DeSoto times., 1890-09-25

What had not known was that a sncar
OF mud reached from my nose crosswavs
10 my car; and, worse yet, the rent in
my shoe had extended to my stocking,
leaving exposed considerable part of
very muddy foot. 'What,"I thought,
springing to my feet-''what If | should
spoil the chances of the rest of the fam
ily!' Before l could decide whether it
was best to run or stay and brave it out,
tho door opened and Aunt Augusta
came in; and then my last faint hope
died away. She was so tall, SO digni-
lied, and-So neat "Oh, Milly, Millyw
balanced myself on one foot in des-
perate endeavor to conceal the ragged
shoe, and told my errand with cour-
age born of despair. II have brought
you the money for cow-thirty dol
lars-from Mr.. Moses Smith"
She looked at me, surprised "Yes,
thank you. will give you receipt.
But pardon me, do not seem to recog-
nize you. You are"
The air seemed full of voices, each
one shouting louder than the rest;
"Black sheepr' "a black sheepr
"Black sheep, and always will be-"
81 am Mrs. Smiths niece" STAN,
mered.
'What? Not one of George Lamp
sons children?" There was certainly
good deal Of surprise in her voice; and
| felt that now, for the credit of the
family, an explanation must be given.
But she should never know
81 should not have come looking this
way" began, in my most dignifed
manner, winlling hard to keep back the
tears. "But | stopped to help little
hoy get a calf up rayine, and" My
long balance on one foot gave way.
staggered, made wild plunge, and re.
covered myself only by describing a
sort Of half-circle with the other foot,
now almost bare. That, and the trem-
ulous smile on Aunt Augustus lips,
was too much. The next minute was
crying as if my heart would break
'It-it isn't that care about myself"
| gasped, between my sobs. "Only you
mustn't laugh-or-think any less of
Sue-or-or Milly. 1t was my own
fault, every bit Of it. l looked all right
when started, and-and then stopped
to help little boy with calf, bo--be-
cause he said l couldn't, and tore my
dress and my shoe, and | know Aunt
Ann will be so mad, and--oh, dear I'm
the black sheep of the family, and al
ways will be! and don't see how can
help it."
"Do you mean to tell me-" exclaimed
Aunt Ann that evening, when sne
heard the whole story, "that she actu-
ally wanted you to stay to dinner; and
had you sit down with her, looking the
way you did?"
"Yes, ma'am," I answered, meekly
81 washed my face, and her maid
combed my hair; but that was all"
"And then she asked you to come
over and stay with her next week."
"Yes."
well, I can't understand it. If she
takes fancy to any one, she takes it
for certain. You'll get your musical
guess, If you want it; and
l only hope it will do you some good.
But can't see into it. You-and after
you'd helped that little Irish boy with
the calf and got to looking the way you
do now. If you had got what you de-
serv ed, miss, it would be good scold-
ing"
"There, there, Ann, what's the use Of
going on SOP" expostulated Uncle Moses.
"She's done all right about the calf. |
always said Bertha would make smart
girl"
"Smart I never said but what she
exclaimed Aunt Ann. "But
you know yourself, Moses Smith (this
in great disgust), she's the black sheop
of the family, and always will be-
Pauline Phelps, in N. Y. Independent.