The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-06-27

child. Mebbe tt,s yoursnl I'd
brung II to you, but ! couldn't reach
:,
Lucy hardly heard he last words
- she ran 70 the rain-barrel, closely
followed By her mother and sister.
And there, sure enough, was her much
sought~for book, completely immersed
In water.
.tJist let me find out which one o.
the young uns done that and I'll lar
rup It within an inch Of its lifer'
.stormed Mrs Ross, as she surveyed
the dripping volume In Luey,s hands.
Y The unhappy gssfi said nothing, but
repaired with II, weeping, to the
kitchen, where she spent The next hall
hour in thoroughly drying it over the
stove. But, alasi her beautiful, new
physiology was soiled and faded al
most beyond recognition; the print be-
ing, in many places. blurred into
eligibility.
While the family were at supper
there was q knock at the door, and
Kitty Olwfrt made her unexpected APP
pearance.=-==- es-==---.7-7-
Here you are, you little truant!
I've come to look after youln she said,
playfully, as Lucy admitted her.
Mrs. Ross, anxious TO explain mat
tiers in her own way, interrupted the
words that trembled on her daughters
lips.
Lucy nigh about crazy. Miss Kitty.
over what happened this afternoon to
her physiology sent her to onkiver
the rain an instid % rayin' her
book down as she'd ort to she took it
along; an. somehow, in workin'
aroun' there, she dropped it in!''
Lucy gave q start OF painful sur
prise at this direct falsehood from her
mother, and her pale, expressive face
became pathetically agitated. The
children stared blankly from one to
another, but all remained silent
"Of course it got soakin' wet!"
went on the consciencelcss woman.
Lucy dried it by the fire, but she
couldn't make it fit to look at. Git 1t,
Lucy, and show it to hern
Lucy did as she was hidden, but she
gave her mother an appealing, re-
proachful look that would have melted
| a heart less hard.
Kitty saw the look and wondered
at it.
Don't feel badly about it, DEAR" she
said, taking the book. You couldn' t
help it. and will have new one to-
| morrow"
'"Oh, don't get another one!" plead
cd Lucy, Il never can take il"
And then. completely overcome by
sense of the wrong her mother had
| done and OF its injustice to herself, she
abruptly left the, room, sobbing con-
vuisively.
Kitty. not little bewildersd, was on
the point OF following her.
I'D ruther you wouldn't say moth
in more to her tonight" interposed
Mrs. Ross. She'll git over it quicker
by herself,
Very well. / will go home.3said
Kitty, as she moved toward the door.
Don't be mad!e- whimpered Mrs.
Ross. You don't know Lucy like I
do. 1t always makes her cry worser
to talk. to her. Come. back agino to-
mora! She'll be all right by then.
Kitty passed cut, acknowledging a
reply.
Mrs. Ross had always been proud Of
Kitty's friendship for Lucy, and, al
though infinitely below the Olwirts in
social standing. she had often OBJ
truded herself as a visitor in their
home on the strength of her daugh-
ter's preferment.
This evening she had tried, as was
her wont, to make the best possible
appearance before Kitty. But she dis
covered, when too late, that she had,
to use her own expression, .overdone
the thing.
Amt you pretty thing" she ex-
claimed, going into the bedroom
where hticy sat, a picture of the deep
est detection. -...Kitty's gone home
mad; an it's your fault fer leavin' her
the way you did
II couldn't help it, motherm Lucy
answered. sorrowfully. 81 couldn't
stay and see her so deceived, and ]
couldn't tell on my own mother.
YOU'D better never tell, either!"
was the threatening rejoinder. Il
didn't do no harm, anyhow. II I'd
a-told her one o. the children split