The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-06-25

looked hard at her.
"My dear" said he, ''you seem to have
been walking rapidly. Sit down and
rest"
"Walking!" she echoed. "I;ve run
every step Of the way! I've run away
from Aunt Zillah. She says I'm q thief
that I've stolen her blue butterfly and
sold it; else, she says, how can have
got the money to take that first lesson at
the conservatory? And she won't believe
that earned every cent of it by picking
wild strawberries for the hotel people to
preserve; and she says I'm thief, and
and"
"This is very remarkable" said the
parson. "My child, don't cry. You are
quite welcome to iemaiu here until you
can settle this strange misunderstanding
in some way
II told her so, papa said Selinda.
''But the blue butterhy9" resumed the
paIson., 'Do understand"
sEIt's gone" exclaimed Rebecca-
"gonc out of the case entirely. Some one
has stolen it!'
"This is most remarkable" said Mr..
villars, getting up and beginning to pace
the room.
"It must be a BURGLAR" said Sc
linda.
"Burglars are not, as rule, interested
in chronological collections" said the
parson.
"Besides," added Rebccca, "nothing
else is missing. 1t certainly is unac-
countable. And oh, to be called thief.
1 couldn't endure it; I had to run away
with both hands over my cars!"
"Your good aunt, my dear forgets that
you are eighteen" said Mr.. Villars.
"And she is a rather imperious woman
and masterful in her way"
"But 10 self-respecting girl can en-
dure an insult like that" said Selinda,
the champion.
"No," faltered Rebecca, IL couldn't.
And so I didn't know where else to go,
and 1 came here"
.sYou darlingp' said selinda; "you
came to exactly the right place. And
Randolph will be so glad when he hears
of itm
"Don't Seliuda," said Rebecca, col
oring very red.
At the old Biggins farmhouse, Aunt
Zillah had reached down her old dusty
glass ink-bottle and the cedar stick pen
handle, to which steel pen was care
fully tied with piece of sewing silk, and
was laboriously concocting letter to
Marcus Offley, in New York, relating the
sad story of Rebecca's guilt.
Now and then, as she wrote, tear
dropped down on the page-for in her
heart the sharp-tongued, domineering
old lady had been very fond of her
niece.
II don't want to be unjust to anybody"
wrote Aunt Zillah, 'but since can no longer
place any confidence 10 the child, would
like to have your advice as to where can
provide for her; and whether, at some
asylum or fold in that great city where you
are, you can get me good, smart, stirring
! girl to"
Here the silk-tied pen fell down, scat
tcring a cascade of little drops of ink.
Some one had come knocking violently
at the door.
ga passel for you, marm, come by ex-
press" said Abraham Scraggs, the vii.
lage scapegrace, who did all sorts of er-
rands when he didn't forget them.
"Paid"
"La, me-" said Aunt zillah. "What
can it possibly be?"
But she did not open it until she she
had interposed the solid bulwark of the
cherry wood door between herself and
the very evident curiosity of Abraham.
ga wooden box," said she to herself.
"And a paper box inside of that. And
why, bless and save us, if it ain't-my
-blue-butteray"
She stood staring down at the insect
specimen so intently that she did not at
first perceive the little note that had
fallen from the outer wrappings of the
box at her feet.
When at last it caught her orderly
eye, an oblong blotch on the carpet, she
made an instructive dive at it.
"What ncxt?" said she. '.Be I be-
witched? What is Marcus Offley writ
in to me about?"
The message was very brief.
"MY DEAR AUNT" it said, pardon me
| for the little trick I have played you; but l
was so anxious to have Rapparee see this
specimen, and knew it wouldn't be hurt in
the least. He says it's the finest this side of
the Rockies, and you arc q lucky woman to
own it; and any time you want to sell it,
he'll give you twenty-five dollars for it.
hope YOU haven't missed it, and been an
noyed. Love to Beck. Ever your affection
ate nephew, VI. w..
sWell, never" said Aunt Zillah, di-
vided between rage and exultation. eff
could just get hold of that boys ears
Hopes l haven't been annoyed! And
poor, dear Becky! I must 60 after her
at once, and beg her pardon! Bless
me, it makes my blood run chill to think
what a lot G names called her, and she
, as innocent the whole time as that white
Brahma chicken i'll the grass! Where's
my bonnet?"
Rebecca returned to the farmhouse.
There was no resisting Aunt Zillah's
frank penitence and genuine regret for
all that had passed.