The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-05-05

mean; she knew IL; she felt that the
clerk read the cause of her flaming
cheeks, and eyed her queerly as he
handed her pen; but she addressed
the box TO Mildred, hesitated, wrote in
the corner "Handle with care" and
paid the expressage.
OF course Mildred would think thai
it had been broken in transit, and he
tween hysterical sense of satisfaction
and terror at her deed, she went home
to her room, and found Katherine
there, waiting for her.
mamma and have plan by which
you can go to the party, Lucia"' an
nounced her sister, cheerily awe
couldn't let you miss it, after Aunt
Margaret had sent your car ticket, too
so We cudgeled our wits, and mamms
is ripping her white brocade skirt
''Her wedding-skirt"' exclaimed
Lucia. '0h, / cnuldn't let her cut
that up, after her keeping it 50 careful.
ly packed all these years! She loves it,
/ anu III Wouiu De rulueu.
"Never mind" Katharine bobbed
her head emphatically, ''we talked il
over; it was only the sentiment, any
way, aud it's better to have some good
out of it; she wants you TO have it. I'll
fix my pink crepe scarf in an Antoin-
cite fichu for you, and you can clean
your slippers and your gloves. You'll
dress at Aunt Margaret's and her maid
will see to you. And I'll write to Mil
dred at once"
There was nothing left for Lucia but
to lend herself to the disposal of her
mother and sister, and TO keep her feel
ings as much as possible TO herself.
After Katharine's sympathetic inqui-
ry-"I hope you found something to
send, Lu?"-her two sympathizers, at
tributing Lucia's evasive reply and her
disturbed look TO the unavoidable in
significance of her gift, made no furth-
er mention of it.
After industrious preparation Katha-
rine saw her off on the next afternoons
train. Aunt Margaret had driven
down 10 meet her.
"You dear childr' she cried tucking
the rugs around them, ''I was in such
a state when Mildred came 10 me with
your letter this morning; | felt so sure
of your coming that had fixed a pret-
ty surprise for you. Just wait and
seer'
The surprise" was spread on the
bed in Lucia's room when she entered;
white drifts of organdie over silk, with
shimmering loops and knots; and be-
sides it, a gauzy fan, with white slip
pers and gloves, and long pastebolri
box, deliciously fragrant. Maggie, the
maid, delightedly raised the top.
"It's whole hun'eds of violets for
thin ribbin-bows, mem, Pm to pin
thin in afther dressin' ye, MEM"
Almost Lucia forgot the present that
she had sent to Mildred, until later,
when she alighted at her friends home
rhe old pangs of conscience smote her
as she stepped within. How could she
look Mildred in the face? Mildred, so
high-minded and true!
But somehow she did not feel 50 bad
when Mildred, catching sight of her in
the hall, came out and slipped with her
up to her own room.
"Oh, Luciar' she cried, "Tm so glad
you came-and how sweet you look.
The girls are asking for you-and your
lovely gift-let me kiss you for it
came this morning-and-do worry
about it, dear.-your Thought was what
[ cared for most, but, such pityl-it
got broken in eomingn
"Ahr' murmured Lucia, almost in
audibly, as she bent over the fastening
of her glove.
I've been so afraid il would spoil
your evening"" continued Mildred; sit
was such an exquisite thing, that |
hated to tell you; but / knew you
wouldn't understand if it wasn't with
the other things-they're all down.
stairs-and to find it there broken
without being prepared, would be too
badI Let me button that for you, dear!
Mamma says she'll try to mend it, and
do hope she can, for prize it ever so
much"
Some of Lucia's friends of last winter
took possession of her, until Mildred
came up later.
Excuse ME, girls, but, Lucia, you
must come and be introduced to the
dearest little woman in the world
grandmother, over there"
She led her friend off to where sat a
serene old lady, like some miniature
empress, in black velvet gown, plas-
troned " ith old lace, and white satin
ribbon coronet with one tiny cluster of
hearts ease over her smooth white
hair.
al am glad you are come to me, my
DEAR she told Lucia, when Mildred
had left them together; 'I've been
wishing to have a look at the pretty
things in yonder, but the rooms are 80
full that preferred not TO push through
alone; would you mind having peep
at them now?"
So they passed into the library,
where several young persons were ex-
amining the gifts covering the table.
"Dear, dearr' exclaimed Mildred's
grandmother, "what would the girls of
nv time have said to these things!
Why, we never dreamed that some of
them could exist, When We had saw
ed up our pennies, we were overjoyed
to present our little keepsake OF pack
age of working-silks, or box of color
crayons, or a hem-stitehed sewing
apron,-or handkerchief, or book
mark, that we hsd embroidered our
selves. And indeed, my DEAR" she
added, nodding towards the table, II
| doubt if this be the wiser, better way;
there are always some VINO cannot
afford to make expensive gifts, and
why should such an occasion be the
means of making friend uncomforta-
BILE? housekeeping her voice-"you
see the cards are removed from these, I"
and she smiled: "Milly is q sensible
/ lind ,,irf. ftara u,ara certain frianfS af