Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-08-02
q that the moment sic spoke about 60

o. tnat thc moment sue spoke about 60
ing"
perhaps she wont be as severe as you
think" said Amy, trying to say some
thing comforting.
To this Becky made no answer save by
q look. She took the satchel out of the
closet, stood for moment gazing at it
vacantly, and then went straight into her
aunt's room.
Miss Abigail was sitting by window,
sorting out from box full of handker-
chiefs those she desired to take with her.
She looked up and smiled pleasantly
us Becky entered.
'oh, you've brought the satchcl, " she
said. "I'm much obliged"
"Iou needn't be obliged to me for
anything, Aunt Abbic. You'll just hate
me when I tell you something. Oh,
can't bear to tcll-it seems SO awful and
l know just how you'll feel But-but-
took your brooch that night of the con-
cert, Aunt Abbie. 1 did want it so much,
and was sure wouldn't lose it, and
and l did lose it. Iput it down on the
dressing-tablc for n moment while / tied
bow for Florrie Goddard, and Mr.. Starr
came to hurry us; and so I went Off and
forget it. know you'll never, never
forgive me, Aunt Abbie. Your precious
brooch! There's nothing can ever do
to make up for it, Oh, am so wrctchcd
over it. I've nearly died.
She paused, chokcd with sobs, and
with the tears streaming down her face.
She expected torrent of angry words, y
terrible blast of bitter reproach; but moth
ing OF the kind came. Miss Abbic did
not even look up. She went on quietly
sorting handkerchiefs.
Becky stopped crying, and stared at
her, amazed
"Aunt Abbie, you can't have heard
what I've been telling you'll" she said.
sob, how can you be SO calm2 If YOU
only knew what I've suffered these last
few days."
81 do know" said Miss Abbc, quickly.
GIVE seen you suffering"
"But you didn't know why /"
eyes, did," interrupted Miss Abbic.
81 knew all about it."
"Knew I'd lost your brooch? Then
why didn't you speak to me about it?
How could you help speaking?"
''Thcrc was no need of it. thought
it better to let you speak to me. And |
wasn't much disturbed, or,"-hcre Miss
Abbie rose and went to her bureau-"here
is the brooch, and she took out the fndcd
velvet case with 9 little flourish and dis
played the ancient heirloom ON its satin
bed.
"Oh, is il really, rcally?' cried Becky,
Historically. "Wherc did you find ii,
Aunt Abbie9"
con the table in that dressing-room
NJ the Town Hall, answered Miss Abbic,
slowly and distinctly az found, on 90
ing to Mrs. Alills's, that her sister had ar
rived unexpectedly, and that therefore |
wasn't needed. So concluded to carry
out my original intention and 30 to the
concert. On reaching the hall / went
into the dressingroom to put my bonnet
straight-a man having run into me and
| knocked it to one sidc-and the first
thing saw on the table was my brooch, {"
with severe emphasis. ~ was so upset
had to go home, and didn't stop for the
concert Mt ali. OF course l knew YOU
must have taken the brooch, and with
your usual careessness-"
go Aunt Abbie, I'll never, never be
careless again !" cried Becky, laughing ana
crying together rs she rushed to her aunt
and threw her arms about her "This
has been lesson to me-"
"It ought to be, goodness knows, said
Miss Abbic. "And, Becky, I'll tell you
what I'll do"
"What?" asked Becky, eagerly, wiping
away her tears.
eff this should really prove to be
lesson to you, if you never are careless
again, I'll leave you this brooch in my
will. You don't deserve it, but-I'll do
it, Youths Companion.