The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-05-17

the ink had time to dry
"All right. Bridge, that will do"
Mrs. Sanders answered, and Bridget
left the room. Again there was 81
lence. n
chair aand went slowly OVER to where
Mrs. Sanders sat making some little
ruffled aprons. The fact that they
were to be hers and just as she want
ed them made the pin of Jessie's con,
science prick ever harter-than ever
She stood still a moment and then
she said with a sob:
Mamma, don't you love me any
more? I'm sorry bout the ink"
Mrs. Sanders. went on sewing as
she said firmly:
"of course 1 lovfsyol, Jessie, but
could anyone help Oeine disappoint.
ed in little girl who came down to
breakfast and was angry to find it
cold who slapped her baby brother be.
blocks, and thep-.c cried because she
was told to put them all neatly away;
and who finally spilled bottle of ink
ON the carpet, when she had often been
told never to use the ink, but to use
pencil until she val old enough to
be careful? 1t is ON ia tile past 10.
, You have been dressed on hour. Yes
| am disappointed"
Jessie crept away to the darkened
hallway and sat down on the stairs.
Il told her l was sorry she said to
the umbrellas, whose queer heads
peeped inquisitiyely at her from the
brass holder near by, "and still she's
disappointed. Guess I'll go upstairs
and hide. Never come back again.
Then when she finds me all starved to
death she'll be sortw'
Jessie stole softly away with last
good-by peep at mai hmal quietly sew.
ing on the aprons and baby softly
sleeping in his go-cart. When she
reached the attic she heard the hall
clock strike. Half past ten," she
murmured, as she shut the door. Then
she sat on a bundle Of rugs and cried.
She'd wait till dark and then go be-
hind the big trunk and stay. Wouldn't
they be sorry to fnd her there all
starved? How lo4 \ 1puld it take.
days and days?t shd and Alice
would have another doll reception.
Their last one was so nice. They had
chicken sandwiches, little ones, cut
three-cornered, and pink lemonade.
and it was SO gootM But not as good
as those little tarts Bridget made just
yesterday, with lattices across them
and plenty of sugar. No more parties,
picnics, tarts. NttpinA but starving.
But they'd all b sor{ " then! The
Niagara picnic Would never be now.
They were going to have the hydrant
for the falls, and such lovely things
to eat, breau unu~jam. Oh! how good
bread and jam seemed just then. 1T
won't take long" Jessie sobbed, "I'm
most starved nQw."
At last JESSIE Eais0 her head and
looked about her. Ne attic seemed
so dark. The sunbeafns had all gone
from the little window.
Its getting dark" she thought fear
fully. i've been starving hours.
Guess they've had lunch and are eat
ing dinner now. Wonder if they have
pie or pudding. do SO love pudding.
Guess I'll be starved really to death
by morning. ID s. -gftting darker. I
l guess I'll creep NEn and see what
they are doing. Maybe they're talk
ing about me. Then. can see what
they have for dinner and if l would
want any. Then can come back and
they will never know till they find me
starved" -
Jessie o&ned. the door and stole
softly out and down the stairs. The
wind was whistling and she heard the
rain on the tin roof of the porch. How
dark it was. Could she ever 60 back
to the-attic!.. She stopped at the sit.
ting room door. She hoped the gas
was lighted in there. OF course they
were all at dinner. So she opened the
door to seq T4eae was Bridget scrub.
bing that NIX >Apot. There was the
baby still asleep. And mamma. AT
the click of the door knob mamma had
turned and was holding out her arms.
"Coma-on dear, if you are really
sorry. We will have to be happy in
doors, for it's all rainy outside. Come
kiss me and get ready for luncheon u
Jessie tan and threw herself into the
welcome Ans. esbbing.
"Oh. 'wilr>Ae good. l thought
was starved. l."
But Bridget interrupted by saying:
"It's. all out, mann" And the clock
in the hall struck 11.-Chicago Rec
ord-Herald.