The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-04-10
TIT is pretty"
Mrs. Swan lifted the end Of the

long strip of linen which lay
across Altheas lap and looked admir-
ingly at the open-work embroidery
with which II was adorned.
Althea SMILED assent and went on
shipping and drawing out threads.
It was hot June afternoon. and, for
the sake of the slight breeze. Althea
had brought her work out on the
porch. For companionship Mrs. Swan
had followed her, and sat nursing her
arms on the top step. Every few mo-
ments Mrs. Swan would arise and
hurry into the kitchen to stir some
thing that was bubbling and boiling
on the stove. Every time she moved
her clean, crisp calico dress rustled.
"Althea," she gasped, as she sank
down and wiped her face on her apron
after one of these hurried journeys to
the hot kitchen. "Althea. I'm going to
ask queer favor of you"
"Yes?" questioned Althea, In sur
prised interest. She had never known
Mrs. Swan to ask favor of any one.
II want you to loan me a dollar
dent reluctance. She went on quickly
before Althea could reply, you en-
take II out OF your board money"
"Why, certainly" said Althea, in
amazement, 81 owe youmore than that.
can let you have more than that.
wish you"
mo" interrupted Mrs. Swan. zone
dollar is all shall need. want to get
a piece of linen like this. | want to
make my sister Sue bureau scarf
for birthday present"
Mrs. Swan smoothed the shlmmerlng
surface of the linen with caressing fin
gers. Longs haven't the right kind.
| want the dollar to go to Vents and
get a piece Just like this"
sAlthea drew out long shining
thread and wound 1t around her hand.
Il know you think 1t strange that |
should ask you for the money instead
of Hiram" continued Mrs. Swan, look
ing suspiciously into Althea's face for
some sign of inquisitiveness. But AL
thea bent placidly over her work.
II did ask Hiram for 1t last night.
But instead of giving me what |
wanted, what do you suppose he did?"
Althea bit off a thread and made a
slight negative motion of her head.
She knew Mrs. Swans peculiarities too
we'll to risk verbal reply. A word,
especially the wrong word, might have
disastrous results.
"He took piece of money out Of his
pocket, laid 1t on the corner of the
mantel and went off to bed without
saying a word. This morning when |
I looked at the money saw that it was
a 500 gold piece. thought Of course
| that Hiram had made a mistake; you
, know $40 gold piece and silver dol
lar are about the same size and heft
and II is rather dark in the room; for,
since daylight lasts so long we hardly
ever have a light. But at noon when
| l asked him about 1t, he said no, II
was all right; he hadn't made any mis-
take, and kind of grinned, and that
was all could get out Of him."
Mrs. Swan paused and Althea knew
that some response was expected from
her. A person unacquainted with the
intricacies of Mrs. Swans mind would
have been sure to blunder. Althea
might have been consumed with curl
osity as to what happened next. but
she only threaded her needle with
great deliberation and remarked casu
ally: well"
What actually did happen made AL
thea catch her breath and shrink away
from Mrs. Swan as II her friend hat
struck her.
"It's just Hiram's meanness!" ex'
claimed Mrs. Swan, bitterly. And it's
Just like him. He thought 1t was fool
ish extravaganza in me getting the
linen. He thought IL he gave me ont
dollar l would spend it for something
that didn't amount to anything, but Il
he gave me twenty dollars | would pu
1t in the bank and save it. Save, save
get sick and tired of saving"
Athea's eyes sparkled with indigna
tionsat what she thought to be an un
just accusation. She opened her lipl
to speak, but thought better of 1t ant
closed them again.
Mrs. Swan, blind to everything bu
her own grievance. went on with he
TRADE. "It's just stinginess. He knew
I wouldn't break into a 500 gold piec
just to get little piece of linen.
wouldn't be over GO cents, and
counted on getting the thread beside
with the dollar. I've earn"
A loud kissing sound, mingled witt
the odor of burning fruit Juice. cam,
from the kitchen. warning Mrs. Swal
that her supper needed immediate at
tention.
Althea heard her lift basin fror
the stove, empty the contents, an
carry them to the ice-box. 1t wa
stewed cherries. and the deliciou
spicy odor filled the air.
When she came back Mrs. Swa
seemed little ashamed of her anger
She sat silently gazing at the horizo
for few moments with haunted, burn
ing eyes. When she spoke gain it wa
with moderation.