The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-03
rnE com LINK BRACELEr.
r,o s,orv Of a Girl'- Iuordinaie Love oil
finerY.

Tho story Of Girl'~ 1uordinaie love OF
finery.
when Aunt Marian came 10 Visit the
BELLS in their pretty village nome polh
,fnriel and her sister Flo were an nut
t.r nf delight. Aunt Marian was Uncle
lrrcd's wife and they had never seen neI
before At first they felt some"nd1 my
for she was very stylish ana pIet'y' gu.
thsfr shvncss soon wore on, lot they
e,,,rd h..r very kind hearted and amiaDle.
sho delighted the girls with her livery
,-a,s and her good cOmradeshlp, ana one
az their great pleasures was 10 go 10 her
room and gaze at an the pe'ty lhihss
st. had 20 show them-her rch, DAINTY
dresses and mats her fans ana parasoIS'
nor iaces and her jcwelry.
rnis last was what Muriel liked pest
90 see for she bad weakness loI 'ili,-
rcfs And Aunt Marian had such beauu-
fm things sparkling diamond rings
pearl brooch. an opal pin hair-dagger
set with turQuoiscs. a. gold neck-chalh'
with "A hoart-shaped lockct, ana many
Others. But what Muriel admired most
was gold bracelet.
This was of exquisite Workmanship. with
slender chased links and httle pholoch
set with "a monogram in pearls.
OF value this more than anythihs 'lse !
have think" said Aunt Marian. as she
fat with her icwel-hoX on her lap ana
Nuriol and Flo On the floor beside her.
Not SO much because ~ its beauty OF
value. but because father gave IL TO me
the last Christmas 7 spent at home. ana
he died soon afterwards. ] would MOI lose
s. Tor the world and ] seldom wear IT,
She had claeped So on her wrist as she
spoke and Muriels eyes fingered on IL
wlstfuly. What would she not have given
for "a bracelet like that. she thought
am not AT AN sure that Aunt Marian
display Of dresses and pretty things was
lust the best thing for Muriel. although
Aunt Marian herself had no thought be-
vond giving her young friends a pleasure
she did not dream that II might induce
certain little demons OF envy and discon-
tent to creep into their hearts.
n did not hurt Flo IN the least FOR she
was "a sensible. intelligent. cOntcnted girl,
who enjoyed looking az pretty things Tor
their own sake. and never thought 81
feeling covctous or discontinued on ac-
count of them. But Muriel was very am
eront She was pretty. brown-eyed gin
az fifteen and she wanted great many
things she did not. and could not and
perhaps ought not Co have
Before Aunt Mari3n's advent. she had
been fairly wen contented with her own
simple. pretty gowns and hats ana the
little pin and brooch that were her only
1cwory. but her simple fnery seemed
very poor and insignificant beside Aunt
Mauan's city splondors.
tlo could put on her new gingham and
walk screnely down the street with Aunt
Marian in her summer silk. and enjoy hcr-
scf thoroughly but Aluriel could not
Tool.sh2 Yes OF course she was foolish.
40 Is always foolish and maybe wicked,
as wcil. 90 lei thoughts about our clothes.
or envy of someone else's. Interfere with
our comfort and happiness.
O..
that bracelet of Aunt Marlans and sigh
"a whenever she Thought OF g. IL only
she had one like a. How all the girls az
school would envy hcr.
When Muriel went into Aunt Marian's
room with fresh towels tho next dav. she
found herself alone Aunt Maran's Jewell
caskei lay omen ON the dressing-table. and
there. foo ifs box, on "a bed of perfumed
pink cotton. las the dainty thing itself.
Muriol picked 60 zap little doubtfully and
fastened lt on-shc had pretty wrist and
the bracelet became 3d.
"Oh. . DO wish ii were minc' she said
dlsnOndcnuy 'I'Ve always wanted "a
bracelet 80 much and chains arc aii the
fagc now. might ass well wish for the
moon though asa for one like this IL
must have cost "a great deal.
she unlocked % and put 10 back with
f.en hut she did not leave with 10 her dis
contcnicd longing she carried that with
fer wherever she went and she slipped
in 10 recp at the bracelet "a great many
moro time. than she ought. when Aunt
Marian Yves ont. forgetting that the FIRST
stage on thc road ~ temptation is very
gradual ono indeed
ono day Muriel received a little note
from Clara Howard Inviting her 20 a
birthday party tho following evening Flo
was not Invited. as She was not in clara $
class at school. hlt she did not feel dislp-
pointed over o.. for She and Aunt Marian
mad Planned drive % the city the next
day. 90 visit Aunt Isabel. and they in
tended 10 remain over night
Muriei was in a futter Of expeciant de-
hight She enjoyed parties. ana Clara
Howard Wer always delightful. Tor
ciaras father was rich ana denied her
nothing She was sure OF having a good
time and she had a pretty new d-css 10
wear 60 10. besides. her father gave her a
new pair or slippers for IL ana brother
Charlie brought her the very prcttlest Sill
Yer beii-buckle Imaginable.
Muriei dressed alone that night. missing
fio's skin and aid not little. but very
pretty. Indeed. She looked when she fin-
ishod her simple toilet and stepped hack
with q ht OF pardonable vanity TO smile
az her radiant reflection.
But II takes a great DEAL 10 satisfy some