Evening star., 1893-12-16
ma N D Y'S ORG'N.

care "nether the minister he'd ythtng Ter
dinner tomorrow r not,'
Il don't care" said the GIRL with suilen
emphasis. She came out into the lane, and
stood near her mother. Her apron. gathered
up in her left hand. was full of wheat
With her right hand she began scattering
it on the hard. ungrassed ground.
"Mebbe you think It's fun ter hev minis ,ers
N their wives n lot O. children ter cook
N work fer an Chris mas" she said; but
don't. / wish Christmas 'ud never come
fer all the good ii does us! Maria Quacken-
bush's paws got her a new org'n." she add
ed. suddenly. A glow of eagerness came
across her face, but faded almost instantly.
Has hep said Mrs. Bentley, stolidly
watching the chickens.
IN It's got twenty-four stops, maw."
What has?"
1.-The orgn Maria's paw got 'er fer Chris
mas"
The elder woman shut her lips together
with a kind of grimness.
II guess 1t won't give no better music
than one with twenty-five" she said.
NO." said Mandy, with sigh of indif-
ference "Oh, maw," she added, suddenly
with very passion of longing in her tone;
IA you think paw'n ever get me n orgn
fer Chris 'mas?'
Il do KNOW" replied her mother. Looks
kind O like snow, don't it? Which o. them
pulrts r. you go'n ter kill fer termorrox?'
Il do know; any of ems fat enough"
A dull grayness lowered upon the farm
The wind whistled a little as it came around
the corner of the big barn, and pushed some
stray locks of the girls hair across her
neck. A horse came running up from the
lower pasture, and looked over the tall
bars. neighing and paving the ground i'm
patiently. Far off, down near the river,
was the tinkle-inkle-inkle of a COW bell.
There comes the cows" said Mrs Bent
ley. signing unconsciously. 1t was a sigh
Of resignation, however, for Mrs Bentley
was farmers wife. There she ex-
claimed, In mild triumph. as a cock crew
Didn't 1 tell you it was go'n' ter storm !?
You can tell 1t by the mournful sound O.
Dick Underwood got home las week from
town ter. spend Christmas m New Year
just heard it while you was out gether'n'
punk'ns
She did not stir or lift her eyes. but a faint
color came into her face and a pulse In her
throat began to beat quickly.
Her mother gave her a keen, searching
look.
Il guess he'll mos likely be go'n' ter
Maria's termorrow. a-see'n' her new org'n A."
she said, looking away.
YES, l guess" said the girl. After a mo-
ments hesitation. she added: "Maria's nav
got 'er n offul pretty new dress"
Did she|'-with a look Of interest
Whats 1t like?"
IT'S sort o brown n gold stripe
camers hair IT'S offul pretty" added the
girl with kind of bitter reluctance
Mrs. Bentley was awed into silence for
moment in contemplation of Marias
splendor; then she gave a little sniff Of con-
tempt.
We'll, / don't see where them Quacken-
bushes git much money ter spend on
foolishness! They got just the same fer
their pertatos s we did-'n' they didn't have
no bigger CROP i know. M they amt sold
their hawgs yet. 1t beats me where they git
their money ter pay fer things!'
shes got pair O. gloves ter match. too"
Ian sakes! Just $ II that pair o. gray
ones she got n the spring wasn't good
enough. 1t beats me. Well. there's one
thing mighty sure! They needn't any of
EN- think she's go'n' ter look better n al
her finery than you'll look n thet peacock
blue o your'n!"
ITS IS old s the hills" said the girl.
Her lips quivered, and there was an under
tone OF tears in her voice. Her mother
looked at her in mute sympathy.
Maria Quackenbush amt got no such
fgger 5 your'n." she said, after little.
taking stock of the girls good points: nor
no such hair. m she don't know how ter
do t up ike you do. ! don't suppose hen
Who wili?'' There was a conscious look
on the girls face.
"Dick Underwood
Who's a.ear'n whether he does r not?''
exclaimed Mandy, with an exaggerated
affectation of scorn and Indifference that
but poorly concealed the deep hurt her
mothers words had given. Hes welcome
to. + he wants to! Nobody IL hender i'm.
l guess"
"Hev you got them chick'ns fedY"
Yes" She shook the last grains Of wheat
from her apron. Her face was flushed, and
tears were very close to her eyes now
AS she turned toward the house. there
was ciatter Of unevsniy galloping horses
on the winter ground. and up to the gate
dashed Maria ouackenbush and Dick I'm
derwood, laughing noisily, and with a great
deal of color in their faces. as IL they had
been riding recklessly.
"Whoa!'' cried Maria, with spirit whoa,
tell you! Hello Mandy! How do you do.
Mis- Bentley! Guess my hair s down NV
back, amt it? My! / must be a sight,
But when you git this horse warmed up,
you can't go slow on him."
Won't you git down n come imp" asked
Mrs. Bentley, with cold and unmistakable
disapproval. How do you do, Mr.. Under
wood? My! how You have changed!
Mandy came to the gate. blushing and
looking rather shy and awkward The Young
man jumped off his horse and shook hands
with her through the gate
I've only changed in looks" he said,
WIN Sn1nlng eyes. mo, we can't come in
tonight. We promised Mrs. Quackenbush
we'd be back early to supper
We're go'n' ter hev some music n
singn'," said Maria loftily. I've got q new
org'n fer Chris mas, Mandy"
"Yes, ] heard" said Mandy faintly
Got twenty-four stops m two knee swells
"a, loud n a soft. IT'S got high back, m
places fer lamps n vases. Can't you come
over ternight?"
mo. 1 guess not" said the girl. The
color had left her face. and she was looking
pale
NO." said Mrs. Bentley, with a hard look
in her eyes. shell hev ter do all the work
ternight. I'm a-go'n ter town"
why, maw!' exclaimed Mandy, in
amazement. "'R' you. honest? What you
go'n' fur?"
I'm a-go'n' ter git some things fer din
ner termorrow. I'm all out"
She began drumming with her coarse red
fingers on the gate. There was a look of
sudden resolution-almost stubbornness-on
her face; and a cold glitter, like Steel In
her eyes,-especially when she looked at
Maria
Il wish you c'u'd come" said that young
lady, airily. to Mandy, ficking her horses
ears with her whip; I've got lots ter tell
you"-simpering-"' Just piles ter show
you. I've got new dress thatll make your
mouth wateri"
"Hunh,'' shifted Mrs. Bentley, tossing her
head contemptuousy.
Its brown m gold camel's hair-offul
f1ne-'n' 1t cost a dollar n '-a-Quarter q
yard"
"Hez your paw sold his hawgs yetr'
asked Mrs Bentley, with sudden and start