The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-02

| favorltc ware with the ladies. but fragile
! ms now, ne drew a box from the BACK
| sneif ana opened Il, was broken IN com
| ing TO us, perhaps the prettiest of the
| lot"
| Lucia gave little gasp-of pleasure and
| regret. Inc tray was indeed of rarely
beautiful design
! Might it not be mended?" she ventur-
| ed, with "a haIf-covctous little tug at her
| heart. what would she not give to send
| one like tins had been to Mildred. And
| here II lay. useless.
Possibly said the old gentleman. 1T
| was with that notion that one OF the
clerks set Ii aside but II is broken in
! three pieces, you sect would be deli
| cate job.
An idea flashed on Lucia. The perplexi-
| ty of her emotions had by this time
wrought such confusion IN her mind tnat
she caught, for relief. at straws without
noticing the danger of her ground.
Would you sell it, she almost whis-
| pered, broken as IL ISL
Why" answered the old gentleman,
smiling. Il don't know. We gave 1t 10
one Of the clerks He called 10 a youth
az rear desk Arthur. What will you
take for this broken Dresden tray? y
young lady wishes to buy it,
ION, said the young man. good-natur-
ably, without looking up. she is quite
welcome to it, Mr. Stevenson. if she
thinks she can mend it,
Lucia hastily unciasped her purse; she
was anxious to have ii over ana done
with.
would a dollar"-she faltered. nervous
~.
Pardon me-" said the old gentleman.
as he wrapped the box. lit is probably
useless; I'm sure you are welcome. ana
| having tied the package he laid II in her
hand motiOned back the money, and pO-
litely bowed her out.
Her cheeks burned as she faced the
crowd of the street not for having ac-
| cepted what had been kindly pressed upon
/ her. but through shame at her first step in
| a course from which all her better nature
| revolted. Yet anything that did no actual
| harm TO anyone. she weakly told herself,
| was better than the humiliation OF dis
| closing her penury TO those girls, VINO,
| from birth, had known nothing but
wealth. who had taken her TO heart as
| one of themselves, and whose pleasing de-
/ fusion regarding her would be forever as
| PEELED at a sign of shabbiness. Iheli
| criticisms. their wondering cOmments-SHe
| could not bear the modification OF them,
She who. with only the means, would DE
sa generous, She hurried down 10 the TX
press office. IT was mean; she knew II,
she felt that the clerk read the cause OF
her flaming cheeks. and eyed her queerly
as he handed her pen; hut she address,
ed the box 10 Mildred. hcsitated, wrote IN
the corner Handle with care and PAID
the eXpressage.
OF course Mildred would think that it
had been broken in transit, and between
a historical sense of satisfaction and ter
ror at her deed. she went home to her
room. and found Katharine there, waiting
for her.
Mamma and I have plan by which
you can go to the party. Lucia announc-
ed ner sister, cheerily. WI couldnt
let you miss II. after Aunt Margaret had
sent your car-ticket. too; so we cudgeied
our wits. and mamma is ripping her white
brOcade skirt
Her wedding-skirtw exclaimed Lucia.
ooh | couldn't let her cut that up. after
her keeping 1t so carefully packed all
these years. She loves it, and II would be
ruined!'
Never mind" Katharine bobh-d her
head emphatically. I'VE talked II over; IL
was only the sentiment. anyway and IT.
better to have some good out or ~ she
wants you to have It. III fix my PINK
creme scarf in an Antoinette hcnu FOR
you. and you can clean your slipp.rs ana
your gloves. You'll dress at Aunt harga-
ret's. and her maid will see to you. And
I'll write to Mildred at once.
There was nothing left for Lucia but 10
lend herself TO the disposal of her mother
and sister. and to keep her feelings as
much as possible TO herself. After katha-
rine's sympathetic inquiry nope you
found something 10 send, Lu! her Two
svmDathizers. attributing Lucia oNaslNe
reply and her disturbed look to the IN
avoidable insignifcance OF her silt maue
no further mention OF IL.
After industrious preparation, hatha-
rine saw her off on the next aitefhooh
train. Aunt Margaret had driven Gown 10
"You dear child!' she cried. tucking
Tho rugs around them. Il was in such
state when Mildred came TO me with your
letter this morning; felt so sure oil your
coming that / had fixed pretty buIpllsc
for voui Just wait and see!
'rur 'surpTlse" spread on the Ded III
Iucia's room when she entered, While
drifts of organdie over SILK WIN sum.
mering loops and knots, ana beside II,
a gauzv fan, with white slippers anu
GLOVES. and a long pasteboard box, deli
ciouslv fragrant Maggie, the maid ue-
Ughtedly raised the top.
'.It's whole hun'eds of violets for thim
ribbin-bows, mem I'm 10 pin thin aither
dressin ye mem, -.
Almost Lucia forgot the presept that
she had sent to Mildred. until later when
she alighted at her friends home. Inc
old pangs of conscience smote her as sne
stepped within. How could she look NIL
dred i'm the face? Mildred, so high
But somehow she did not feel so bad
when Mildred, catching sight OF her IN
the hall came out and slipped with her
up 10 her own room.
"Oh. Lucia" she cried, I'm so glad
Won came-and how sweet you look Inc
girls are asking for you-anc your lovely
gift-let me kiss you for it-came tins
morning-and-dOn' worry about II, dcaI.
Your thought was what / cared Tor
most, but such pity'-it got broken III
coming
"Ah,'' murmured Lucia. almost inaud-
blv as she bent over the fastening OF her
glove
I'VE been so afraid it would spoil your
evening" continued Mildred: 1T was such
an exquisite thing that | hated TO tell
YOU; but | knew you wouldnt understand
if il wasn't with the other things-they re
all downstairs-and TO find it there brok-
en-. without being prepared would be too
bad Let me button that for you. dear,
Mamma saws she'll try TO mend II. and
l do hope she can, for 1 prize II ever so
much.
Some of Lucias friends Of last winter
took possession OF her, until Mildred came
up later.
Excuse me. girls. but, Lucia you must
come and be introduced 10 the dearest
little woman in the world grandmother,
over there
rene old lady. like some miniature EN-
with old lace. and white satin ribbon
coronet with one tiny cluster Of hearts
ease over her smooth white hair.
Il am glad YOU have 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
wonder but the rooms are so full that
/ preferred not 10 push through alone,
would you mind having "a peep at them
now?'
SO they passed into the library. whore