Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-08-07


The ''little Mother" and Helen
were the household angels" and it
was no light task to keep things nice
and comfortable with their extremely
limited purse, and to prevent spa"
from seeing too plainly the ruin he
had wrought.
The neighbors were very kind, and
often some little delicacy found its
way to their scanty table-given with
so much friendly goodwill that sensi-
tive little Mrs. Pendergast was no
more hurt by the attention than the
neighbors were when Helen brought
them lunches of MayAowers from the
woods in spring.
But of late Helen's fingers had been
buster than ever. Upon careful re-ex-
animation the ''bundle" had shown
possibilities which had not been ap-
parent at the first. And the old party
dresses. dyed-for Helen had mas
tered the dyepot's mysteries long ago
were now transformed into four
pretty silk petticosts which would
rustic delightfully."-" under their
wooden gowns.
Gust the last things in the world
any of us really wanted" Helen ad-
mitted; ''but the silk wasn't fit for
another thing, and rs it didn't cost us
anything l guess we can afford to be
swell for Oncel"
Then in some magical way her deft
fingers had fashioned for herself as
dainty a gown from the voluminous
old gray opera cloak and the best of
the well worn r~edingote as ever a
pretty maiden wore to church on a
bright Sunday in spring.
The battered Paris bonnet bloomed
anew with apple blossoms, freshened
over the kettles reviving steam. But
the browning feature of the costume
was a beautiful pink silk parasol,
which Cousin Frances would certainly
never have recognized as the ''skele-
ton" of her famous bundle, newly
clad in the pink lining of the opera
cloak, and adorned with the freshest
LOUNGES of the chiffon gown.
'Girls, how do IloOk?" was Helen's
anxious question, as arrayed for the
first time in all her glory she was
about to start with them for church.
"Just too sweet and lovely!' Mar
garet said, with enthusiasm and the
mother, who thought her girls were
always perfect, echoed Margaret's
words.
But Anne was troubled. Such finery
seemed hardly in accord with their
Strengthened circumstances, or with
the almost Quakerish simplicity of the
quiet town; but Helen was so happy
that she could not bring herself to
speak her doubts which, after all,
might prove without foundation.
She was keenly alive, however, to
the sensation which Helen's appear
ance caused, and which, all during
the service, divided the attention
Of the congregation with the
good minister's words. And
after the service, Anne's straining ears
caught more than n fragment of un-
/ friendly criticism, which seemed float
ing in the air.
1T does beat ALL" old Mrs. Sharp
whispered to her neighbor, chow folks
behind hand in theirrent can buy such
6neryl'
'P'raps Pa Pendergast has some
how made his %everlastin' fortune, was
the audible answer
''Did you see how Chan Bassett
kept lookin' at her? He can't afford
to dress a wife like that. / heard Mis-
Bassett tell him so durin' the collec-
ton"
Jest see that pink parasoli Why,
Many couldn't get one, plain dark
blue. for less'n five dollars. An silk
petticoats, too, 1 know by the rustlin'.
They're up an down extravaganza, or
else they amt so poor as they've been
maxim out.
An. the neighbors sendin' 'em IN
cake an pie at every bakin'l'
Helen's cheeks were ike roses as
they went on their homeward way,
and Anne wondered if she, too, had
overheard the gossips' whisperings, or
whether the deeper flush was only the
reflection from the pink silk parasol,
which she held SO bravely overhead.
I Margaret was less observing, and was
evidently quite unconscious OF any IN
usual stir going on around them.
1t was the first Sunday in many
months that Chsuncey Bassett had not
walked home with Helen. He had
been with his mother on the church
steps when they came out, but he had
only bowed andthen had looked away.
1t was certainly strange, thought
| Helen. but---if he didn't want to come,
he needn't And no one, not even
Anne. should know she caredl
The weeks rolled around, and sum
mer followed spring. Every Sunday
Helen went TO church in her brave at
tire. and walked home afterward with
Anne and Margaret and Chauncey
never came.
She never mentioned him; but
anne, MulcuiuS ueh u@AAhS WIN JON
Gus ewes, saw how her cheeks grew
paler. and how l~istless she seemed to
be as the summer days went on.
One night as Anne lay bordering
upon these things, with Margaret
asleep beside her, she heard a stifed
sob from the cot where Helen lay.
That was all but it was not long be
fore Anne had determined what to do.
And the next day, on her way home
from the village, she stopped at Mrs.
Bassett's for the first time since that
spring Sunday when Chauneey had
I fingered at his mothers side.
'It's ever so long since I've had a
| chnnce tn rnn i'm. Anne BEGAN. with