The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-03-07

49, e: e: $::..':; n;''. e. .:s :;:5; "a;
where the worn
wedding ring lung so loose.
''i've had some toast and q cup of
tca," answered Mrs. Trafford. "And
the teapot is waiting on the back of
the stove for you. We have got to
vacato the premises before night
dear. The man has sold them, aud
needs caretaker no longer
Yes, ] know" nodded Dora. 81
ought 60 have been up earlier to help
YOU pack our poor little odds and ends.
But | was 80 tired and slept so
heavily. Mother, what are these?'
She touched with the tip of her
slim, taper foot n slovenly bundle of
things that lay on the floor.
'Soiled silk dresses, crumple dlsces,
hal.-worn embroidery, said she, ele-
waiting her pretty little nose. Zone
would think the errand boy had mis-
taken No. t't for the lodgings of the
second-rate actress Mt No. IT.
Mrs. Traiford flushed up to her
thinking of not to have hurried the
things ont OF sight before Dora came
down stairs?
Its from your Cousin Mainwar-
ing" said she. al sent them little
note yesterday"
a little note |" Dora's Diana-like
figure involuntarily aiehtened it
self up--a vivid carmIne stained her
cheek. "About what, mother"
"Oh, nothing, dearest--a mere mat
ter of business !"
"But, mothor, it can hardly be
nothing Tell me what all this means.
l insist upon Knowing. Surely you
never asked them for package of
secondhand clothes !"
Mrs. Traford burst into feeble
teurs.
"Don't look so sternly at me,
Dora" she bewailed herself. 'I-I
couldn't help it I've had to do it
this long time. but never meant that
you should know it, Yon're like your
father, Dora you're so proud. And
people must live"
Dora had grown very pale.
"Mother, have you been borrowing
money OF these naughty relations of
ours?" cried she.
you're hurting me, Dora Don't
squeeze my arm so
''Oh, beg pardon, dear didn't
mean to hurt you," stopping to kiss
the bony wrist. 'But you haven't
answered me.
"How could borrow money of them
when they wouldn't lend it?" queru
lously retorted Mrs. Trafford. ''Bu
they sent these things. They thought
perhaps, we might make them useful.
"Oh |" said Dore, curling her short
upper lip with infinite scorn. "Ther
that accounts for the remarkable ward
robe you've been sending me while
was under teacher at Miss Magallo
way'sl AS long as ] thought it was
youu taste in selections-but all the
while it was secondhand finery"
"What could l do?" planned the
widow. ".5ome of the things l sold a
Simons's place. 1t all helped to pay
the grocer and the baker. The Main
warnings ought to help us, Dora. Theyr,
90 much richer than we are !"
"There's no ought about it !" re
torted Dora. olives never lent none,
to Lazarus that l know of, although
they might have been distant rela
tions."
"Dora, what are you doing?" crie'
Mrs. Trafford.
"Tying up these things, mother, int
smaller bundle"
"What are you going to do wit
them?"
81 am going to send them bac
where they came from - n.
''But, Dora, stopl Some of tn
things are quite good"
ga great deal too good for US
mother" bitterly answered Dora, SO
ehe not gool enough, can't quit
settle wh.ci r.,
Sand Simons really gives quite
fair price"
"He will not have the opportunit
again. Don't try to argue the point
mother, dear. This thing never woul
have happened if i had been at home
To think that these Mainwarings shoul
insult us by all offer of their secont
hand clothes /"
Mrs. Trafford shrank into the chail
appalled, at the pallor in Dora's cheel
the lightning of her eyes.
"What would she say" thought she
''if she knew all had borrowed frol
Cousin Celia, and couldn't pay back
Oh, dear? oh, deArI but how could