The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-10-03
With terror. Malind gazed at her with

with terror. Malind gazed at her with
dilated eyes. Her heart stood still.
"Woolen things smother fire." The
words rang in her ears as if someone
had spoken. Her heart began to beat
again hard and fast. Her face grew
hot with bushes. How could she do
it before that crowd? But she must.
Phronie might burn to death, and it
would be her fault. Her hands
trembled so she could hardly unfasten
the great unwieldy skirt. She could
scarcely see Phrouie any more, for she
seemed shrouded in fame. But she
dashed forward the blaze and threw
the wooden skirt over it. Together the
children fell to the ground. How
Malind wrestled with the fire she never
knew. Others came to her help, but
not before her own face and hands
were badly burned. She hardly felt
the pain. She only thought of
Phronie's danger and her own guilt.
She remembered Dode, when she was
tenderly borne to carriage and
laid upon the cushion. He had dis
appeared.
''If could find the boy who threw
that cracker I'd thrash him myself"
said Mr.. Lumley, az he lifted Phronie
into the same carriage with Malind.
"Ho ought to be sent to prison, p"
said Phronle, angrily. 81 wish l
could Jest light him with a match till
he sizzled." Aterrible fear tugged at
Malind's heart. She must shield Dode
if possible. 1t was q sort of relief to
feel that in shielding him she was saw.
ing herself.
Malipd's burns were tedious, but
she found herself heroine. Flowers
and fruit, books and toys, were sent
to her. Dode kept his secret well, and
feasted on good things. But some
how the dainties had lost their flavor
| for Malind. The knowledge of her
guilt ranked in her bosom like q
poisoned arrow. Wher her Sunday
school teacher sat by her side and
praised her for not hesitating through
any false shame from taking off her
wooden skirt she felt miserable. If
people would only forget it and leave
her in her peace. But even when
alone she found no peace. The knowl-
edge that she was acting a lie sor-
mented her. Even when she was once
more able to sit up the world did not
look the same to her.
Malind sat listlessly by the window
in the long June twilight looking out.
The latch of the gate clicked and she
saw Mrs. Meeker and Phronie. They
were followed by Miss Lumley, her
Sunday-school teacher, and the girls
of her class.
"Wen, declare, it's regular depil-
atioD," said Mrs. Biinn, pleased and
fussy, spears as if sunthin's got to
happen to ye, in Canaan fore folks
takes proper notice OF other folks.
Well feel fullas good as any OF 'em
full as good. Mallnd, You amt
lookin' bit chick"
The little girl had grown pale and
her heart beat painfully.
Mrs. Meeker hustled in. She held
large package in her hand.
"We heard you were settin' up an
we'll enough for company" she said,
$50 we thought we'd give you sur
prise party"
Malind stood up and tried to speak,
but the glands in her throat grew dry
and her tongue was rigid.
Miss Lumley kissed her, and the
girls greeted her additionally, yet
she could not speak.
Mrs. Meeker began opening her
parcel. ":5eein' you spilled your frock
savin' my girl" she said, "tain't more
than right for me 10 give you another
an l hope you'll like it'll"
She took out a pretty pink gingham
gown handsomely trimmed with en-
broidery.
ssMiss Lumley said there must be
hat to match, so she bought this,
Mrs. Meeker went on, holding up
dainty white straw, with o wreath OF
pale pink rosebuds around it.
Malind's heart throbbed fast. Never
had she dreamed of owning such
things. She gazed at them with long
ing and with pain.
s'Speak up, child" cried her mother
impatiently. ''where's your man
ners?'
Malind felt herself trembling. They
were all looking OF her, but haze
seemed to float before her eyes,
through which she saw them dimly.
sI, can't take them," she gasped,
"She's out other head" cried Mrs.
Blinn with a proan,
"No. no, know just what I'm do
ing. I don't deserve theml l don't
deserve anything. II told the boy
to throw that cracker at Phronie. It's
all my fault that she was burned. l
ought to be-punIshed."
swell, never" said Mrs. Meeker,
tossing her head, "that wuz q regular
impersition.
al didn't think-her frock would
take fire." said Malind, looking about
beseechingly for friendly face.
"You have done right to confess"
said Miss Lumley. coming forward
and taking the child's hand kindly,
| and you have atoned for it."
"To be sure" said Mrs. Meeker.
veerlug to the popular side. ''Some
folks might be mean enough to take
back their present, but / amt that
kind. You done what you could to
make up for your mischief-so there
it is, an what says l sticks to-"
So the surprise party which had