Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-04-07


| just brought; how Is that?"
..That Is what I want to tell you,'
she went on. 81 have lost one basket,
or some one has taken it. I am sure 1
! filled eight I went through the row
| to gather them up. but could only find
seven"
You must have overlooked it," he
said, quietly; @.you had better look
through the row again.
There is no use of that" with toss
Of her head; II know 1 looked thor
oughly; some ole has taken it."
3''Why. Miss Martha, VINO would
stoop to take basket of berries that
| did not belong to her or him? / am
| sure we have mo such person here"
glancing around with bright smile
at the group, where here and there a
| face looked sullen and resentful at
| Martha Murphy's insinuation.
well, 1 shan't look through that
row again. that's certain" she said, ede-
| family. 81 know Inever overlooked it,
and it seems hard that a poor girl must
be cheated out of her honest earnings
| in that way
'You cannot expect me to credit you
| with more than l see for myself when
every basket is brough. out here for
my personal count" he said, a slight
| flush rising in his cheeks; "that would
not be business-like for me; neither
can take my time to search for your
| missing basket But will not believe
that anyone has taken it knowingly. :"
There couldn't nobody take it and
n OF know it," said she, coarsely.
He made no answer, but turned to
| the next in waiting and began to jot
down name and mum Der. A hush fell
over the noisy crowd. One by one the
| baskets were handed in. and their con-
| tents noted by the ysnng fellow, whose
frank countenances could not conceal
his annoyance at the scene just passed.
A little girl. ten or twelve years old,
stole over to the still irate Martha, and
whispered something softly in her ear.
She started angrily. and turning.
looked deliberately at a slender, quiet
faced girl, who stood little apart
from the rest, her basket of berries at
her feet
1t was well for the unconscious OBJ
ject of that sharp, wrathful glance
that she did not see and realize its i'm
port. At last Tom Bonniface turned
to the quiet, waiting figure:
Nov, Miss Nellie" he said.
She brought her basket, and his quick
eye glanced over Its contents.
You have nine here he said, shat
makes you fifty-seven for the morning;
pretty good" pleasantly.
Many an eye noted the sudden bright
ening of his face wheS addressing Nell
lie Carey. and look, half mirthful.
half envious went from face to face.
The girl was evidently a favorite
with young Mr. Bonniface. though he
meant to be partial to none.
Martha Murphy stepped forward at
this point Her eyes looked hard and
decided, and her voice rang with ILL
suppressed anger and jealousy.
How is it, Mr.. Bonniface. that Miss
Carey has nine baskets? ] thought we
were only allowed to take eight at
time-just enough to ill a large bas-
ket?'
The young man looked up, slightly
puzzled It was indeed coincidence,
and, the fr1l drift of Miss Murphy's
inquiry striking him, one that he did
not like.
"A mistRke. perhaps" he said. de-
termiued TO shame the speaker, if pos
sible. mistakes will happen, Miss
Murphy"
Carey picked on the other side of nv
row. and came out ahead of me. There
is something queer about it, she hav-
ing one basket too many. and miss
ing one"
The iusiuuatiOn was entirely too
broad to be misunderstood. Nellie
Carey's face flushed painfully. and She
swallowed somethisSs in her throat
ssparharS Won xv;1IaSlx Mics 20 -
explain things, if she can" Martha
Murphy went on. mockingly. For his
life, Tom Bonniface could not keep
his voice from trembling. as he an
swered: 80
mo doubt Miss Carey can and will
explain how she came in possession of
an extra basket"
Nellie Carey's blue eyes flashed an
upward glance at Miss Murphy sneer-
ing, ILL bred face-a glance ful of re-
proach and anger and wounded pride,
as she answered, steadily:
1.-The mistake was made by the one
Who gave me the baskets. When I
reached the farther end of my row l
discovered that had an extra basket,
and, as I had plenty of time, 1 filed
,hem all"
Who gave them to you?" asked
Tom. a
| John Dennis" glancing at the
9young man referred to, who had been
listening to the entire confab.
h II may have made mistake" he
said, coming up. 81 counted them out
jim such hurry. But If Mat Murphy
thinks somebody stole one of Gers, she
better be looking among her own kind
for the thief; Nellie Carey wouldn't do
it."
Nellie cast grateful glance at the
speaker. and severaGD small boys set up
q suppressed shout of derision.
By this time Martha's rage was 1t
boiling heat. Forgetting her admira-
ton for Tom Bonniface, and everything
that she should have remcm bered, she
burst out:
"Well, shan't work where my ber-
ries are stole r.<ht under ny eyes, and
never say word. If Tom Bonniface
wants to uphold such doings, he may,
but shall so home and stay there
Very we'll, you may GO 1 will
make ont your bill, and it shall be paid
you this afternoon"
He rose as if to close the discussion
and walked to the wagon, while Nellie
Carey's wistful eyes followed him
She seemed about to speak, but could