The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-06-09


eye glanced over Its contents.
"You have nine here" he said, ''that
makes you fifty-seven for the morning;
pretty good" pleasantly.
Many an eye noted the sudden bright,
ching of his face when addressing Nell
lie Carey, and a look, half mirthful,
half envious, went from face to face.
The girl was evidently favorite
Mr. Bonniface,t though he
meant to be partial to none. v
Martha Murphy stepped forward at
this point Her eyes looked hard and
decided, and her voice rang with ILL
anger and jealousy.
How is it, Mr.. Bonniface, that Miss
Carey has nine baskets? ] thought we
were only allowed to take eight at a
time-just enough to fill a large bas-
ket?"
The young man looked up, slightly
puzzled. 1t was indeed a coincidence,
and, the full drift of Miss Murphys
inquiry striking him, one that he did
not like.
"A mistake, perhaps" he said, de-
termined TO shame the speaker, if pos
SlUlC. hlotdhCo VIII hdPpChs h lbb
Murphy"
Eyes, mistakes will happen; but Nell
Carey picked on the ther-side- of my
row, and came out ahead of me. There
is something queer about it, she hav-
ing one basket too many, and miss
ling one" sftS
The insinuation was entirely too
broad to be misunderstood. Nellie
Carey's face flushed painfully, and she
swallowed something in her throat.
perhaps you will ask Miss Carey to
explain things, il she can" Martha
Murphy went on, mockingly. For his
life, Tom Bonniface could not keep
his voice from trembling, as he an
swered:
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's'sneer-
ing, i'll bred face-a glance full of re-
proach and anger and wounded pride,
as she answered, steadilys
1.-THE mistake was made by the one
who gave me the baskets. When |
reached the farther end of my row l
discovered that ] had an extra basket,
and, as l had plenty of time, filed
them all"
"Who gave them to your" asked
Tom.
John Dennis" glancing at the
young man referred to, who had been
listening to the entire confab.
81 may have made mistake he
said, coming up, II counted them out
IN such hurry. But if Mat Murphy
thinks melody stole one of hers, 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 several small boys set up
suppressed shout Of derision.
BY this time Martha's rage was OF
boiling heat. Forgetting her admira-
ton for Tom Bonniface, and everything
that she should have remembered, she
burst out:
well, 1 shan't work where my ber-
ries are stole right under my eyes, and
never say a word. If Tom Bonniface
wants to uphold such doings, he may
but shall go home and stay there"
Very well, you may go | will
make out 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
not trust her voice, the tears were too
near overfowing. At last she sum-
moned courage, and walked over
where Tom and John Dennis were
talking together
mr.. Bonniface, will 60" she said,
the hot color flaming in her cheeks
keep Miss Murphy. Please do. She
has blind mother to, care for, and
needs the pay will go"
mo, she shall 60" he said, in a voice
that sounded harsh even in his own
ears. "She has made disturbance
enough for one season. If you care to
stay, l will see that you suffer no an
noyance from what has happened"
Without another word he sprung to
his wagon seat and whirled away, leav-
ing the girl heavy-hearted and quite un-
decided what to do
A group of boys and girls were
seated on the grass eating their dinner,
and as she started slowly homeward, d
young girl sprang to her feet and ran
after her.
II wouldn't go home, Nellie she
said, 'let Mat Murphy so; she is always
kicking up row about something. l
think she treated you awful and we
all think so. too"
But the words, meant to be kind, only
unsealed the fountsfbT of tears that had
been gathering in the girls grieved
heart She sobbed like child for a
moment, then said. with sudden lift
Of the sunny head:
Il know did not take Martha Muir
phys berries. and she may do me all
the hurt she will. am innocent, and
.weuld not steal
"She knows you wouldn't the other
said, ''she is just jealous of you, that's
all"
The quivering lips grew stern in a
moment but she said nothing She
did not come back that afternoon. Her
widowed mother, gentle-faced. lady
like woman. was quite decided in her
decree that Nellie should not enter the
berry-tield again.
ITO think OF calling a child Of Col.
Carey--the proudest man and the brav-
est soldier that ever lived-a THEIR
The loving eyes Of the mother grew
dark with wounded pride at the
thought.
y did not want you TO 90 vt al, Mel