Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-11-15


the rosebuds and pink faille.
Flo and Paula looked aghast at each
other
"Hush!" cried the former. 'tSome
one is coming. Put it back into the
box, Paula. Take it up to Audrey s
room. She'll think it was an accident.
Oh, how could you be so careless?'
81 wasn't careless sputtered indig-
nant Paula. "It was your fault as much
as it was mine. What will Audrey
say2"
Two hours later the reception bonnet
was brought back to Miss Thorburn by
Audrey Densel herself in an olive plush
lined carriage, attended by French
maid, and Pearl Playfair was summoned
at once.
She came, innocent and eager, only to
be angrily dismissed from the establish
ment. In vain were her protestatfsns
aud entreaties.
"If you didn't do it, stopping at some
Of your grocer and baker friends places, "
cried Miss Thorburn, "who did? Do
you suppose Miss Densel poured grease
over her own reception hat? Silence, /
say Leave the house at once, and dc
not presume to ask for either wages OF
reference from me. | consider that |
am treating you with extreme kindness in
not sending for policeman.
Pearl went home, feeling as if she were
in dreadful dream. Her situation was
gone, and without references how could
she expect 70 get another? And who
would find wood or fire for Katiel
The elder sister listened to Pearls
piteous tale with dismay, but she put the
bravest possible front upon it.
Don't sob so, PEARL" she soothed.
"We shall not starve; something will
happen to protect US, dear, don't be
afraid. Who is that Mrs. Nippett is
talking to outside2"
''It's me-Janie Vail, said a CHEEKY,
cordial voice, with some apples and
home made jelly. Joe, my brother, says
you are his friends. may come in,
mayn't II"
And jamie entered, rosy and smiling,
with refreshing air of the country
about her.
sob, yes" said she, nodding her
head and glancing about the ON, so
cold, so cherries, so neat, nobody can
expect to get well boxed up in the city
like this! That good woman outside
tells me that the doctor recommends
country air. think, Miss Playfair, that
if you will visit my mother at the old
farm for a month we shan't know you
when you come back. hope you like
the country Joe does. It's Joe S
highest ambition some time to buy d
nice farm of his own. As for the little
girl there" nodding her head at Pearl,
"shc can come and stay with me while
you are gone, if she don't want to lose
her place at the bonnet store"
Pearl hung her head.
II have no place now to lose, said
she. 81 was discharged to-day?"
Just then there was the sound of solid
footsteps on the stairs and hard breath
ing, as if the steep locomotion were de-
cided effort-and in trudged Miss Thorn
burn.
''Is this Pearl Playfair's place." painted
she. $40 people hereabouts live at the
top of all creation9 Bless me, where 5
the fire. Is this sick girl your sister,
Pearl9 Why didn't you tell me you had
a sick sister,"
Pearl shrank back, growing very pale
"Have you come TOTO arrest me"
she gasped.
"My dear, it's all right said the
obese milliner, beginning to recover her
breath. tMiss Densels two little sisters
came right back in the carriage, crying
as hard as ever they could. They had
heard what hard luck you had, and they
confessed-dear little things that il
was all their fault 1t seems they were
looking at the bonnet in the dining room
and a cut-glass flask of oil was some
thow upset--and they were horribly fright
ened, and meant to keep il secret; but
when they heard Miss Densel's story,
they couldn't bear to think that You were
blamed, and owned up at once. So I've
come all this way, my dear, to let you
know. And you must come back a
once, for it's our busiest time, and yot
eau have Miss Dater's place in the show
room-Miss Dater's going to be marie;
at two dollars week more. And YOU
mustn't mind what | said to you when
was vexed for an old womau's tongue
can't always be held responsible. Ia
ha, hal"
"Oh, am so happyl so thankful =
gasped Pearl, while Miss Thorburn trottet
around to the side of Katie's bed, to ash
her string of kind, motherly questions
whose trend they understood better al
hour later, when basket of fruit arrived
from the nearest grocery, a cold roas
fowl from the restaurant, and pal o
oysters from the fishmonger.
''How good people are-how very
good!" said Katie. 'And l was JUS
beginning to think that heaven had for
gotten us. F."
She was well enough, under the sun,
shine of all this kindly remembrance, to
so to the Vail homestead within very
few days.
jamie accompanied her thirther, ''jusi
to settle her, and of course Joe had to
go, too; while Pearl was taken into
Miss Thorburn's own family during he,
sister absence
Il can't have her staying all alone by
herself" said Miss Thorburn. ''She's a
great deal too pretty; and what's the
best of it, she don't even know it. I've
taken a great fancy to that child.
shouldn't wonder if l some day adopt
her!p
! But when Katie Playfair came back in
May. with cheeks as pink as the mount
ain daisies themselves, and Miss Thor
burn preached her ideas, the elder sister
refused the offer, with many thanks.
II couldn't spare Pearl, said she. al
Il am going to settle on farm in
Orange County-the great butter making
region, you know-and l want Pearl to
enjoy the buttercups aud the roses and
tine young lambs with me- )"
"Going to settle, eh2' said Mis- Thor
burn. sob, if that's the case, make
no further objection!''