The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-10-26
EQUAL TO THE TEST.

cuoUsn. TX any one 1anClcs fcu lalr
aud eyes that have yellow CLINT in
them like tigers, but that never was
my style of beauty! Give me girl
that has something more substantial
than more good looks to fall back
on it the time should ever come when
1t is necessary, Instead of girl who
has nothing more than some mouldy
classic on the end of her tongue, or
some frittcry fancy work forever in
her flngers!"
ella, sakcs, brother" fccbly expos
tulated Mrs. liant, "you look as if it
were really going to be! | know Bes-
sic Is fond of her books aud pretty
feminine fancies, but | don't blame
the girl. | used 10 like 'em when
was her age! But know she ain't
any more like Jcssca or Minerva than
they are like her" o.
Abram Alvey was too deeply en-
crossed in his subject to heed the
quiet sarcasm in the last portion of
her response.
"Right, Emily" rotorted, quickly.
"no more shc amt! jess or Min
could take hold aud do for themselves ;
IL they should ever have to, but Bessie
there-laugh!"
Nobody saw slender shadow fit
across the window near which Abram
Alvey sat, neither did they hear the
footsteps which approached the open
door, then stole swiftly and quietly
away. A tall, slender girl, with wayy
masses of red-brown hair clustering
around sweet, serious face, out of
which shone the wide brown eyes
which had in them the "yellow CLINT"
to which Abram Alvey objected.
Unwitiingly Bessie Hun, had over
heard the whole of their conversation
which alluded to her! She had book
in her hand, aud rs she turned away
thore was just suspicion of tears on
the long, silken fringe of lashes around
the brown eyes, trcmor in the
curved, sensitive lips.
81 wondcr," she murmurcd, as she
went swiftly down the grass-grown
path to her favorilc haunt under a
clump Of graceful. silvcry larchcs, "if
am so very usclcssP Uncle Alvey
certainly thinks so! But" with
sigh, ii never had the strength to
do all that Jessie and Minnie might
wish l had, thought"
Poor child, she did not know, as
she uttered this vain wish, that it was
literally like grating tho fair, frail
orchid blossom on the strong, hardy
Northern rose! Tho harsh remarks
that she hnd overheard ranked deeply
in her heart just now.
But "truh is stranger than fiction"
Sunny skies and fair promises sur
rounded Myrtle Farm and its inhabi-
tanls at present. There was no fear
of casualties In the heart of honest
john Hunt, for, as he said, he'd "laid
by considerable pilc to use on
rainy day." if the time ever came.
But they had no fear of its coming,
not they!
But, las for the consisicncics of hu-
,manity! Down in the progressive
DOWN, near the outskirts of which
stood Myrtle Farm, once week john
Hunt carried good,y load of farm
produce; there hc heard conversations
which set him TO thinking. Men
talked of making lifetime fortune in
some bold speculation; of getting
s'corpcrs' in grain, buying SLOW"
then selling "high," and, although lie
did not just understand as clearly as
he ought. hc would ponder these things
as he joltcd homeward ever tho rough
country roads, and the moro he
thought the more fascinated and
tempted ho became.
At last. ono bright morning he
started for the market us usual, but
beneath his coat, securely waddcd into
. snug roll into his vest pocket. was
largo roll Of bills.
lie was going to try his luck. It
would DO such a iine thing for tho
homo folks, lao argued to himself, II
~ happened to como out ahead. No