisters. Their
hearts were as soft as their hands
were hard, and between them the
needed five dollars were without diff
ticulty raised.
Scarcely had the arrangements
reached this happy conclusion when
Paul Devereux returned.
''Still here, Miss Millingtonl" he ex-
claimed, in his pleasant, hearty voice.
"Glad of it. Stay to dinner and go
to the theatre with us this evening""
And OH such a pretty present as
he had brought home for his wife. a
handkerchief OF finest French cam
brio with frill and entredeux OF Val
enciennes, and the letter NJ embroid-
cred in one corner. Just like my
darling husband'' said Mary Dever-
eux kissing him furtively, when Miss
Millington's back was turned.
At dinner Mary showed her new
treasure, which Miss Millington
greatly admired.
"How sweetly pretty!" she exclaim-
ed, examining the dainty mouchoir
with her eyeglass. marked with
your initial, M-mine too, by the
way"
lone which you will soon lose,"
quoth Paul archly.
"Oh no, you mistake" she replied,
"my Name is Matilda"
The dramatic performance was in
teresting. The three young people
were in high spirits until just as they
were departing, when Mary Devereux
made an annoying discovery. She
had lost her lace handkerchief
Paul was more than annoyed; he
was downright angry. The little ar
ticle had cost money, and he said
there was no senses in losing it right
off in this way. He had seen it in his
wife's lap not five minutes before;
where could it have got to?
Tho n a final in faranoa x-o. tbo+ Oh.
had dropped it, and all three looked
about the floor of the theatre, whence
the crowd had now departed.
If it's found I'll save it for vou,"
said an employee of the place; "call
tomorrow"
Meantime Paul's quick eye OBJ
served a strange thing. Miss Mill
ington, who was condoling with his
almost fearful wife, kept her fist
tightly closed; but between the little
finger and the palm thereof a shred
of lace was visible.
Without a with-yourleave or by
your-leave Paul wrenched this article
out OF her grasp.
whats this?" he cried.
1t was the missing handkerchief.
as this joke?" he exclaimed
glancing angrily into the blanched
face of Matilda Millington.
Thewoman who had cowered guilty
under his accusing glance, took
heart of grace at the word he kindly
used.
''Yes, yes, quite So" she gasped
with a hysteric laugh, "a ioke-a
mere joke"
at is a very bad one," he retorted