The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-26
THE CORAL BRACELETS.
They Found G. Protector for a
Friendlsss Girl

EfI6QCI9SS GuL
"Put on more coal, Hawkins" said
Nina Pelham querulously, as she sat in
front Of the blazing CRATE.
Hawkins, solemn and somewhat
consequential looking servant, obeyed
his young mistress, but paused mo-
ment after he had heaped the coal upon
the red-hot bars.
''If you please, Miss Nina, there's a
young person downstairs would like to
see you"
What kind of g person, Hawkins?''
questioned Nina. languidly lifting her
eyes.
"She's very gentcel-spoken-s real
/ lady, you'd think. Il it wasn't thatshe's
| dressed so shabhly."
| ut isn't the dressmekerT'
! mo, Miss Nina"
Nor anybody come after the lady's
maids sitnation?"
mo, miss, I should say not-she
doesn't look like a lady's maid"
Well show her up!"
And Nina's pretty head settled back
among the cushions of her chair with
returning Incidence. But the instant
her eye fell on the sweet, pale face of
the slender looking girl who advanced
timidly into the room, she sat upright
with genuine surprise depicted IN her
countenance,
Anna Whartoni Is 1t poesible?'
"You recognize ne, Nina?" said the
stranger ''It is so long since we were
schoolmates at Mme. Sanriat's that
l thought you would scarcely remem-
Der me"
"Sit down." said Nina, rnotioning to-
ward a chair.
Miss Wharton did not sit down,
but went On speaking in hesitating
voice.
''Of course you have heard of our
misfortunes-my fathers failure and
death. and my mothers subsequent de-
cease?"
II had not heard Of it, said Nina,
contemplating her dainty slippers.
~ am compelled to earn nay daily
bread" resumed Anna. Heretofore [
have experienced no difficulty in com
fortably supporting both myself and
nv little brother. But since he has
fallen Ill"
81 am sorry, but my allowance of
pocket money is so very small that"
Anna Wharton colored scarlet.
"You entirely misunderstood mol
do not come here to beg"
She drew little morocco box from
her pocket and opened it.
81 remember you used to admire
these corals very much in our school
days. I have been 10th to part with
them up to this time. But my brother
10 dying. l wish TO sch the bracelets,
Nina. and thought you might like to
purchase them"
Nina leaned forward in her chair and
took the box, her eyes sparkling at the
sight of the beautifully carved coral,
veiued with the scftest rose-color, that
lay in the simple casket. She had
been endeavoring for q year to obtain
a set of rose coral, and here at length
it was ready to her hand.
How much do you expect 70 receive
for them?"
Papa gave eighty dollars for them
in Italy"
Nina shrugged her shoulders
'Of course you can't expect TO get a
twentieth part of that price for them
now2"
Nina, am at your mercy in this
matter. Whatever you may please to
give l must accept, for am straitened
by necessity"
Il will give you five dollars" said
Nina COMPRISING her lips. ~
Five dollars
And Anna Wharton thought, with
sinking heart, OF the dainties she had
fondly hoped TO buy for her sick broth
er from the proceeds Of these dehcsse
ornaments.
just as you please" observed Nina,
coldly.
Anna silently placed the ornaments
on the table beside Miss Pelham, and
held out thin hand, that would trem-
bic little, in spite of her effort at
self control, for the money.
what exquisite corals! could not
buy them for one hundred doilars!"
WAS Nina's exclamation the moment
she was left alone. Really. / think l
am the luckiest little creature in the
world Now l must 60 and order that
new bonnet for Or. Carleton has in
vited ne to drive with him tomorrow"
The fashionable nilliner's rooms
were filed with the shopping com
munity that afternoon as Miss Pelham
swept in. She futtered from table 20
stand, glancing at the various attrac-
tioas, and dispensing a gracious word
here and there. until at length she
came 10 a standstill, fascinated By an
elegant chapesu. which had been pro-
duced from its bandoox for her especial
Gelectation-
oh what beauty! Dc tell me the
price, madam" she calculated. with
sparkling eyes
a trihe-a mere trife, said the nil
liner patting tAe strings with soft lit
lie hands, around the taper fingers OF
which fashionable ladies were daily
wound" ~ the score '.Thirty-fve
dollars Is all"
'Ihi-ty-dve dollars. I hardly dare
to pay 50 much for bonnet, madam
SAID Nina Papa scoI6s about ny *
travaEa1ce aod makes such dreadful
faces over tie bills
The WHY Niue D'Herio. held Nd tia