The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-31
\ NEW ENGLAND
CONSCIENCE.

Miss Hannah Davis sat in her ac-
customed rocker and began to sway
gently to and fro. Rocking was help
ful to thinking, and just now she was
perplezed.
It was question OF conscience-a
New England conscience at that !;
moreover, it began with capital G.
stPve got it in the house, and I might
as we'll make it up" she mused.
1T" was dress-a silk dress-a
relic Of days gone by.
':It's been lying there all these
years." she went on, land it seems
real kind Of sinful packed away there
and not doing soul mite OF good.
Itisn't right TO have things put away
where moth and rust doth corrupt" "
:. She quoted this Bible authority
with satisfaction.
'And twill look awful handsome
made up. I Iguess 'twould be becom-
ing, too" ....
She >blzsheG guiltily. as if tse
thought were too vain for contempia-
tion. =.
ssAnd it would gave me buying, too" :"
she added, hastily. 'My old alpaca
isn't very good. I've turned and
washed it tillit really amt decent, and
'twould cost considerable to buy a
new one. And this dress all right in
the house and costing nothing. I
s'pose folks would think I was terribly
sytravagant, but then, I don't care. I
guess if 7 give the money I'd take for
now black dress and give it to the
missionary society, and wear the silk
instead, nobody can find fault; but
then, I amt obliged to tell 'em any
way. They don't know how much I
give to church purposes, and they
couldn't say nothing even if I bought
the silk outright. But then I amt
doing that. It's really saving. And
it's awful handsome, too, she added
il an undeatone.
Miss Hannah surveyed herself in
the small mirror. She readjusted the
light, and then moved it from one
side to the other, that she might see
T1& mage reflected more clearly. It
was, very neat little figure that she
saw. 4 somewhat wrinkled face, yet
with touch of youth and a pleased
light in the steel-blue eyes.
'Tshall look better than any one
there. she said half aloud
Gas we'll as any one," she cor
teeted.
Sand shan't tell any one that it's
an old silk made over. That amt
necessary. You needn't tell all yon
know, Aunt Jane used to say, and I'm
sure she was a very good woman
She smiled happily as she gave one
parting glance and turned away.
There was percept.ble stir when
Miss Hannah Davis, closely followed
by her sister-in-law, entered the par
sorage.
''Hannah Davis's got new dress,
some one whispered loudly as she
passed through little knot Of women
on the way to the bedroom olay aside
her wraps.
s'And it'a silk one, too"
The eyes of the entire assembly
were on her as she emerged from the
little room and sank down into the
nearest empty chair without making
the usual round of handshaking.
'She feels stuck up" one woman
whispered to her neighbor. "We:l, I
guess a silk dress don't make her any
better'n the rest of u.s." The speaker
reared her head and spoke across the
intervening workers to Miss Hannah.
Eve were just talking about sub
scription. Miss Hannah" she said IN
a very audible tones. 'Its for the
Leavitt's. You know them. They've
had awful luck lately, and there's q
lot due on the mortgage, and we
thought if We could just give them a
little lift it would be real Christian
Ike"
81 think 'twould be real nice, "Miss
Hannah assented warmly. ''Iil be
glad TO give something, though can't
give much, YOU know"
She blushed as she spoke. al eyes
were on her in the most uncomfor-
table way. Why did they kind Of
smile?
They must know she didn't have
much moner.
Could she afford to give fifty cents,
she wondered
We'll, how much will you eive?'
The voice csn.. with startling dis
Eoctness