The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-10-10
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS

IL Aunt Marian were, here she would let
me II asked her, ia be Just as care
fil as possible, And nobody need ever
know, Ia rut it righ, hack in the box
whenever | came home. know mother
wouldn't allow It Il she knew, but I'm
sure it's nor bit OF harm"--whieh last
speech was a pretty certain sign that
there was harm in il.
Mursel knew very well that she was
doing wrong thing, but she refused 10
look the ugly thing in the face. and
she hurriedly took the bracelet from It's
pink nest and cissped it on her arm.
The little paddock fastened with a spring
but could be unlocked only with the liJtle
gold key lying beside It in the box.
, 1t isn't a s.neie ht; OF HARM" Murisl
repeated. as she admired the effect
But. nevertheless. she flushed very
guRtily, ten minutes later in her own
room. and quickly showed the bracelet
up out Of sight under the lace firth OF
her sleeve when her mother came in 10
Inspect her.
Half an hour afterwards she was the
center OF a group OF laughing girls in
Clara Howari's dressing-room. Her gold.
link bracelet was noticed and pourced on
Immediately by the keen-eyed beyy. A
buzz Of admiration and questioning arose.
"oh. Muriel. where did you get such a
perfectly lovely things' was the burden
OF the chorus. but Muria only smiled
mysteriously sna refused to say any
thing about it. Each OF the girls pr
vaiely concluded that Muriers Aunt mus,
have given it 10 her and envied her IN
But Muriel felt very Il at ease and
honestly wished that the gold-nnk brace
let was safe at home in Aunt Marian's
jewel-bOx. In the arst place. she had n5t
a minutes peace OF mind since she lef,
home lest 1t should slip or her arm and
be host.
Then suppose Aunt Marian should come
back that night. after all, and miss II be-
fore Muriel got homee When Murtal
came 70 think 1t over she could not be
certain that Aunt Marian and Flo had
really decided TO stay away that night.
They had only talked about Il.
This worried her. And. moreover. under
all these surface bubbles OF discomfort
was the secret conviction that she had
done very mean thing. something that
Aunt Marian and her mo.ner and Flo
would terribly disapprove.
Muriel hated the very sight OF the
gold-link bracelet before the evening was
over. II she could only have taken #
OF she would, but the little gold key was
at home
She was heartily glad when the time
came TO SO home. for her head ached
and she thought, jOyfully. that she would |
soon be able to restore the hated bracelet
to us place; and the thought made her |
feel so much better that for the first
ime during the evening she forgot about |
IL in the laughing excitement of the
dressing-room while the girls were search
mig for their wa-ps.
She went home with party OF her
classmates and. her spirits rising amid |
Il the laughter and chatter. she did not
once think OF her unlucky adornment |
until she found herself in her own
room Then when she had flung off her
Araps impattently and turned up the gas,
I was TO find the braoelet-gone.
For moment Muriel stared at her arm
IN sort Of horror. 1t could not be!
It was too dreadful to be true, The
,raceleJ had been on her arm In Clara's
the last thing before she
'ut on her wraps. And now II was gone
When she realized it she gave a little
moan Of despair.
Muriel did not sleep much that night.
Tou may be sure. and she cried a great
Teal. which did not help matters at ALL
She was up and dressed early, and out
before breakfast. Eagerly she scanned
the pavement, until she reached the How
lrd house, and explained the cause Of her
appearance.
Clara was not up. but Mrs. Howard
istened TO Muriel's distracted tale with
concern. A thorough search Of the dress
ng-roogn wtas fruitess. Muriel hunted
and the maids were ques-
toned. but none Of them had seen it,
rhey looked through all the rooms and
he hall IN vain, and then Mrs. Howard
hook her head in disappointment.
You must have lost it in the street,
Iuriel. she said; and Muriel, with fast
lropping tears, admitted the likelihood
of this and hurried home in despair.
Her absence had not been noticed. and
he slipped up stairs TO her room. No
'ody called her. supposlng her to be tired
tfter the party. and It was there Flo
'ound her when she and Aunt Marian
anne home.
Why Muriel. what in the world is
ne matter?' exclaimed Flo. as her sister
fitted her flushed tear-stalned face from
the pillow
Flo sobbed Murel, Shut the door
nd come here. 1 have something 70 tell
ou. Oh, Flo. I'm in such a scrape; and
there's no getting out Of it. / am so
glad you have come home. What will
Aunt Marian think Of me?"
AMI then she sobbed out her renorse-
fui confession. Flo listened in pftying
horror.
"oh, Murel you don't mean TO say
that you took Aunt Marfan's bracelet
to wear TO the party without asking
ler!"
Yes. l did. know it was not right.
Flo, but I would not stop TO think, and
/ was crazy to wear It. And now it's lost,
and what shall do? will confess to
Aunt Marian right after dinner; It will
'e awfully humiliating but deserve to Z
Ne inundated feel crushed to the very
earth. / have been vain and silly and
deserve It ALL"
After dinner Muriel went resolutely to :
Aunt Marian's room. Aunt Marian was !
reading by her window. and she looked I
up with smile at her pretty niece.
she had m. raiaead .ha braoe-