West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-02-27

/ a clang.
Little Pen came running 10 her side.
"Such a bouquet, Clarihelw she cried.
''With Mr.. Cartons card stuck in among
the roses! Do only smell of I'll oh, /
forgot, you can't smell, because of the
influenza in your nose Norah saws Mr..
Carlton is in love with you, Claryl Is
hel"
Claribel turned her face away with a
groan. Alicia Vint0n would have the
field all To herself tonight, and what
might not hC done ina such a golden op-
| portanity as thist
"And here comes Cousin Grigp. -
added the child. 'who ever heard OF
Cousin Grigg coming out at night be-
ioref To see you, Clary"
Don't let her come inl" whispered
, Nlaribei 81 do look such figure with
my nose swelled up aud my eyes run
ningn
But the caution came too hate. Cousin
Grigg's black satin dress was already
rustling on the threshold, and in she
| trudgcd.
81 thought I'd like to sec you in your
ball dress, Claribel,n said the kind old
lady. eve got some young thoughts
and fancies about me yet, IL am seventy
odd years old, and like TO see a pretty
girl dressed up, especially II she is my
own flesh and blood. Aud I've brought
YOU q little diamond hair ornament
heur-de-lis set on long gold stem-that
wore TO my first ball, moro than half a
century agOl Never mind, Claribel-
your mother told me how unlucky Won
were, but the diamond four-de-lis will
do just as we'll for the next merrymak,
ing, ehi"
"oh, Cousin Grigg, how rood YOU
arc! murmurcd Claribcl, as the old lady
placed a kiss or her forehead and the
flcurde- in her hand
"Well, Pussikins," said Mrs, Grigg,
iooosoly, addressing little Penelope, who
stood 10y with hot-water bottle in her
hands. "Aud what did you buy with
my presents"
81 didn't buy anything" said Pen,
the most truthful of small witnesses. al
gave it To tho washerwoman's little girl
lt was so very ugly, you know, after the
one bad match eye fell out, that
couldn't bear 10 look at il. -
"Ugly?" cried Mrs Grigg.
son, veryw nodded Pen. "Please, /
don't want 60 hurt your feelings, but
mamma says we must always speak the
truth. 1t was ugly"
And you gave IL 70 the washer
woman's little grl1" slowly repeated
Mrs, Grigg.
''Why, yes" acknowledged Pen.
"She hasn't got so many of 'cm as l
have, you know"
Mrs. Grigg stared.
$50 many what, childln
"Dolls, To be sure, said Pen.
ut wasn't n doll, said Mrs. Grigg.
1T was a ten dollar gold piece"
''No, it wasn'tl" declared Pen, posi-.
lively j guess l ought to know, be.
cause got it,"
Child" began Mrs GrigQ.
But Just then fcvered hand fell on
Mrs Grigg's arm, and Claribel's eyes, full
OF repentant tears, were lifted to her
face.
"Scnd Pen away she whispered,
''aud | will tell you all about it. I am
to blame only--aDd / do think this
dreadfuI influenza is a judgment on me
for my folly and wickedness." :"
So Mrs. Grigg sent Pen down stairs Il,
get handkerchief out of the pocket of
her sealskiu cloak, and Caribel sobbed
out her confession.
~ have been thief, " she said--"a
wicked, mean couspiratorl I've deceived
sweet little Pen and acted contempt
bic lie, aud almost wish ] could die
SO there
Gently, Claribel--gentlyl" soothcd
Mrs. Grigg There's no doubt but that
you've done wrong, but we're all liable
{" error, and this luckily, isn't thing
that cant be undonc. Don't cry, nv
child. but remember for the future that
the straight road is always the best one.
Here, Pen, rs the little girl came
pauting back, sis the cn.dollar piece.
Bay yourself as nice doll as there is i'm
the stores. The other thing was all a
mistake"
"Oh. Cousin Grigg, how much thank
YOU" gaspcd Pen, with eyes nearly as
big as the glittcring coin which Mrs.
Grigg laid in her hand. "Oh, what a
doll this VIII buy. Aud sister, look
here =" running up to the bedside.
heres letter that NOrah says dropped
out 81 tho bou luet on the hall floor, and
she only just picked it up. Shall [ read
it aloud 10 YOU, sister?"
Should she read il aloud7 Never
Claribcl hid the letter away under the
fragrant bunch Of smilax and roses unit;
everybody was gone, and then read II.
with secret thrills Of happiness the let
ter that told her. what she had hardly
dared ~ hope for, the story Of Harold
Cartons love
And everything has happened for the
bcst, she murmured 70 herself forVctful
of the beating headache the pauvs of tine
poor, sore throat; "aud I have got Har-
old's love and Cousin Grigg's diamond
lcnr-do,lis, and I've rcgaincd my own
sclf-rospcc, at last for all I haven't de.
served % single Que Of them But I'm at
ways remember Cousin Grieu's words.
Tho straight road is tho best road. and
this false step shall most assurcdly be my
last.
While in tho adjoining room little
Penelope lay fast asleep, With the ten
dollar gold piece under her pillow, and
dreamed Of % doll 50 magnificent that aIl
thc other dolls iu the nursery SAP stairs
bowed down before her, as Joscph's
brcthrcn's shcaycs of wheat bowed down
before his in the Scripture story she had
read only last Sunday afternoon. .-Satur-
doy Nigit.