The suburban citizen., 1902-09-20

happy Matilda climbed the stairs for
her treasure. Joyously she grasped
the precious pile with eager hands,
then looked ruefully at the empty spot
in the drawer. She hesitated a mo
ment, quickly found the dingy nickel,
and smiled content as she placed it
back in its old corner and closed the
drawer.
With trembling hands she arrayed
herself in her wedding garments and
seated herself on the doorstep to wait
for the stage.
Matilda Jones looks almost hand
some this morning. with her cheeks so
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 l going to have you to ride with?
That will be nice I'm sure"
Eyes, 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 it was nearing
Nellies wedding day. This warmed
her heart to her at once, for was she
not on her own wedding trip? She
beamed 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 10
breathe
".Are you going away for long, Miss
Matilda?' inquired Nellie politely.
"No-only a little trip" she replied,
trying to look unconcerned, rs il 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, desr?"
The girl colored painfully.
1--WE can't take any at all, Miss Ma
tilda-isnt it 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
vail that clearly told her disappoint.
ment
Miss Matilda sat very still. She
thought her heart had stopped beating
then it gave a big thump, and there
was strange, tight feeling in her
throat She did not say anything, and
| by and by Nellie looked out the win
dow with a grieyed expression on her
pretty face. When they reached the
junction the young giyl turned her
head and said constrainedly, as she
| jumped lightly from the coach;
81 hope you'll have a 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 train rumbled in--shooll
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 its 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 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 a paste
board box in her hand.
"Mother-what do you think! l told
Miss Matilda yesterday how we couldn't
take any wedding trip, and she never
said a word, and then felt real cross,
cause l thought she didn't care bit,
but just see what that dear old maid
has done!
my Dear Nellie: 1 think wedding
trips are the incest things in the world,
and ! don't want you to give up yours.
l had a little extra money that l did
not know what to do with, so | send
it to you for your wedding trip. hope
you viii 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 a tiny house, in a
bureau drawer, a lone nickel keeps
guard over a dainty pile of wedding
; garments.-The Criterion.