Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1890-08-14

ly afterward; but | hurried away
with the eggs, glad to escape the
smoke and ashes and dye-stuff, and
glad, too, of a chance to ponder over
my coming surprise"
The eggs were being counted ont at
the little country store when Abigail
ran up the steps.
81 thought you were hcrc!v she
cried. s.I didn't half finish telling
you what l was talking about this
morning"
"And have got something to tell
you!" / began impetuously, when a
remembrance of fathers last words
checked me. But Abigail wasn't .3the
Potters,' | thought; SO | went on,
only stipulating, s'But you mustn't
breathe word of it."
GAS if L ever d1d!'' she o1>ciaimesi,
with an offended air. IF you can't
trust me you needn't tell"
"Of course | cam | replied hastily.
"Will you take it out in trade now,
or have due bill?n Seth Merrill in
tcrrupted.
ssIn trade. just wait a minute,
Abigail" | hastily gave my list of
articles and slipped off to the
showcase with her, utterly forgetful
of the warning as to Seth's thumb.
ga piano!" she exclaimed, as l
poured out my suspicious.
81 am almost sure!"
"Why, Betty, l thought you said
only last week that your father
wouldn't be able to get one for long
time"
ssThat was last week." 1 replied,
continuing recklessly, "but | think
we're going to be rich. A man has
been here, and l most know its about
boring for oil, and Pm pretty sure
that's the way my piano is coming.
Now Abigail was not the least bit
envious, and she only said, with a
sigh: '.You're so lucky. 1 wish L
could have one!"
But / comforted her with the assur-
ance that she should use mine when
ever she wished.
From that time until Thursday my
mind was not off my expected present,
nor my tongue either, when l was
with Abigail; and Aunt Kate said that
was pretty much all the time.
noticed, as Thursday passed, that
the family seemed uneasy, but l was
sure that knew why, though l tried
to appear unconscious. The uneasi-
ness increased until the morning of
my birthday, when father drove off to
town.
l was uneasy. too. Grandmother
insisted that "kcpt the road hot" all
day between our house and Abigail's
and | did not deny it, for the day
wore away with no signs of any piano
and not word about my birthday.
We were all relieved when fat CT
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 dis
appointed to think about the meanness
of eavesdropping as sat down by the
stove-pipe which came up through the
floor from the sitting aoom below,
where the rest of the family were
seated. soon learned why father came
cmpty-handed.
"Well, / didn't get it, you see, for
the bottom did fall out" said he,
feebIy trying to joke; "only 'twan't
the bottom of the road, but the bottom
of the business"
II s'pected somethin', when he
didn't put in his appearance Thurs
day." said grandfather. "NYhat's
up?"
"Why, Potter got wind of it an
hunted him up. Had him over there
the very next day. His offer was
bigger IN mine au' prospects Just as
good, they thought, an he was smart
enough to close right on the spot"
"How tricky! It's shame!" cried
Albert.
elbow could he have found it out?"
said Aunt Kate, Indignantly. "Not a
soul of us has told"
was down Oh the floor in shame
and modification. knew howl My
most intimate friend had told it. But
as | thought of it even in my most bit
ter disappointment, l could not for
get the warnings L had had, and
knew that | alone was to be blamed.
But could | tell them so?
The next sentence determined me,
though it added a still heavier burden
as heard it.
"Well," said mother, trying to
speak cheerily to father, "we can get
along as before, and Betty won't be
disappointed about 1,e piano"-so it
was a piano !-"h kel it most for
]. ] J !. ! ! : . !
make your liv, Apleasanter
riches, if they
/ did not he "
well and in then
sobbed out my con
tion with my face il
! think all felt that
ished severely, for
said anything to add