Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-08-26

v.
will you take it out in trade now or
have due billS" Seth Merrill INTERRUPTED
I'm trade Just wait minute, Abigail y
hastily gave my list of articles and slipned
of to the show case with her, utterly for.
getful of the warning as to Seth's thumb
"A piano" she exclaimed, as | poured
out my suspicious.
Il am almost sure!n
why, Betty, thought you said only
last week that your father wouldn't be
able to get one for long time.
That was last week." replied continu-
ing recklessly, but think we're going to
be rich. man has been here, and most
know it's about boring for oil, and Pm
pretty sure that's the way my piano is
coming"
Now Abigail was not the least bit en-
vlous, and she only said, with a sigh:
You're so lucky wish could have oner'
But | comforted her with the assurance
that she should use mine whenever she
wished
From that time until Thursday my mind
was not off my expected present, nor my
tongue either, when / was with Abigail.
and Aunt Kate said that was pretty much
all the time.
l noticed, as Thursday passed, that the
family seemed uneasy, but was sure that
l knew why, though tried to appear per-
fectly unconscious. The uneasiness in
creased until the morning of my birthday,
when father drove off to town.
/ was uneasy, too. Grandmother insisted
that | kept the road hot" all day between
our house and Abigail's, and | did not deny
1t, for the day wore away with no signs Of
any piano and not a word about my birth
day We were all relieved when father
drove up at dusk and came in looking quite
sober
lowered about the kitchen, but not a
word was said until | went to my own
room. | was too miserably disappointed
to think about the meanness of eavesdrop-
ping as | sat down by the stove pipe which
came up through the floor from the sitting
room below, where the rest of the family
were seated. | soon learned why father
came empty handed.
well, | didn't get it, you see, for the
bottom did fall out" said he, feebly trying
to joke; only 'twa'n't the bottom Of the
road, but the bottom of the business"
81 s'pected somethin' when he didn't
put in his appearance Thursday" said
grandfather. whats upy"
"Why, Potter got wind of it an hunted
him up. Had him over there the very next
day. His offer was bigger m mine an
prospects just as good, they thought, an
he was smart enough to close right on the
spot"
"TIow tricky It's shamel" cried AL
bert
'IIow could he have found it outf' said
Aunt Kate Indignantly. mot a soul Of us
has told"
Twas down on the floor in shame and
modification. | knew howl My most in.
innate friend had told it. But as | thought
of il, even in my bitter disappointment
could not forget the warnings | had had,
and knew that alone was to be blamed.
But could tell them sos'
The next sentence determined me, though
il added still heavier burden as heard 1t.
WELL" said mother. trying to speak
cheerily to father. I'VE can get along as
before, and Betty won't be disappointed
about the piano''-so 1t was pianol-"but
l feel 1t most for you and the grandfolks.
1t would make your lives easier and pleas.
anter II we could only have some of the
riches, IL they are here for u.s."
I did not hesitate. I had done not only
foolish thing but wicked one as well,
and in the next few minutes had sobbed
out my confession and contrition with my
face in my mothers lap think all felt
that had been punished severely, for not
even Albert said anything to add to my
lesson. Grandfather only remarked,
well, lass, you'll have to ride shank s
mare now Std Of pony, but it's fer the
best, prob'ly."
When learned the plans for the future
based upon the hoped for oil well could
hardly reconcile myself to the loss. None
of these plans were realized until some
years later, when by hard labor father
felt able to make the venture which proved
successful But | was then ready to ap-
preciate it, for ] had learned the folly Of
too close intimacies, and Abigail was the
last of the series of bosom friends.
So perhaps grandfather was right in his
conclusion. At any rate, when at last
fortune brought my piano grandmother
was ready to indorse il with the dry re-
mark. "Idon' know after all but larnin' not
to letayer tongue run away with yer vic
tuals is better birthday present than pie
anners. Sarah Bierce Scarborough in
Youths Companion.