The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-14

| ONCE! SHE FAIIEhlSD.
extravaganza, and how unhappy che
had been until Dolly Merton had so
sweetly come forward to her relief.
Mrs. Townsend looked very grave
as she listened to this recital. When
Madge had finished she said:
"The first thing to do is to buy back
! Dolly's embroideries and return them
to her at once with the money she gave
you. Here is my purse, go back di.
rectly to Mrs. Lee and pay her what.
ever she may ask. The other side of
the matter we will consider later on.
Hurry now, dear, or the shop will be
closed before you can get there"
Mrs. Lee smiled as Madge reap.
peared breathless before her.
"Mamma has just returned" the
young girl said, joyfnlly, "and she
knows all about it and has sent me to
buy back the centrepieces you go
kindly bought from me just now"
So Mrs. Lee brought them out and
wrapped them up, and refused to take
more than she had just paid for them,
knowing we'll that by so doing she was
paving the way for generous profits in
the future.
That evening, right after dinner, ,and
just as Dolly had shut herself in her
room and was diligently at work on
one of the bandkerchiefs, which were
to take the place of her pretty vanished
centre-pieces on the morrow, there
came tap at the door, and there were
the centre-pieces again; and note
from Madge telling how her mothers
unexpected return enabled her to send
back the embroideries and the money
with thankful heart, ard the assurance
that she would never forget her friends
sweet kindness.
So Madge, as Treasurer of the ''Merry
Workers" handed in fourteen dollars
and seventy.fve cents after the service
that Easter afternoon.
And she felt very thankful that
everything had turned out 80 we'll
for her sick grandmother was improv-
ing--her mother was at home again
! and Dolly's willing sacrifice had been
unnecessary after all.
But still she was not happy, and
strangely enough, she took no pleasure
in the new hat which only yesterday
she had thought so fine. It had seemed
impossible to part with it then, though
she had been ready enough TO accept
Dolly's far greater sacrifice! She half
enyied Dolly to-day, wearing her old
felt; her money had not been all spent
upon herself And Madge penitently
resolved to please her father by learn
ing to spend her allowance more wise.
ly and less selfshly in the future, and
to keep q certain proportion Of it for
an "emergency fund" as Dolly had 80
often laugbingly advised.
But about another thing she was
still dissatisfied and uncomfortable.
Though her mother had come to her
rescue and supplied the missing money
the fact remained unaltered that the
"Merry Workers money had been
stolen, and the thief was still at large.
Mamma had said, as Dolly had done:
"There may be some mistake. l am
not sure that katherine took the
money"
They were both very blind, for
Madge felt positive that it was so.
"What else could have become OF
it?" she had asked herself, conclu-
sively, again and again.
But on Easter Monday morning, as
she was rummaging through her un-
tidy closet for missing glove, she
came suddenly upon familiar looking
box-a Tiffany's notc-paper box with
it's contents all untouched And then,
in a auick-shamed fash of recollection
she saw herself hastily placing it there,
out of sight, when she was called
downstairs suddenly, several days be-
fore. And feather brain that che was,
she had afterward forgotten all about
it.
Her mother had gone out and it
seemed an age until she returned and
Madge could make a full and complete
confession.
sOh, mamma, what have I done?"
she cried penitently. 81 have &C.
cused an innocent person. What
amends can I ever maket to poor Kath-
erinel I have been so wicked, so
selfish, 80 thoughtless, so blind and
silly and extravagant. can see it all
now. have been learning so many
lessons these past few days, and now,
this, too"
Mrs. Townsend laid her hand ten.
derly upon her daughters bowed
head.
'.They are oil comprised in this, my
dear: Charity which is the same az
love, 'suffereth long and is kind; en-
vieth not, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil"
"Ah yes, mamma, I understand, and
that is Dolly's way; it must be, .
N1adge said, thougntfully. "And be-
fore next Easter comes around" she
continued, looking up steadfastly into
her mothers eyes, 81 will try to make
it my way, too. Frank Leslle's
Pleasant Hours,