St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-11-01

courafcd when. like the frog in the
well, va. climbed up one step and
slipped back two I broke my parasol.
jammed . sliser in my finger, and Lost
my hair ribbon, hut the calf WAS placed
on solid ground d last.
Five minutes later Z. servant had ush.
cred mo in to wait ''H.il tho missua
came" ''Somc one to ses Miss Whita
on important business" / heae6 her ex-
planning outside. "A beggas-girl, !
guess"
'.Beggar girl" indeed! But Just then
Happened to glance in the largo mirror
opposite. and sank back In the chair, for
once actually frightened had known
that ny dress was torn, my hair frowsy
and my gloves stained; but the know.
ledge had not troubled me much. I
was not Milly. and dress wouldn't make
much difference with . black sheep.
What had not known was that smear
Of mud reached from my nose crossways
TO my ear; 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 II should
spoil the chances Of the rest Of the fam
ily!" Before I could decide whether it
was best to run or stay and braveit ouA
the door opened and Aunt Augusts
cane in; and then my last faint hope
died away. She was 20 tall, 20 digni-
ned. and-so neat ''Oh, Milly, Millyr
I balanced myself ON one foot in des-
perate endeavor to conceal the ragged
shoe, and told my errand with cour-
age born Of despair. Il have brought
you the money for . oow-thirty dol
lars-from Mr.. Moses Smith"
Shc looked At me, surprised. 'Yes.
thank you. I will give you . receipt
But pardon me. I do not seem to recog-
nize you. You are"
IL am Mrs Smiths NIECE" stam-
mered.
''What? Not one Of George Lamp
sons children?" There was certainly
good deal Of surprise in her voice; and
Ifelt that now. for the credit Of the
family. an explanation must be given.
But She should never know
II should not have come looking this
way" l began, in my most dignified
manner. winking hard to keep back tho
tears ''But stopped to help little
boy got calf up . ravine. and" Ny
long balance ON one foot gave way. I
staggered. made wild plunge. and 10
covered myself only by describing
sort Of half-circle with the other foot
now almost bare. That and the trem-
ulous smile on Aunt Augusta's lips,
was too much. The next minute / was
crying - II my heart would break.
s.It-it isn't that I caro- sbovt myself"
I gasped, between my sob& only you
mustn't laugh-or-think any less OF
Milly. It Was ny own
fault every bit OF It Hooked al right
when started. and-and then stopped
10 help little boy with calf, be-be-
cause he said / couldn't ard tore my
dress and my shoe, and ! know Aunt
Ann will be % mad. and-oh, dear! I'm
tho black sheep of the family, and al
ways will be! and don't see how can
help it" Il
"bo you mean to tell me-" exclaimed
Aunt Ann that evening, when she
heard the whole story. ''that she acta-
lily wanted you to stay 70 dinner; and
had you sit down with her. looking the
say you did?"
"Yes, ma'am." ansWerod. meekly.
Il washed my face. and her maid
,ombed my hair; but that was all"
'Well, can't understand It. II she
lakes . fancy to any one, she takes IL |
boe certain YouIl get your musical
education. guess, II you waat It; and
only hope It will do you some good.
But can't eco into It Hes-a1d after
voud helped that little Irish boy With
he calf and got to looking the way you
10 now. II you had got what you de-
,erved, miss, IL would Be good scoad. |
ng." Il
There, there, Ann, what's the uss Of |
eoing On so?" cxpostalsted Uncle Moses |
She's done all right about tho CALI 4
Always said Bertha would make smart
,irl' ~ ls
''Smart! I never said bat what she
soa11e exclaimed Au1t- Ann. "But
ron kapw yourself. Mdses Smith (this
n great disgust). she's tho black sheep
4 the sss6ily. and always viii be."-I
Dsalise Phelps II n Z. J1depsAdesk