The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-03-19


forgot, you can't smell, because of the
influenza in your nosel Norah says Mr..
Carlton is in love with you, Claryl Is
he"
Claribel turned her face away with a
groan. Alicia Vinton would have the
field all to herself tonight, and what
might not be done in such golden OPP
portunity as this2
"And here comes Cousin Grigg,"
added the child. "Who ever heard of
Cousin Grigg coming out at night be-
forel To see you, Clary?"
"Don't let her come in!' whispered
Claribel. "I do look such figure with
my nose swelled up and my eyes run
ningW
But the caution came too late. Cousin
Grigg's black satin dress was already
rustling on the threshold, and in she
trudged.
II thought I'd like to see you in your
ball dress, Claribel," said the kind old
lady. "I've got some young thoughts
and fancies about me yet, if am seventy
odd years old, and like to see a pretty
girl dressed up, especially if she is my
own flesh and blood. And I've brought
you little diamond hair ornament
tleur-de-lis set on a long gold stem-that
l wore to my first ball, more than half Il
century ago Never mind, Claribel--
your mother told me how unlucky you
were, but the diamond heur-de-lis will
do Just as well for the next merrymak.
ing, Ell"
"Oh, Cousin Grigg, how good you
are :" murmured Claribel, as the old lady
placed kiss on her forehead and the
fleur-de- lis in her hand.
"Well, Pussikins," said Mrs. Grigg,
jocosely, addressing little Penelope, who
stood by with hot-water bottle in her
hands. ''And what did you buy with
my present.
II didn't buy anything" said Pen,
the most truthful of small witnesses. ~
gave it to the washerwoman's little girl.
1t was so very ugly, you know, after the
one bad-match eye fell out, that
couldn't bear to look at it.
"Ugly!" cried Mrs. Grigg.
"Oh, veryl" nodded Pen. "Please,
don't want to hurt your feelings, but
mamma says we must always speak the
truth. 1t was ugly!'
"And you gave it to the washer
womans little girl3" slowly repeated
Mrs. Grigg.
"Why, yes" acknowledged Pen.
"She hasn't got so many of EN- as /
have, you know"
Mrs. Grigg stared.
$50 many what, child"
"Dolls, to be sure" said Pen.
at wasn't q DOLL" said Mrs. Grigg.
'It was ten dollar gold piece"
"No, it wasn't" declared Pen, posi-.
lively. ~ guess l ought to know, be-
cause Tgot it.
"Child-" began Mrs. Grigg.
But Just then fevered hand fell on
Mrs. Grigg's arm, and Claribel's eyes, full
of repentant tears, were lifted to her
face.
"Send Pen away" she whispered,
land will tell you all about it. l am
to blame-I only-and l do think this
dreadful influenza is a judgment on me
for my folly and wickedness! ~
So Mrs Grigg sent Pen down stairs to
get handkerchief out of the pocket of
her sealskin cloak, and Caribel sobbed
out her confession.
~ have been thief" she said-"a
wicked, mean conspiratorl I've deceived
sweet little Pen and acted contempti-
BILE lie, and | almost wish l could die
So there"
"Gently, Claribel--gently!" soothed
Mrs. Grigg. "Theres no doubt but that
you've done wrong, but we're all liable
to- error, and this, luckily, isn't thing
that can't be undone. Don't cry, my
child, but remember for the future that
the straight road is always the best one
"Here, Pen, as the little girl came
painting back, ''is the ten-dollar piece.
Buy Yourself as nice a doll as there is in
the stores. The other thing was all a
mistake"
"Oh, Cousin Grigg, how much thank
youm gasped Pen, with eyes nearly as
big as the glittering coin which Mrs
Grigg laid in her hand. "Oh, what {
doll this will buy And sister, loof
here!" running up to the bedside
"heres a letter that Norah says dropped
out of the bouquet on the hall floor, anC
she only just picked it up. Shall reaC
it aloud TO you, sister!'
Should she read it aloud' Never
Claribel hid the Nletter away under the
fragrant bunch of smilax and roses unit
everybody was gone, and then read it
with secret thrills of happiness-the let
ter that told her, what she had hardl
dared to hope for, the story of HarolC
Cartons lovel
s'And everything has happened for tn
best, - she murmured to herself, forgetfu
of the beating headache, the pangs of In
poor, sore throat; 'and l have got Han
old's love and Cousin Grigg's diamon
heur-de lis, and I've regained my owl
self-respect at last, for all 1 haven't dc
served single one of them. But I'll a
WAYS remember Cousin Grigg's words
The straight road is the best road, an
this false step shall most assuredly be m
last. Fl"
While in the adjoining room littl
Penelope lay fast asleep, with the tel
dollar gold piece under her pillow, an
dreamed of doll so magnificent that a
: the other dolls in the nursery up-stail
bowed down before her, as Joseph
> brethren's sheaves of wheat bowed dow
before his in the Scripture story she ha
e read only last Sunday afternoon.-Satu
( dan Night.