The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1893-12-29

member Of the Lilly family. NeVeftile-
loss she was nettled on this occasion
bv Rebecca's raised eyebrows ana the
tone in which she said:
Il am glad to find you in such soou
spirits Bell
II did seem rather hard to be caught
canerinr about as if she had not i
care in the world when only half an
hour ago she had been oppressed 10y
the sense of her money difficulties. ana
painfully porldering how to pay her
debts. If Mrs. Lilly and Rebecca had
but come half an hour sooner they
would have seen for themselves that
she was neither insensible nor careless.
But it seems as if | was destined to
look like a thoughtlesS fool before the
I.illys," thought poor Bell And now,
if | plead poverty and debt. ana ASK
them to help me. l know exactly what
they will say"
However. it proved unnecessary for
her TO plead her cause this time, Tor
Mrs Lilly began at once with the an
nounccment that she had come pr,A
pared to settle any outstanding blils
that might be owing by her daughter
in-law up to that date.
Il should have told YOU of this soon
er. Bell" said Mrs Lilly. but put i
off day by day thinking to see you 1T
Percival House. | knew You were not
i'll. for | heard Of your being Seea
about in the streets very often. How
ever us you would not come 10 me-.
| have come to YOU.
Il meant to come this very day;
did. indeed. said Bell Again she felt
that circumstances had combined tn
place her in III unfavorabr light with
Ler lnother-in-llw. After ALL Mrs. Lilly
lad been feeling friendly toward her,
and had meant to do her Il kindness
I'll this time. while she had been sEk-
in. and keeping aloof. Bell MAS II
ways anxious to meet kindness more
than half way.
Il can "ssure yat1. size said that
shall be very thankful to Get tn. Sc bills
paid They have been mailing mo quite
unhappy"
"Oh, but you seem to bear UP very
well. Bell Sometimes | think it must
be Il blessing to have such a very cure
less temperament as yours. Nothing
weighs you down"
Bell went silently To her desk and
took out Il memorandum. This is The
gross amount. she said; Il have added
it up too often not to BE- sure il is
right.
Mrs. Lilly put her glass to her eye
and looked at the figures. "Ha. very
well, Bell" she said slowly Now. il
you please. | should like 10 see the
items. Give me the various bills. Mr.
Lilly particularly desired me to 20 over
them myself.
Again Bell Went silently to her desk.
and took from it bundle of trades
mems bills. which she laid before Mrs
Lilly. who inspected them one by one
with perfect coolness and attention.
Meanwhile Rebecca was endeavnriny
to ingratiate herself with her niece
Miss Henrietta Lilly. fan4iliarly called
Popsy. was Il stout. strong child who
looked more like Il boy than Il girl
She had none Of her mother, flexible
grace or delicacy of feature She WAS
/ healthy. round-facel. and looked stead
ily 1T the world and the inhabitants
thereof with a pair Of large blue. fear
less eyes, She received her aunts atl-
vances with equanimity. Indeed Pop
/ sy and her grandmother We're The on.
absolutely unembarra>sed persons Of
| the party. Even Rebecca srelIt-l il 49,
\ tie ashamed and put out of countrnanca
by her mothers uncompronlisingly hard
manner of comforting a favor on Bell
Mrs. Lilly at last finished her exam
ination Of the bills, shut up her eye.
| glasss and pushed the papers back
across the table to Mrs. Jack. The
amount should be sent to Old stree,
that afternoon. she said And the.
she proceeded to analyze every separ-
ate account and poin, out those art
cles which she considered to denote
extravaganza or lack Of Judgment
Long cloth at Pigeons. Bell, Nobody
who understood how to shop would
think of buying long cloth 1T Pigeons
Jones is the place for long cloth And
what an absurd price to pay for i dress
for Popsy, Mere waste: for the bcs,
things don't wear any longer than com
moner materials for Il child Of that age
shall send Popsy !, frock something
useful and suitable You will take care
Bell, to settle these bills directly Mr.
Lilly sends you the check"
"Of course | shall" answered Bel
flushing hotly. Paying those bills wi,
be too pleasant for me to put Of rh,
enjoyment for mnuta
oh. but you are 50 thought,rSs 10,
see, Bell. and have so little idea o
management that you light be putin.
the money to other uses, unles, 20,
were particular to get il out Of YOU,
hands at once.
Mrs. jack began to think tAa, ,h.
was paying very dearly for her father
/. laws assistance
And Mr.. Lilly WISHES YOU to unlr,
stand. Bell. that you must not ree,,o,
upon his doing this kind of thing il
future He wishes to clear off every
thing. and give you fair star, Blu
he really cannot BE- putting his han,
into his pocket for you every nov ~,
then. | hope you understand. Bell"
quite understand. Mrs. Lilly
Is not easy to mistake You meaning"
- nd L IL