The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-11-06

couraged when, like the frog in the
we'll, we climbed up one step and
slipped back two i broke my parasol,
jammed silver in my finger, and lost
my hair ribbon, but the calf was placed
on solid ground at last Old Brindte
was pleased, and, in that first flush of
victory,FI felt that | could afford to for
get those little drawbacks. The red
haired boy regarded me rather pityingly
as he said goodbye.
Five minutes later a servant had ush-
cred me in to wait "'ti1 the missus
came.' ''Some one to see Miss White
on important business" heard her ex-
planning outside "a beggar-girl, l
guess"
''Beqgar grit indeed! But just then
happened to glance in the large mirror
opposite, affa stink back In the-ehair, for
once actually frightened. / had known
that my dress was torn, my hair frowsy
and my gloves stained; but tho know
ledge had not troubled me much. l
was not Milly, and dress wouldn't make
much difference with a black sheep.
What | had not known wasthat a smear
of mud reached from my nose crossways
to my ear; and, worse yet, the rent in
my shoe had extended to my stocking,
leaving exposed a consfderable@part of
a very muddy foot. WHAT thought,
=springing to my feet=..whatif | should
spoil the Chances of the rest of the fam
ily!' Before I could decide whether it
was best to run or stay and brave it out,
the door opened and Aunt Augusta
came in; and then my last faint hope
died away She was SO tall, SO digni-
fed, and-sO neat. "Oh, Milly, Mi1lyf
| balanced myself on one foot in a des-
perate endeavor to conceal the ragged
shoe, and told my errand with cour-
age born of despair. II have brought
you the money for a cow-thirty dol
lars-from Mr.. Moses Smith"
She looked at mo, surprised. ~ es,
thank you. ! will give you receipt.
But, pardon me, ] do not seem to recog-
nize you. You are
81 am Mrs. Smiths niece" l STAN
mered.
What? Not one of George Lamp
sons children?'' There was certainly
good deal of surprise in her voice; and
/ felt that now, for the credit of the
family, an explanation must be given.
But she should never know
II should not have come looking this
way | began, in my most dignihed.
manner, winling hard to keep back the
tears. s'But | stopped to help little
boy get a calf up ravine, and" My
long balance on one foot gave way |
staggered, made wild plunge a nd re-
covered myself only by describing
sort of half-circle with the other foot,
now almost bare That. and the trem-
ulous smile on Aunt Augustus lips,
was too much. The next minute was
crying as il my heart would break.
Tit isn't that Ieare about myself,
i gasped, between my sobs, ''Only you
mustn't laugh-or-think any Jess OF
Sue-or-or Milly. 1t was my own
fault, every bit of it, ] looked all right
when started, and-and then stopped
to help little boy with calf, be-be-
cause he said | couldn't, and tore my
dress and my shoe, and know Aunt
Ann will be 50 mad, and--oh, dear! I'm
the black sheep of the family, and al
ways will be, and don't see how | can
help it"
''Do you mean to tell me-" exclaimed
Aunt Ann that evening, when she
heard the whole story, 'that she aetu-
ally wanted you to stay to dinner; and
had you sit down with her, looking the
way you did?s
Eyes, ma'am," / answered. meekly.
81 washed my face, and her maid
com bed my hair; but that was all.
well, can't understand it. III she
takes fancy to any one, she takes 1t
for certain. You'll get your musical
education, l guess, If you want it; and
/ only hope it will do you some good.
But can't see into it. You-and after
You'd helped that little Irish boy with
the calf and got to looking the way you
do now. If you had got what you de-
serve ed, miss, it would be good scold-
ing" ~,
SThere, there, Ann, what's the use OF
going on sop expostulated Uncle Moses
"She's done all right about the calf. !
always said Bertha would make smart
girl
sSmart! l never said but what she
wouldi' exclaimed Aunt Ann. y
Won know yourself, Moses Smith lthis
in great disgust), she's the black sheep
OF the family, and, always Will be-
Pauline Phelps, In NJ X, Independent