The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-12-12

est ambition some time to l,uy nice
farm of his own. As for the little
girl there" nodding her head at
Pearl. "she can come and stay with
me while you are gone, if she doesn't
want to lose her place at the bonnet
store"
Pearl hung her head.
II have no place now to lose," said
she. 81 was discharged to-day"
just then there was the sound of
solid footsteps on the stairs and
hard breathing, as if the steep loco
motion were a decided effort-and in
trudged Miss Thorburn.
els this Pearl Playfair's placer"
painted she. do people hereabouts
live at the top of all creation? Bless
me, where's the fire? Is this sick girl
your sister, Pearl? Why didn't YOU
tell me you had sick sister"?'
Pearl shrunk back, growing very
pale.
"Havey you come toto arrest me?'
she gasped.
"My dear, it's all right" said the
obese milliner, beginning to recover
her breath. '.Miss Densel's two little
sisters came right back in the car
riage, crying as hard as ever they
could. They had heard what har,
luck you had, and they confessed--
dear little thiugs-that it was all
their fault. 1t seems they were look
ing at the bonnet in the dining
room, and cut-glass flask of oil
was somehow upset, and they were
horribly frightened, and meant to
keep it secret; but when they heard
Miss Densel's story, they couldn't
bare to think that you were blamed,
and owned up at once. So have
come all this way, my dear, to let
you know. And you must come
back at once, for it's our busiest
time, and you can have Miss Dater's
place in the show-room-Miss Dater's
going to be married-at 50 a week
more. And you mustn't mind what
l said to you when l was vexed; for
an old woman's tongue can't always
be held responsible. Ha, ha. hal"
ooh, / am so happy! so thankful
gasped Pearl, while Miss Thorburn
trotted around to the side of Katie's
bed to ask her a string of kind,
motherly questions, whose trend
they understood better an hour
later, when a basket of fruit arrived
from the nearest grocery, cold
roastfowl from the restaurant, and
pail of oysters from the fshmon-
ger.
GLOW good people are-how very
good!" said Katie. "And l was just
beginning to think that heaven had
forgotten u.s.
She was we'll enough, under the
sunshine of all this kindly remem.
brance, to go to the Vail homestead
within a very few days.
Jane accompanied her thither,
'tjust to settle her." and of course
Joe had to go, too; while Pearl was
taken into Miss Thorburn's own
family during her sisters absence.
81 can't have her staying all alone
by herself" said Miss Thorburn.
''She's great deal too pretty, and
what's the best of it, she don't even
know it. I've taken a fancy to that
child. I shouldn't wonder if some
day adopted her!"
But when Katie Playfair came
back in May with cheeks as pink us
mountain daisies themselves, and
Miss Thorburn preached her ideas,
the elder sister refused the offer, with
many thanks.
81 couldn't spare PEARL" said she.
"I-I am going to settle on a farm in
Orange county great butter
making region you know-and I
want Pearl to enjoy the buttercups
and the roses and the young lambs
with me-"
"Going to settle, eh?" said Miss
Thorburn. ooh if that's the case I
make no further objection"
eyes," said Katie, blushing charm.
ingly, "Mr. Vail has a contract as
carpenter to railway repair-shop
there, and Pearl and 1 are to live al
ways in the beautiful country"
"Well, my DEAR" said good Miss
Thorburn, Il hope you'll he very
happy. And mind you're to take no
thought about the wedding bonnet.
I'm going to make you a present of
one, all trimmed with white lilacs.
Saturday Night.