Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-06-19
WINTERGREEN.


trance of % pretty child. about L. years old
with basket OF apples upon one arm and
another filled with tiny crimson berries on
the other. Her dress Was Of worn and
faded calico. and little scarlet woocE
hood surrounded her face, tied on one side
in "a picturesque knot.
Buy some wintergrecn berries this
morning, Siry'
She came forward as she spoke, throw
ing the hair back with single inpatient
movement Of her head.
II don I want EN- for ANYTHING under
the sun 90 observed Allyn philosophically
"but | suppose | shall have To buy 'em
nevertheless. little one if you will give me
credit for 3 cents.
Il would rather not, sir, - said the child
gravely, her wide open black eyes fixed
full upon his face.
NO said the somewhat disconnected
questioner, still searching his pockets for
the necessary coin. And why not, prayS
Are you afraid | should become insolventf"
II don't know what you mean sir, "
said the child, looking little bcwildcred
at the sound Of the long word. Il should
not Ice afraid you would not pay me-
though, for have sold YOU apples great
many times, but | could not carry the
money home To my mother, and she could
not pay the man who brought our WOOD
yesterday
"WellY''
"Aud he has got sick wife who cannot
work, and maybe if she did not have
medicine she would dlc.
$50 my 3 cent piece goes to buy medi
cine for the wood merchants sick wife,
ehy' said Alhyn thoughtfully.
"A slight illustration, " remarked vii
mot "Of the curious way in which the
links of humanity depend on one another.
Here Wintcrgrcen, said Allyn, 81
can't find the smaller coin, but here IL
quarter. Never mind the change, and I'll
think over that anticrecit theory of yours
at leisure.
The little girl thanked him with IA
diant smile and glidcd away under her
wrappings like "a second edition of Little
Red Riding Hood Charles Albyn sat in
thoughtful silence for several minutes. AT
length he spoke.
"Wilmot," said he gravely, winter
green Berries has taught me n lesson. A
man has no right TO emharrass others by
his debts however triiling l intend 10 90
10 work i'm serious earnest and be man.
Don't look incrcdulous. Only wait ten
years Little Wintergrecn's daily visits
shall keep up my resolves aud remind me
Of their force.
But little Wintcrgrcen never came again.
The ten years Of trial, ~ Allyn laugh.
inYly phrased it, had passed by, and the
young firm Of Allyn X Wilmut occupied
spacious suit Of rooms instead of the mar
row Office they had AT first They had be
come rich ant popular Allyn had kept
his resolution, and all things had prospcrcd
with him even beyond his anticipation.
The partners wore sitting together, just
as they had on the stormy March day ten
years before, talking quietly in the fire
light. while the dark shadows of evening
crcpt through the rooms
And when are You 20 be married
Charley
I'm about three weeks, believe. Mia
Wilmot, you are 10 ufliciate as groom-
man, and that reminds me that Evelyn il
quite offended because her lovers dearest
friend don't even pay her the compliment
f IA call. viii you go with me toI1gntf
IF you desire II, said Wilmot. with AZ
air of resignation, "but you know / am
not much of "A ladies man.
Il particularly wish you TO do So" saiC
Albyn, because think perhaps you may
be able 10 explain IA curious sensation that
always passes across my brain in Evelyn:
presence-the certainty that | have some
where seen her years ago.
THAT Is impossible" returned his
friend "becausc you yourself say that you
were first introduced 10 her on her return
from Europe at the house of her uncle
NJ. Lernier.'
"The very impossibility Of the thing
adds TO its mystery. Sometimes l think
that l have seen her in "A dream
rbn eunnr1, nburt mani N Nk,bipb Mis-.
Lernier received her guests was family il.
Illuminated by single light glowing
through chade Of frosted glass As the
young lady came forward To welcome Mr.
Allyn and his friend, Wilmot invOlunt&
rily started.
where have l seen that girl beforeS" he
mentally exclaimed.
Evelyn Lcrnicr was a charming bru.
nctte, with black hair and melting tropical
eycs-a little foreign in her manners, but
! most fascinating withal She chatted
away with lyclicst gaycty TO her visitor
! for awhile, but at length turned abruptly
! 20 Mr.. Wilmot.
why do you look at me so earncstlyS
! she demanded, with little piquant pet
! tShncss.
Pardon me. Miss Lrrnicr." said vii
mot, coloring, but TO tell you the truth
/ | find IL impossible TO divest myself of the
( idea thot, improbable as it may appear,
have seen you at some previous time.
DO you really share in Charles, singu
lar fancy said she, laughing and blush
Ng. We'll. l believe ] must solve III,
tddlc, or you will dream out the solutions
{ ror yourselves In order 10 do 50 l mus
tell you story"
speak on. enchartrcSs, said Ably,
payly, taking her jcwc!cd hand in his
! There was once little girl sire be
gan, gazing ahstractcdly downward But
stopping suddenly She took from the Ia
! bic box of pearl and gold and opening n
/ disclosed an eXquisitcly clear little cabinct
/ painting on ivory, say ing, Perhaps thi.
! Will aid your memory
The picture represented child scarcely
IL years Of age dressed i'm "A worn brown
eloaS with "a hood tied loosely round her
dark, lovely face, and "a basket of crimson
| berries on her arm.
All at once, with Evelyl Lernier's large
smiling eyss gazing into his own, Charles