The morning times., 1896-11-29

poor, cheap affair. not much more than a
toy.
but he loved it. BE was not very strong,
and half the time he could not { o to school,
but give him his fiddle and some Of Mil
dred's piano music and he would sit for
hours scraping away, and ask for 10 hing
more.
what's the matter?" said Bertram
turning his sensitive, thin little face with
an instant perception that something was
wrong with his sister.
Mildred threw her books Oil the sofa
and her hat On tie 1,or. Il won't go to
the party she avowed, mot one stepr'
Constance Morton's?" said Bertram.
Yes, Constance Morton's. It's going
to be cicgant-swell! A caterer and a
six-course supper, chrysanthcmum deco
rations, and lovely fayors: it's a german,
you know. III miss lot, but l just
won't go.''
Why said Bertram He was only
eleven, but he was intensely, affection
a;ciy interested in all that Concerned Mil
dred.
why" Mildred repeated, frowning.
You might know why. Because haven't
a decent thing to wear. That's why"
He hardly ventured to try to console
her, SO he anxiGusiy changed the subject.
what do you think grandpa's going to
give for my birthday? Two collars to-
ward Il new violin Yes, sir, he said he
wasr' His face shown with an eaeerness
unspeakable.
Everybody gets what they want but
me- said Mildred, shortly, and She pick
ell up her ha; and went up to her r, ON.
With asuddenimpuscshe openeda drawer
In her bureau, unlocked u small box, AMI
counted IA little wad of bills il contained.
There were twenty dollars, and IL was
her own. She had saved 1T little by little
and for purpose. That purpose was to
buy really good violin for Bertram for
his birthday, which was close at hand.
That important step accomplished, she
was sure her father would let Bertr:tm
take lessons with some good teacher, for
he was proud of his little boys genius.
Now of a denanother thought flashed
upon Mildred 1T would be enough to buy
a new party dress and have il made
She would not confess, even to herself,
that she had thought OF such a thing
But II was distinct idea, nevertheless,
and Il took forcible possession of her.
Mildred weakened, wavcred, and capt.
ulated. She thrust poor little Bertram and
his violin out of her thoughts. Figur-
| a'iycly speaking, she shut her eyes and
her ears TO everything but her wild de-
sire TO 60 to Conny Morton's german,
and To go well dressed
She swallowed her dinner hastily that
noon, and ran upstiras, for somehow it
She unlocked the toX that held her sa wings
! and thrust the money into her purse, and
started early for school, that she might
have plenty OF time for what she was
going to do.
She took car to the largest store.
Blue silk, please she said To the affa-
BILE clerk. something pretty for = dane
ing dress. No, not figured-or, / don't
know; that's lovely
And awfully Incoming 10 you," said
the salesman, gallantly.
Mildred examined counter full OF light
blir silks. all ravishlnrly pretty. 'rnerc':'
she said at last, with decision, I'm take
this; ten yards, think. You may send it
io Miss felcuict's. on Clark street
Miss Pelouhet was the family dreSsrnaker
IN let her get the lining and the trim
mingS. Mildred thought. And ! won't
tell MAMMA anything about it till it's all
dnh-; u Surp'lsc i'rr. She diu moi ask
herself Just what kind of surprise her
mother would have. For her mother had
known all about her plan regarding Bar,-
rams violin. and had encouraged IL heart
lily.
She got home from school late that night:
she had spent an absorbing half hour with
Miss Peloubet before they hal reached il
decision as TO how the gown was to be
made. and she walkedhon:e in ar n agreeable
maze. with elbow sleeves and shoulder puffs
floating before her mental sight, and
ruffies and ribbon rosettcs
She had quite forgotten Bertram row,
and she was not. particularly pleased to
find him waiting for her at the gate.
oh. dear he cried, Il thought you'd
never come, Mildred. I've been waiting a
long time. I've got something for you:
present-ycs, sir! Come and see it. You'll
be awfully surprised. Mildred"
He seized her hand and pulled her in;o
the house on run. He threw open the sit
ting-room door. There he said There
it is. Look, Mildredr'
He fairly danced with suppressed ex-
element. He pointed to chair in the
middle of the room. Draped over its back
was something bright blue and larce.ric-
ured and very gaudy.
What is it?'' said Mildred. in astonish-
ment. For me, did you say"
Yes. for you" He watched her anx-
iously. Its for a dress for you, for the
party; that's what it is l bought it my.
self. bought it with t he So grandpa gave
me. He gave it today, instead of waiting
for my birthday. l asked HIM to-
Mildred gaZed at him. She stared at the
gay goods; it was a strong piece of cotton
For the party?'' she gasped
.'Yeup! i told them how much had to
spend, and told 'em 1 wanted something
blue, for l know you like blue better than
anything, and that one was the dandiest
thing they showed me''
His sister stood quite motionless. Ber-
trans pale face had been flushed with az
fectiOnate eagerness, but now a shade of
disappointment trembed across it, Won't
there be time to have it made:'' he qucs-
toned. Wont there? The party isn't
till next week. is it?' And then he added,
in an anxious, faltering tone: Don't you
likeit?" and his lip bega to culver.
You spent So for it?' Mildred said.
slowly-''your money that grandpa gave
you toward a yiolin?'
"Yeup,' said Bertram. "Of course /
did. l made up my mind l would just as
so0n as came to thinking it over, about
| your wanting a new dress fer the party
l wanted you to have one; wanted you to
| look just as nice as any of them, and"
His speech was cut in two. Mildred
| threw both her arms around him and
squeezed his loving little face close to
hers. you're dear boy" she whis-
| pered. You're the dearest little brother
| in, all this worldr' Then she caught up his
| Eift-it filled her arms and rushed out
| of the room.
Up in her bedroom She threw herself
| in nthelargestr rocker. all Sw athedand tangled
| in the blue-figured folds of Bertram's
| present. She was shaken with laugh
| ter, and she was shaken with sobs. She
| barred her face in the brilliant goods, and
| laughed and cried together, and uttered
| disjointed sentences.
He spent his So for it," she sobbed,
his poor little So that grandpa gave
him towards a violin. And what did
| do? oh dear, Oh dear me!' Ard she sop
| ped her eyes and cried again. Then for
| some time she sat quite sill, with a
softened, tender, thinking look in her
face, Which grew bright, by degrees. with
the light of a satisfied smile. She looked
as II her heart>.T as unburdened And she
sprung up, bathed her face and put her hat
on hurriedly.
Twenty minutes later, Miss Peloubct