The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-03

towards party. How the girls would
envy her.
when people allow ideas Ike this TO take
possession OF their minds thcy very oit-h
get into trouble. Muriel should have reso-
mtely banished such thoughts. but she did
not. instead. the foolish girl won't mo
Aunt Maran's room and looked lovingly
at the little heap Of shining links lying
on the pink cotton.
"Im sure 70 would not hurt TO wear il
just tonight she murmured- II dare
SAY il Aunt Marian were here she would
lef me if / asked her. ia be just as care
ful as J possibly could be. And nobody
need ever know. ia put il right back IN
the box whenever ] came home. ! know
mother wouldn't allow me If she knew, but
m sure IT'S not a bit OF harm which
last speech was a pretty certain sign mat
there was harm in IL.
Murie knew very well that she was do
ing wrong thing. but she refused TO look
the ugly thought I'm the face and she
hurredy took the bracelet from its pink
nest and clasped II around her arm The
little paddock fastened with a spring, but
could be unlocked only by the little gold
KEY lying beside il in the box.
1T isn't q single bit Of harm Muriel
repeated. as she admired the effect.
But. nevertheless. she flushed very guilt
lily. ten minutes later I'm her own room.
and quickly showed the bracelet mp out Of
sight under the lace frill Of her sleeve
when her mother came I'm 20 inspect her
Half an hour afterwards she was the
centre OF group OF laughing girls in
Clara Towards dressing-room. Her gold
link bracelet was noticed and bounced on
Immediately by the keen-eycd bevy A
buzz OF admiration and questioning arose
oh. Muriel. where did you set such a
perfectly lovely thing?' was the burden
of ,.hort1s i,trt Ms,rirT o,Itr cr,1floG foxra
teriously and refused to say anything
about g. Each Of the girls privately con-
ciuded that Muricl's rich aunt must have
given it to her and onvicd her in proper
ton.
But Murlcl felt very in at ease and hon
ostly wished that the gold-link bracelet
was sale at home i'm Aunt Marian's icwel.
box. In the first place she had not hat
a minutes peace of mind since sine let
home lest It should slip off her arm IN
some way and be lost.
Then suppose Aunt Marian should come
back that night after all. and miss 1t BE-
fore Muriel got home? When Muriel came
TO think il over she could not be certain
that Aunt Marian and Flo had really de-
cded 10 stay away all night. They had
only talked Of IT,.
This worried her And. moreover under
an these surface bubbles of discomfort
done "a very mean and unladylke thing.
something that Aunt Marian and her mo-
Their and Flo would terribly disapprove
Muriel hated the very sight Of the gold
link bracelet before the evening was over.
If she could have taken IL Off she would,
but the little gold key was at home
She was heartily glad when the time
came to 20 home. for her head was ach-
ing and she thought, joyfully. that she
would soon be able 10 restore the hateful
bracelet TO its place: and the thought
made her feel so much better that for the
Nrst time during the evening she forgot
about Il in the laughing excitement OF the
dressing-rOom while the girls were search
ing for their wraps.
She went home with a party OF her class
mates and her spirits rising amid all the
laughter and chatter. she did not once
think Of her uniucly adornment until she
found herself I'm her own room. Then,
when she had flung off her wraps impa-
tionuy and turned up the gas. 10 was TO
find the bracelet-gonei
For "a moment Muriel stared at her arm
i'm q sort of horror. Ii could not be. II
was too dreadful 90 be true. The bracelet
had 0een on her arm i'm Clara $ dressing
room the last thing before she put on her
wraps. And now IT was gone. When She
realized 10 she gave a little moan Of de-
spair
Muriel did not sleep much that night,
YOU may be sure and she cried a great
deal. which did not help matters az all.
She was up and dressed early. and ont
before breakfast Eagerly she hurried up
the street. scanning the pavement, until
she reached the Howard house. and eX-
planned the cause OF hes unreasonable ap-
pcarancc.
Clara was no, up but Mrs. Howard lis
tened to AIuricls distracted tale with con
corn. A thorough search Of the dressing
room was frutlcss Muriel hunted des
pcrately and the maids were questioned,
bat none Of them had seen il. They looked
through an the rooms and the han In vain
and then Mrs. Howard shook her head
i'm disappointment
YOU must have lost IL on the street.
Muriel." she said and Muriol. with fast
dropping tears. admitted the likelihood OF
this and hurried home in despair.
Her absence had not been noticed and
she slipped up stairs TO her room. Nobody
called her. surprising her to be tired after
The party and it was there Flo found her
when she and Aunt Marian came home.
why. Muriel. what in the world is the
matter2' exclaimed Flo as her sister lift
ed her flushed. tear-stainel face from the
pillow.
FLO" sobbed Muriel. "shut the door
and come here. / have something just
dreadful 10 tell YOU. Oh FLO l am in
such "a scrape and there's no getting out
OF IT, 1 am so slad YOU have come home
What will Aunt Marian think of me?'
And then she sobbed ont her remOrscful
confession. Flo listened in plying horror
"Oh. Muriel You don't mean 10 say
that YOU took Aunt Marian's bracelet 10
wear to the party without asking herr
yes. 7 did. / know it was not right
Flo. but / would not stop 10 think. and I
was crazy TO wear il. And now It's lost
and what shall / do? l will confess TO
Aunt Marian right after dinner. IL will be
awiully humilidting. but l deserve 10 be
Inundated. ] feel crushed TO the very
earth. 1 have been vain and sfly and 1
deserve it all.
After dinner Muriel went resolutely to
Aunt Marians room. Aunt Marian was
reading by her window and she looked
APP with "a smile az her pretty niece Evil
IDENTIFY she had not yet missed her brace
lei
well dear. come and tell me about
your party. Did you have "a nice timer"
NO. not "a bit, Aunt Marian. ! had n
horrid time because I did something
wrong before went. ] am very sorry and
ashamed. and have come 10 confess
And confess she did with q trembling
voice and a good deal OF choking. Aunt
Marian listened In silence Then she gent
ly drew the girl TO her and kissed her.
"Dont cry. Muricl. I'm not going 10
ScOld YOU. OF course YOU did wr0ng-and
I'm sorry about the bracclot-but II can't
be helped now. III YOU had asked me. my
dear 1 would have lent ii TO you
"Oh. cunt. how good you are' You