The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-02-18
down to think. At last I seemed to see

down to think. At last seemed to see
q way out of part of my trouble.
locked myself into my room after break
fast next day, when all my other work
was done, and, getting out my water
color box, sat down to renovate those
clothes. took out the cake of Indian
Ink, and with my finest brush began to
the mako that scarlet stripe black. 1t was
most unending piece of work. I began
to think the clothes wero not worth it;
but had begun, must finish. worked
three days over them, carefully blacken-
ing even the wide seams inside, lest
a thread of the scarlet might show. and
really DO one would have known them
for the same clothes. Then I thought
about that white stripe. 1t would soil
so soon, and Fred must wear them every
day. Could I 90 over all that labor1
But did and there had handsome
dark suit, soft gray, with hair-line plaid
of black. But, oh! how mean and ua-
true felt about it!
told Fred the next day that I was
going into town to the dentists. That
was true on the face of it. meant to go
sometime soon, but not so soon. l had
another errand. Nothing gets one into
a tanglc so fast as lie, you have to act
or tell so many more to keep it up. Next
day, before Fred got up, said:
Erred, you know I went down to the
city yesterday, and going by second
hand shop, saw such nice suit hang
ing in the window" (This was all true;
I did, "I know you'll turn up your
nose at the idea, but really the suit l
have brought home was so good and so
clean and so cheap, and yours is so shah
by, that"
"You can just send it back, Nan, !"
roared the indignant fellow. 'The idea
Do you want me to wear other mems
clothes, even if I would9"
stood BY the glass brushing my hair,
and couldn't help the tears in my eyes,
but was glad he could not sec them.
"But Just look ct them, dear Fred" I
said, with quiver in my voice, and I
put the suit on the bed beside him. 1t
was Just tho style he liked-qulet, and
yet not all one dark color.
Fred eyed them doubtfully.
ssIt does look clean, that's fact, al-
lowed Fred. "And, George, there's
Jacobs's label on it, and his buttons-the
best tailor in New York; Nan, it must
have been stolen"
"No, I don't think so. think it
was a mis6t, perhaps, or maybe tho
man didn't want to wear anything but
black"
ssNonsensel Whoever that suit was
made for could afford to have dozen.
Why, I tell you it is Jacobs's work
And what cloth! 1t does tempt me, l
must say. And coming from New York,
nobody here would know it. How much
was it, Nan2"
81 sha'n't tell you, sir. You so and
scorn my poor tricks to make you look
nice. I can sead the suit back to-mor-
row."
Oh, how my heart bounded at that
idea! There would be no more lying to
do if could take it back to Mrs. Ark
wright's.
"No, you sha'n't, young woman. I'll
sink my pride, considering how low my
pocket is; and I do need some decent
clothes, know. Tell me, Nan, what
did they cost3"
"No more than I have laid up out of
the house money, my lord" I said with a
look of all the mischief could put on.
"Fudgel Will you sell them to me9"
eyes, for ten dollars" ;"
"Whew!" he whistled; then reached
for his own clothes and extracted there
from q new bill. "There! I meant to
make deposit of that in your savings.
bank on the shelf, but that must wait o
little.
Then he got up, dressed, and put on
the new suit. 1t fitted him fairly well.
He was bit thinner than Colonel Ark
wright; and they were somewhat loose,
but he liked an easy fit, and he did look
so nice in them! Poor fellow! he did
not like to 60 shabby, and he had been
so patient.
II do feel more respectable now," he
admitted, as he put on his last necktie,
and surveyed himself in the glass.
But this was not the end of my affair.
Grandma Brooks used to say, "The' amt
nothing bears such full crops as a lie
tree." I think so too. About fort
night after, Fred came home looking very
wretched. He said nothing, but after
tea I sat down on his knee and coaxed it
out of him.
"Well, Nan, if you must know, it is
all this plaguy suit. You remember that
Keith, our teller, had splendid offer to
90 out to bank in Montana as cashier.
He made up his mind yesterday to accept
it, and, of course, as I am next under
him, the place would naturally fall to me.
1 was so pleased, for then, dear, you
could have girl, and not work yourself
to skeleton any MORE"
"I'm not skeleton" I said, fercely
"Just see my arms" %*;'' =
He smiled such o dreary little smile
"Well, you won't have the girl Nan, mo-
yet, so spare yourself ali you can. Thi'
morning I was in the vault sorting some
papers, and Colonel Arkwright came in
1 got out in order to cash his check, ant
l observed he looked at me very hard
clothes and all: then Carter came in and
told me I could go home to dinner.
wcat into the lavatory to wash my hands
the window was open, and the door blew
- ,o ~-o, eb,t IN No,, tharo ia .