The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-09-17

pink" said a pretty girl on the back
seat to her companion. as the coach
stopped for Its passenger.
why. Nellie" said Matilda to this
same pretty girl. as she clambered IN,
"am ! going to have you to ride Win:
That will be nice. I'm sure"
Yes. l am going up to the Junction
TO do some shopping-you know I'm
pretty busy these days" said she. with
an adorable blush. which suddenly re-
minded Matilda that 1t was nearing
Nellie's wedding day. This warmed
her heart to her at once. for was she
not Oh her own wedding trip? She
bca1red anew on Nellie as she settled
herself comfortably for the two-mile
drive.
How the sun shone and the birds
sang. and how good the air was to
breathe!
Are you going away for long. Miss
Matilda:" inquired Nellie politely.
"No-only a little trip" she replied.
trying to look unconcerned. as If trips
were an everyday occurrence with her,
but the red deepened In her cheeks and
her voice trembled little as she asked
abruptly:
Where are you going to take your
wedding trip. dear?'
The girl colored painfully.
I'VE can't take any at all. Miss Ma.
tilda-isn't II dreadful!" and the young
face looked pinched and drawn with
woe. You see Jim's money. that he'd
been saving up to go with; got all
burned up In the fire. and.-and-we've
had TO give it up" she finished with a
wall that clearly told her disappoint.
ment.
Miss Matilda sat very still. She
thought her heart had stopped beating
then II gave q big thump. and there
was a strange. tight feeling in her
throat. She did not say anything. and
by and by Nellie looked ont the win.
dow with a grieved expression on her
pretty face When they reached the
junction the young girl turned her
head and said. constrainedly. Us she
jumped lightly from the coach:
Il hope you'll have nice time. Miss
Matilda"
Thank YOU" she murmured without
smiling. and clambered slowly down.
Then she walked along the platform
and sat down ON an old settee on the
shady side of the building.
BY and by a train rumbled in-shook
itself OF passengers-gathered a new
lot-and rumbled out again. One-two
three trains did the same thing. and
the forlorn little woman still sat on
the old settee.
Didn't you want to take one O them
trains:" good.naturedly asked the blue
coated man. who had been curiously
watching her for some time.
She looked at him with dull eyes. and
shook her head
When the stage coach made It's even
ing trip to the village Nellie was sur.
prised to find Miss Matilda on the
back seat.
Why. l didn't expect to see you SO
soon! Didn't you go?" asked the young
girl pleasantly.
mo. ] had-I had a headache-I
mean n throat-ache." stammered Ma
tilda in confusion.
The next night Nellie burst into her
mothers room with an excited face,
holding an open letter and paste
board box in her hand.
"Mother-what do you think! told
Miss Matilda yesterday how we couldn't
take any wedding trip, and she never
said word, and then I felt real cross.
cause thought she didn't care a bit.
but just see what that dear old maid
has done!
My Dear Nellie: I think wedding
trips IRE the incest things In the world.
and don't want you to give up yours.
! had little extra money that l did
not know what to do with. so send
il to you for your wedding trip. hope
you will have nice time. Your friend,
Matilda Jones'"
And Nellie's tears dropped fast on
the dimes and nickels that rolled out
Of the pasteboard box.
Away at the top Of tiny house. in Q
bureau drawer. n lone nickel keeps
guard over q dainty pile Of wedding
garments.--The Criterion.