Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-01-28
THE CORAL BRACELETS
They Found a Protector for G
Friendless Girl


Put on more coal, Hawkins" said
Nina Pelham ENORMOUSLY, as she sat in
front of the blazing CRATE.
Hawkins, n 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 n
young person downstairs would like to
see YOU"
What kind of person, Hawkins?"
questioned Nina, languidly lifting her
eyes.
"She's very genteel-spoken-a real
lady, you'd think. If it wasn't that she's
dressed so stability"
at isn't the dressmaker?"
mo, Miss Nina"
Nor anybody come after the lady's
maids situation?"
mo, miss, should say not-she
doesn't look like 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 Wharton! Is it possible?"
You recognize me, Nina?" said the
stranger. at is so long since we were
schoolmates at Nine. Sauriat's that
l thought you would scarcely remem-
Der me-"
"Sit down." said Nina, motioning to-
ward a chair.
Miss Wharton did not sit down,
but went on speaking in a 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.
II am compelled to earn my daily
bread" resumed Anna. "Heretofore
have cxperineced no difficulty in COM
fortably supporting both myself and
my little brother. But since he has
| fallen ill"
II am sorry, but my allowance of
pocket money is so very small that"
Anna Wharton colored scarlet.
You entirely misunderstood mel
do not come here to beg"
She drew little morocco box from
her pocket and opened it.
~ remember you used to admire
| these cOralS very much in our school
| days. | have bcel 10th to part with
| them up to this time. But my brother
| il dying. | wish to sell the bracelets,
| Nina, and I 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,
| veined with the sCftest rOsc-colOr, that
| lay in the simple caSket. She had
been endeavoring for n year to obtain
n set of rose coral, and here at length
it was. ready to her hand.
"How much do you expect to 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
now?"
Nina, I am at your mercy in this
matter. Whatever you may please to
give l must accept, for am straitened
by necessity"
II will give you five dollars" said
Nina, compressin her lips.
Five dollarsl"
And Anna Wharton thought, with @
sinking heart, of the dainties she haC
fondly hoped to buy for her sick broth
err from the proceeds of these delicate
; ornaments.
Just as you please" observed Nina
coldly.
Anna silently placed the ornaments
on the table beside Miss Pelham, ant
held out a thin hand, that would trem
BILE little, in spite of her effort a
self control, for the money.
what exquisite corals! l could no
buy them for one hundred dollars!'
was Nina's exclamation the momen
she was left alone. Really, think
am the luckiest little creature in thu
world. Now l must go and order tina
new bonnet, for DR.. Carleton has in
vited me to drive with him tomorrow.
The fashionable milliner's rooms
were filed with the shopping com
munity that afternoon as Miss Pelham
swept in. She futtered from table t.
stand, glancing at the various attrac
tions, and dispensing a gracious wore
here and there, until at length sh
came to standstill, fascinated by al
elegant chapeau, which had been pro
duced from it's bandbox for her especia
delectation.
'Oh, what a beauty! Do tell me tn