The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-05-05
THE BROKEN
DRESDEN TRAY.
What Came of Unresisted Temptation to
Deceit.
BY MRS. MAMIE SUTTON ruRDY.


In vain Sister Katharine had pro
tested with well-meant advice AS 10
foolish pride. Lucia had decided that
she could not 60 to Mildred's birthday
party, and felt very miserable. Katha.
rine could not understand, she thought;
IL was not as though Mildred had liy-
ei IN the same town with them and
known them before papa failed. She
and Lucia had met last winter at Aunt
Margaret's, where everything was
lovely; when, thanks to Cousin Flea.
hors cast-ofis-rearranged by mann.
ma $ and hatharine's cunning fingers
Lucia had had pretty frocks and
things.
Aunt Margaret herself did not know
how 1t was at Lucia's home, and the
girls Lucia met naturally thought her
one of themselves. They could not
know that Aunt Margaret never let her
niece spend a cent while going around
with them, but pai Lucia's share OF
all their treats, saying that it was her
right, since she was not young enough
TO go around with Lucia herself.
But now there was not a dress left fit
to wear, and the girls at the party
would all be robed like young prin-
ceSses. No! she could not go, and she
could send a remembrance, even, that
she was not ashamed Of But, having
written to Mildred, she must now mail
the letter and look about in the shops
for something to send her-something
cheap enough for her purse.
As she was slipping down stairs
katharine opened her door.
Lucia, have dollar" she began
sympathetically, land perhaps, with
what you have"
''Oh, nor' Lucia turned and hu rried
down; but Katharine saw that her sis
ter's eyes were brimming.
poor little soulr' she m1rmured
softly.
Lucia drew little sigh as she turn
ed into the main shOpping-street;
what in the world could she buy with
a single dollar for one who had every
thing a girl could wish? And just
then, as if in mOckery of her strait, the
beautiful windows of stevenson &
Co, importers" shone out before her,
with their exquisite display of statuary,
bronzes, carved ivory, delicate wares of
infinite variety, the beauty of which
had made the firm famous.
"They are the sort of things that
people give Mildredp said Lucia, in
wardly. They're the only kind that
rich girls expect to receive"
She had stopped, and her gaze
searched among the smaller articles,
scattered on rich-tinted cushions
Maybe they have something that |
could get, and it would be sure to be
dainty, and have their name on the
bOxr'
Frightening under this consoling
thought, she entered the store. A
kindly-faced old man laid on the coun-
ter the prettiest, il seemed to Lucia, of
all those pretty gimcracks, with their
horrible prices attached. She would
not limit him just at first, she thought,
Ia dollar" sounded so poverty strick-
en,-and how could he know that she
had only one in her pocket? He saw
only her admiring young eyes, and
sought to crafty them.
''These pretty goods" said he, lay
ing out several dainty comb-and-brush-
trays, "were just received.,.'
"Ohr' cried Lucia rapturously, and
drew one TO her. "Dresden.-what
beautyr'
She turned it about lovingly; every
posypetal on it appealed to her. This
was what she wanted to give Mildred.
Twelve dollars" observed the old
gentleman, blandly reading the price
mark, while Lueia's heart sunk "Ges,
that is a fayorite ware with the ladies,
but fragile. "This now," he drew a
box from the back shelf and opened it,
twas broken in coming to Us, perhaps
the prettiest of the lot"
Lucia gave a little gasp-of pleasure
and regret. The tray was indeed of
rarely beautiful design.
"Might it not be mended?" she ven
tured with a half-covetous little tug at
her heart. What would she not give
to send one like this had been to Mil
dredl And here it lay, useless
Possibly" said the old gentleman,
ait was with that notion that one of
the clerks set ii aside; but il Is broken
in three pieces, you see-it would be
delicate jo6'"
An idea flashed on Lucia. The per-
plexity of her emotions had by this
time wrought such confusion in her
mind that she caught, for relief, at
straws, without noticing the danger Of
her ground.
"WOuld you sell it?" she almost
whispered, broken, as it is?'
"why," answered the old gentleman
smiling; "I don't know. We gave it
10 one of the clerks" He called to 4
youth at a rear desk: ARTHUR. What
will YOU take for this broken Dresden
tray? a young lady wishes to buy itf'
s'Oh," said the young man, good
naturedly, without looking up, "she IS
quite welcome to it, Mr. Stevenson, If
she thinks she can mend itr'
Lucia hastily unclasped her purse;
she was anxious to have it over and
done with.
"Would dollar''-she faltered, ner-
Vo1sly.
"Pardon me-" said the old gentle
man, as he wrapped the box, sit is
probably useless; Pm sure you are wei
Gamer and having tied the package
he laid IT in her hand, motioned back
the money, and politely bowed her out.
Her cheeks burned as she faced the
erewd of the street; not for having ac-
eepted what had been kindly pressed
upon her, but through shame at her
fir.t step in q course from which all
her better nature revolted. Yet any
thing that did no actual harm to any
one. she weakly told herself, was better
than the humiliation of disclosing her