The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-15

waning twilight, her heart FEELING
heavy as lead in her bosom, her checks
pale as ashes; because with Amy
Charnock it was question of sheer
starvation whether she retained her
situation at Newton g. Taxley's or not.
And then there was the rheumatic old
mother, and the little brother, who
must be kept at school, and-Oh! what
was to become Of them?
AS she fastened along, too deeply
absorbed in these sorrowful reiec.
tons to take any note of the QUITE,
world. she stumbled against some
one.
1t was a gentleman, and the light of
the street lamp shone plainly on his
face as he lifted his hat and spoke the
customary phrase:
II beg your pardonr'
But Amy Charnock stopped him.
II surely am not mistaken" she
said, falteringly. "You arc the gentle.
man who was with the lady who
bought the lace fan? Don't Won
remember me, sir2 I was the store
girl. I sold the fan-at Newton 8
Taxley's.
'I do remember now," said Mr..
Fortescue, suprsmely puzzled, "Bui
may L ask"
Il don't wonder you are puzzled o..
my strange address, +" Amy interrupted,
with little, hysterical laugh. "Bui
the bill she paid was counterfeit, and
it has cost me my situation"
And she told the simple stony OF he,
tribulations.
Mr.. Fortescue listened with the
deepest interest. He was one of ma
lures gentlemen, be it said to his
honor. He would have helped an old
fishwoman across Broadway, or stopped
to pick up the tattered shawl of 6
hand organist's wife as readily as the
embroidered handkerchief of Flora
McFlimsey; but it is only natural ia
be interested in the tears that obscure
china-blue eyes, and the words that
flow from lips that are like cleft
cherry.
'It seems scarcely possible" said
he, that Miss Carol would give You
counterfeit BILL 1t must be a mis-
take"
cit may be-" said Amy, simply.
"But [ know that [ have been turned
out of my place; and if she knew
"Will you go with me to her
house?"
eff you think it will do any good. +"
So they went together.
Uncle Leopold was in his study, and
Nina was copying out of some paper
or other for him, when the two visitors
were shown in. Nina rose to her feet,
coloring hot carmine. She knew the
sweet face of the store girl at once
and something told her that her secret
was revealed.
Nina" said her granduncle, turn
ing short around, with q heavy frown
darkening his brow, as Amy Charnock
told her simple story, sis it possible
that you could be go devoid of priuci-
pie as to use that bill, after 1 had
plainly told you it was a counterfeit"
CT did not know, thought per-
haps-" stammered poor Nina.
"You see the mischief you have
done" interrupted Mr.. Carol. LET
it be lesson to you, / must see this
Taxley fellow at once. This poor girl
biuoO 10 loluolUlCi III HcI pItCo Wlbu-
out delayr'
"And must send back the fan?'
cried Nina, bursting into tears of
mortified pride.
Pardon me-" said Mr.. Fortescue,
interposing here. ''Let me have the
pleasure of settling this little account
for Miss Carol"
"No!' said Uncle Leopold, brusque-
ly. ave are poor; but we are no
beggars. My niece can afford neither
to send ten-dollar fans nor to allow
others to send them for her."
And so Nina had to fall back upon
the linen cambria pocket handk erchief
after all, on which she had embroid-
cred her friends monogram.
'How [ wish had let the ten dol.
lar bill alone" she cried, in the bit
terness of her soul, the week after the
wedding, when she heard that Mr..
Fortescue had actually engaged him
self to one of Newton & Taxley's pretty
store girls.
So that, according to the usual say
ing, Zone wedding made another. ="
And Amy Charnock thanked God for
the great goodness that had bestowed
upon her such gift as Henry For
tescue's love Gofurdov Nio,l,t