Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1890-12-25


garrett.
mo ones at home," was the answer
to her inquiry next door concerning
Mrs. Monroe.
Her knees seemed to weaken under
her as she turned away. She had not
realized how firmly she had depended
upon getting the money, nor how sorely
she was in need of it.
Seventy-five cents were left in her
purse. 1t would not do to diminish it,
30 the long way home must be walked
She only shook her head as in utter
w,ariness she again sat by Mrs Rob-
erts' fire.
But don't give up yet, children
she said, after half an hours rest. II
haven't. If things were not for the
best of course things wouldn't be SO.
No, can't stay now"
Up to her room she went forgetting
the cold and darkness in the one idea
which now filled her mind. Searching
among the few things left of long ago
prosperity she found small bundle of
embroidered lace which she wrapped up
and again went out.
"It's hand-embroidered and very
fine" she said, timidly offering it at the
| fancy counter of a large store
Sorry" said the busy clerk, with
glance at her wistful face, ''but there
| are so many new varieties of laces
| now that we should have no sale for
| this"
Out again on the sidewalk she took a
few uncertain steps then turned into
nfnr ctr
little things as Kitty and Harry believe
that all things work together for good if
they were entirely disappointed in what
they had hoped for at this holiday sea-
son?
The seventy-tive cents were spent for
doll and book, and she came out
with smile on her face as child
passed before her whose soft curls
might have belonged to Harry himself.
The boy smiled back at her and was
passing on when there came noise and
confusion in the street close by.
Miss Crimp looked around in bewil-
derment. Some frightened horses came
rushing blindly toward the sidewalk.
The child, who had just got out of a
carriage and had bcen slow in following
x d u
exactly in their track.
Miss Crimp never could recall any
thing between the moment in which
she caught the smile of the bright face
and that in which she held the child in
her arms on the ground outside the
| curbstone, while a noise of grinding
| hoofs. shouts and EXPLANATIONS quickly
drew crowd about her. Then came
| dim remembrance of confused inquiry
as she was raised by kindly hands.
No, I'm not hurt at all,'' she in
sisted. slow is the boy?"
Lively as cricket" said police
man.
She only waited to see him seized and
cried over before picking up the parcel
containing her New Years gifts, and
quietly making her way out of the
crowd. She was not hurt, she was suee
of that. Perhaps it was the memories
brought up by the sight of the old lace
in the bright gas-ight which had
brought such a mist before her eyes and
such weakness to her feet, causing her
almost to stagger as she went on her
way. And-the lace was gone. How
could she have forgotten to look for it
in the place where she fell? But it was
too late now, her feet absolutely re-
fused to obey as she half turned to go
back.
The light was out in Mrs Roberts
room and she passed on to her own Its
four bare walls were ALL it seemed.
which cruel world granted her on this
New Years eve. No light. no warmth,
no food, no strength-no courage? A
little still, perhaps, built on founda-
ton of faith in the Lord who for weak
ness or strength, for life or death, earth
or Heaven, still orders the way of His
children for His own highest best
A quick, sharp knock in the gray of
the early morning aroused her.
Get up, Mary Jane," called Mrs.
Roberts outside the door. Somebody's
asking for YOU
There's carriage, too" cried Harry,
in great excitement Happy New
Year. And man that says he can't go
till he sees you. Happy New Year
every bodyv'
ut can't be me he wants." said Miss
Crimp, as in a great futter of surprise
she at length made her appearance and
was hurried down the stairs by Harry
10 the door.
els this your card?' asked the man,
holding up one before her.
why, it is, sure enough said Miss
Crimp, in greater flutter than before.
"l-why, dear me, it was in my bundle
OF lace. know it must have been for
it was the only card l ever had. Some
one must have found the lace"
Mrs NARROW sent me to tell you she
wants you to go to her house with me
at once-to breakfast, she said. y
Mrs. Monroe?" asked Miss Crimp,
not quite understanding the name and
catching at it with faint hope that
Mrs. Monroe might have returned and
was anxious to make tardy amends
10, mum, Mrs. NARROW. And she
says she won't take any denial and
vast to come back without you.''
dear me! It must be some mistake"
Miss Crimp shook her head in great be-
wilderment as she again mounted the
stairs, and it would be hard to say how
long 1t might have taken her to make
up her mind about any thing, or having
made it up to act upon it, had not Mrs.
Roberts, by dint of hustling and coax
ing and encouraging and assisting, at
length made her ready for her early
visit.
cts some fine folks that'H keep you
all day." she remarked, as Miss Crimp
stapped out Of the door, upon which a
dlss1al wall arose from Kitty and Harry.
"She promised to come to dinner with
Us"
''1'll Gomez" she declared. turning q
vefJ earnest face upon them. go
hin1 and hunt in my room for some
thlaf.n