Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-01-27

was magnanimous. She even asked
Melicent to lend her her silk dress, to
wear on the following evening.
II am so glad" said Melicent, when
Agatha came into her room one night.
several months later. and told how
"he" had proposed at last. II know
you will be very happy"
Thank you." remarked Agatha.
Melicent told Mater the next morn
ing at the breakfast table. She did
not wish to disturb her rest with such
startling intelligence.
IT do SO want Agatha to have beau
tiful wedding" said Melicent.
IT don't know" Mrs. Pennington
rejoined. reaching for the patent malt
preparation which seemed to serve her
In place OF food don't know where
the moneys coming from, Nellie"
Agatha, who always arose an hour
later than the rest of the household,
was asleep up stairs.
"But we must make the child hap
py," insisted Melicent
Then came days OF scrimping and
saving.
The two youngsters whose parents
had sent them from the West to be-
come boarding pupils of the School of
Observation looked dolefully at each
other across the morning repast. The
soupmeat of the day before had been
converted into hash. The coffee SEEM
ed principally grounds. The oranges
were small and shriveled. One Of the
youngsters had the temerity to ask for
poached egg one morning, and the
injured air with which Melicent refus-
ed 1t still fingers in her memory.
Melicent and her mother partook of the
same frugal fare; but there always was
bit of steak or nice chop for Aga
tina.
Mater" said Melicent, one evening,
1--WE might sell that ormolu clock un-
Gle gave me-"
The ormula timepiece went to a deal
err in antiques, and several heirlooms
of guinea gold found their way to a
smelling shop down town.
Packages of all kind were being de-
livered at the Pennington house now;
but the neighbors did not notice that
almost as many packages left that
house as came into it. Harlem cliff
jewellers are not very curious.
What are you doing to do with
that mahogany table?" asked the Bry-
son girl, who was always about at the
wrong time.
1T is to be repolished," replied Nell
cent calmly.
The School of Observation for
Young Girls began to show alarming
symptoms of disintegration. The girl
with the red hair suddenly announced
that her parents had decided to send
her to seminary in Fifth Avenue,
held up her hands to observe,
to think, and to study, with no higher
ideals before her than French lessons,
department, and dancing? The back
ward child, who never could get her
lessons, went home crying one day, be-
cause Melicent had grown impatient
when she translated vouleur as a bird,
and she did not return.
at seems to me, Nellie" said Aga
tha, several days later, you and Mater
are neglecting the school dreadfully
You seem to think that Mr. de We're is
going to marry the whole family.
Please don't get that impression, or the
first thing we know he'll break off the
engagement"
Melicent bent over the wedding dress
she was making for Agatha, and said
not word.
THAT wasn't exactly pleasant thing
to talk about" Agatha, told herself,
after she had left the room; "but Rich
ard insisted on the matter being de-
finitely understood"
In the weeks which followed, Nell
cent worked bravely to keep that hand
ful Of pupils together. She spent the
greater part Of the night in toiling
upon Agatha's wedding down.
Its labor of love-" she said. 81
was afraid was getting selfish"
While the cliff jewellers on either side
Of the Pennington house were asleep,
he little, old fashioned sewing ma
,hine buzzed until long after midnight.
By the light Of kerosene lamp-for
gas was considered too expensive
Melicent toiled and toiled over the
white satin and the ornaments of pearl.
Her eyes were red and swollen when
she finally ceased work and crept up
% her little room under the roof.
Week In and week out Mater and
Melicent labored upon that wonderful
rousseau; that is, Melicent did the
actual work, and Mrs. Pennington
directed matters. Then, one morn
ng, Melicent came down bearing in
her hands yards and yards of creamy
Spanish lace.
1T is not likely that I shall need it,
Mater" she said simply, as she handed
over the fiimsy fabric to her mother.
when your great aunt gave it to
you, Nellie" exclaimed Mrs. Penning-
ON, 'she said that it was to be worn
IN your wedding day."
Melicent walked over to the win
by the dreary wall of
he adjoining fiat.
II shall give 1t to Agatha" she
,aid. Then she turned and went hast
ly from the room. Agatha, who met
her on the stairs, noticed that she was
weeping.
The wedding invitations followed as
closely as possible upon the heels of
The announcement. Four months is
considered short time. They seemed
/ century to Agatha; but to Mater and
Melicent they were an age. The pro-