The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-16

peered Comfort. under frozen twigs,
and in the blue hollows of the snow,
seeking, as it were, in the little secret
places Of nature for her own little
secret of childish vanity and dis
obedience. 1t made no difference to
her that it was not reasonable to look
on that part of the road, since she could
not have lost the ring there. She had
desperate hope, which was not af-
fected by reason at all, and she deter
mined to look everywhere.
1t was very cold still, and when she
came in sight of the school house, not
a scholar was to be seen. Either they
had not arrived or We're budding over
the red-hot stove inside.
Comfort trudged past the school
house and went down the road to the
old Loomis place. She searched again
every inch of the road but there was
no CLEAN of gold in its white frozen sur
face. There was the cold sparkle of
the frost crystals, and that was all.
Comfort went back At the turn of
that road she saw Matilda Stebblns
coming down the other. The pink tip
of Matilda's nose and her winking
black eyes just appeared above her
red tippet.
'Hullo" she sung out, in a mufRed
voice.
"HullO!' responded Comfort, family.
Matilda looked at her curiously when
she came up. whats the matter?"
said she.
Nothing" replied Comfort.
th4npht a
have you been up that road for?"
Comfort walked along beside Matilda
I'm silence.
What have you been up that road
for?" repeated Matilda.
Wont you ever tell?" said Com
fort.
"No. I won't, Honest and true, Black
and Blue, Lay me down and cut me in
two"
"Wcll, I've lost IT,"
Matilda knew at once what Comfort
meant. you amt" she cried, stopping
short and opening wide eyes of dis
may at Comfort over the red tippet.
yes. / have"
"Where'd you lose it?'
81 felt of my pocket after I got back
to school yesterday, after we'd been up
to the old Loomis house. and l couldn't
find the ring"
"Myw said Matilda.
Comfort gve n stned sob.
Matilda turned short around with n
jerk. Let's go up that road and hunt
again" said she, there's plenty of time
before the bell rings. Come along.
Comfort Pease."
SO the two little girls went up the
road and hunted but they did not find
the ring. Nobody would have picked
It up and kept It, everybody round here
Is honest" said Matilda. ITS dread
fully funny.
Comfort wept painfully under the
folds of her mothers green shawl. as
they went back.
Did your mother scold your" asked
Matilda. There was something very in
nocent and sympathiZing and honest
about Matilda's black eyes as she asked
the question.
mo" faltered Comfort. She did not
dare to tell Matilda that her mither
knew nothing at all about 1t.
Matilda, as they went along, put an
arm around Comfort, under her shawl.
Don't cry, It's too bad" said she. But
Comfort wept harder.
Look here" said Matilda. "Comfort,
your mother wouldn't let you buy an
other ring with that gold dollar, would
she?"
THAT gold dollars to keep" sobbed
Comfort, sit amt to spend" And in
deed she felt as If spending that gold
dollar would be almost as bad as losing
the ring; the bare idea of it Mortified
her.
well, I didn't spose 1t was,"I said
Matilda, abashedly. II just happened
to think of it." Suddenly she gave
Comfort little poke with her redmit-
tened hand. Don't you cry another
minute, Comfort Pease,' she cried, "Ill