Evening star., 1895-03-16

| ware " Uuy tuS morse, ana We can Z go to
| Bolton"
Comfort looked at her piteously.
Suess Ia better go home," said she.
| fully. Look here" said she.
| What" said Comfort
1t amt more'n three miles to Bolton.
| Mothers walked there and so has Imo-
| gen"
DO you s'pose-we could?'
Il don't believe it would hurt us one mite
say. tell you what we can do--Tll take
you can drag me, and that will rest both OF
| us, anyhow"
$50 it WILL" said Comfort
CHAPTER v.
But Matilda looked doubtful again.
There's only one thing" she said. Mother
amt at home She and Rosy went over to
grandma's to spend the day this morning
and can't ask her. 1 don't see how 1
can go without asking her, exactly"
Comfort thought miserably: What would
Matilda Stebbins say if she knew 1 took
that ring. when my mother told me not
to?"
"Well,' said Matilda, Frightening, It
don't know but 1t will do Just as well
II I ask Imogen. Mother told me once
that If there was anything very important
come up when she was away that could
| ask Imogen."
Imogen was Matilda's oldest sister, She
was almost eighteen, and she was going to
| a party that night, and was hurrying to
nnish beautiful crimson thibet dress to
| wear.
| Now, don't you talk to me and hinder
me one moment I've everything 1 can do
to finish this dress to wear to the party"
| she said. when Matilda and Comfort went
| into the sitting room.
Cant 1 go to Bolton with Comfort
| Pease, Imogen?" asked Matilda
Il thought you were going with Uncle
Jared Didn't mother say you might?
Now. don't talk to me. Matilda
| Uncle Jared's got to go to Ware to buy
the horse. and he can't take u.s.
oh. l forgot. Well, how can you CO.
then? You and Comfort had better sit
| I'VE could walk" ventured Matilda
| walk to Bolton! You couldn't"
It's only three miles, and we'd drag
| each other on my sled"
| lmogen frowned over wrong pucker in
| the crimson thibet and did not appreciate
the absurdity of the last. Il do wish YOU
wouldn't bother me-, Matilda" said she.
| IF ! don't get this dress done / can't go
| to the party tonight. 1 don't know what
mother would say to your going to Bolton
| any such way"
| 1T wouldn't hurt us one mite Do LET us
| go. Imogen."
| Well, I'll tell you what you can do"
| said Imogen. "You can walk over there:
1 guess it won't hurt you to walk one way,
| and then you can ride home in the stage
coach. 1t comes over about half-past four
| I'll give you some money
| "Oh! that's beautiful. Thank you, Imo-
| gen." cried Matilda gratefully.
| We'll, run along and don't say another
| word to me-, said 1mogen, scowling over
the crimson thibet; wrap up warm"
When they started Matilda insisted upon
| dragging Comfort first in the sled. ..I'n
| drag you as far as DIR. Hutchins'," said
she; then you get off and drag me as far
| even.'
1t was arduous. and it is probable the
| little girls We're much longer reaching Boil
| ton than they would have been had they
| Travelled on their two sets of feet all the
way. but they persuaded themselves other
! wise
We can't be-a mite-tired," painted Ma
| tilda, as she tugged Comfort over the last
| stretch; ''for we each of US rode half the
| way, and a mile and a half amt anything
You walk that every day to school and
| back
Yes, do" assented Comfort She could
| not believe that she was tired, either al
| though every muscle in her body ached
| from all the neighboring villages went
| there to do their trading and shopping.
| There was a wide main street, with stores
on each side, and that day 1t was full of
! sleighs and pungs and wood sleds, and
| there were SO many people that Comfort
| felt frightened. She had never been to
Bolton without her father or mother Just
| look at all the folksr' said she, and she
| had an uncomfortable feeling that they all
| stared at her suspiciously, although she
| did not see how they could know about the
| ring. But MatllQa was DOiuer. II Sucn
| a pleasant day. they're all out trading"
| said she. Guess it'll storm tomorrow.
NOW we want to go to Gerrishs. went
there once with mother and Imogen to buy
| a silver spoon for Cousin Hannah Green
| when she got married"
Comfort, trailing the sled behind her.
| started timidly after Matilda.
| Gerrishs a small store, but there
| was a large window full of watches and
chains and clocks, and man with spec
tacles sat behind it. mending watches.
The two little girls went in and stood at
the counter. and thin man with gray
| whiskers, who was Mr.. Gerrish himself.
| came forward to wait upon them. Matilda
nudged Comfort. You ask him; it's your
But Comfort shook her head. She was
| almost ready to cry. You'd ought to when
| I'm giving you the dollar" whispered Ma
| tilda, with another nudge. Mr.. Gerrish
| stood waiting, and he frowned a little; he
| was a nervous man. ASK him." whispered
| Matilda, fercely.
| about and ran out of Gerrish's with great
wall of inarticulate words about not want
| ing any ring. The door bange1 violently
| after her Matilda Stebbins look ed after
| her in a bewidered way; then she looked
up at Mr. Gerrish. who was froyning
harder. If you girls don't want anything.
| sled" said he. And Matilda trembed and
| gathered up the sled rope, and the door
banged after her. Then Mr.. Gerrish said
something to the man mending watches
| in the window, and went back to his desk
| in the rear Of the store.
Matilda could just see Comfort running
| down the street toward home, and she ran
| after her. She could run faster than Com
| fort. As she got nearer she could see peo-
pie turning and looking curiously after
| Comfort, and when she came up to her she
| saw she was crying.
| ''Why, you great baby, Comfort Pease"
| said she, going along the road crying"
| Comfort sobbed harder, and people stared
| more and more curiously. Finally one
| stout woman in black velvet bonnet
| stopped. Il hope you haven't done any,
| thing to hurt this other little girl?" she
| said suspiciously to Matilda
| mo ma'am I amt repljed Mat;ld,