The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-03-10
complexions and eyes like hazel


stars"
The next morning Aunt Keturah
and Ellen went shopping again, in the
snug little claret- colored coupe which
Aunt Keturah hired by the month
from a neighbo:ing livery stable.
- need sewing silk" said Aunt
Keturah, :'and you're always want
ing Java canvas or worsted, or some
such fol-de.rols, and the good fresh
air won't do either of us any harm,
I'll go bailI''
lets 50 to Leigh & Balconies, :"
suggested Ellen. "They always have
the prettiest and newest shades of
everything there?"
''Pm sureI am not particular where
we co." said Aunt Keturah.
They chanced to go to the SELF
same counter where, hardly more than
a week ago, they had purchased the
rose-colored fan. and pert miss, with
profusion of mock jewelry, came
forward to wait upon them and recei g
orders.
you're not the girl that belongs
here" said Aunt Keturah, bluntly.
The pale girl that coughed so.
Where is she?'
The pert miss tossed her head.
"Oh," said she, you mean Eliza
Lowe! She's gone
"Gone:" Aunt keturah laid down
the spool of silk she was examining.
ssI hope she's not i'll. That cough
sounded to me exactly like consu p
tom"
t'I don't know whether she is i'll or
not" said she. ''But it wasn't on
account of i'll health she left. She
was discharged for tearing lace fan
a point lace, over white satin, worth
s25. She was compelled to pay the
full value besides. Mr.. Balcombe is
very particular about such things"
Ellen Purple colored deeply.
= 'tBut are they quite certain that
she did tear it?' asked Ellen.
''Oh, she denied it, of course" said
the girl. ''They always do. But she
was responsible for the goods under
her charge, Of course-aud if she
didn't tear it who did? That's the
question.
II can tell YOU" said Ellen Purple,
qnietIv; 81 did"
You, missr' The girl looked at
Ellen as if she thought her partially
insane. Aunt Keturah was almost
equally amazed.
"3ly dear child" said she ''I don't
think you know what you are say
ing"
eyes, I do: said Ellen, peremp-
torily. She has allowed herself
through lack of moral courage, to fall
into an error whose consequences
were more serious than she had
III 1. e ea, and she was detee ss1 g
redress it as far as possible, was
looking at that fan week ago." she
went on, "and through my careless
ness in shutting it one of the sticks
tore the lace. Where is Mr.. Bal
combe? T must explain matters to
him. If anyone should pay the S25
it is 7. And Miss Lowe must have
her place again.
"luite impossible, miss-the latter,
T mean," said the pert girl. ''Her
place is filed. There is always plenty
of girls glad to get in here"
Ellen wrung her hands.
"Oh, auntier' said she, ''what shall
I do? How shal! I undo the mischief
I have wrought"
Aunt Keturah turned to the shop
girl.
Cant you give me her sddress?"
said she. ''We can at least go and
see her,
And the upshot of the interview was
that Eliza Lowe was engaged as seam
stress and companion TO comfortable
Aunt Keturah at salary that seemed
truly regal to her. Mr.. Balcombe
sent a stiff note Of apology, inclosing
check for &25, which was duly made
good by Miss Purple-and Eliza
thought the millennium was at hand.
And Ellen Purple carried the point
lace fan, skillfully mended by an old
woman who made such needle-lore her
business, at her wedding with Mr.
Middleton.