The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-03-05

gur-rl would ha' been dead. too. but
for Docthor Harriston. An do you
know Docthor Harriston. r-ies7"
"Oh, yes, he Is my cousin. know
him very we'll" said Mary.
Sure It's ioine .han ye ne
KNOWN; and it's proud ye must be
to be havin' him for a cousin" Mary
had never happened to take this view
of Burney, and she made no reply.
After awhile she said, "is your little
girl very ill?" Her theories with re-
gard to the value Of such chlld's life
began to tremble somewhat.
mo, an she's gettn' well now; but
miss. It was sick she was. All, but
Docthor Harriston worked, miss, for
ire gurrl! II was near to dyin' she
was. miss. when he took her In here.
an now she's gettin' Welt"
Mary's eyes were large with wonder
and interest.
THE idea Of Burney's never telling
me anything like this" she thought
fiercoly. The man cared for this little
girl exactly as other men cared Tor
their little girls: and Burney-perhals
she hadn't encouraged Burney to tell
her.
And If she hadn't got we'll" she
said TO the man, would tit would
have been ireadfully hard,
wouldn't"
Hard? All miss, | can see as yc
don't know now mon feels wild his
gur-rl She's all the loife of me is
for, miss. If she'd died. it's nothin' I'd
had left to me. It's the most them
that's pore has, their children
lie gently touched the child's yellow
hair not noticing Mary was silent.
ITS next wake she's to lave here,
miss, and It's hard it'll be for her be-
fore she's strong wild me gone all
day" he said musinely.
Mary no longer hesitated. Let her
come and spend a week with me after
she leaves here. Please do! I'm go.
ing to stay all summer on my aunt's
farm. and I'm going next week. II is
only ten miles out to IT, and you can
easily come out when Aunt Rachel
sends In for groceries; and | am DR..
Harriston's cousin" said Mary with a
suspicious break in her voice.
"Oh. IT'S glad I'd be, miss, and ite
yourself I'll he askin' the saints 10
bless. together with Docthor Harris
ton"
He took Mistress Marys Iatrician
little hand in his hard red one. and
pressed IL with fevor that made her
vince.
Sure. ye have DR.. Harrlston's own
way wild ye"
Marys chin went up slightly; then
she laughed softly at herself and
asked the little girls name and ad.
dress.
Il must say gooi.by now and find
DIR. Harrlston." she said. "He will
arrange everything with you"
She went swiftly to the hall. where
her cousin stood talking earnestly to
one of the nurses.
"Burney come here this moment"
she commanded. What do you mean
by not telling me the truth about the
people in this hospital?"
"Why, Mary"
"You never told me the children
were sweet. and that their fathers and
mothers were fond of them"
why. | should think you would
have known that" he began, but Mary
interrupted
you needn't begin to make ex-
cuses. Burney Harriston! I'm going
home now. It doesn't matter whether
you can go now or not; | can go alone
but you'll hear from me about this,
Burney Harriston!
Poor Burney was kept in suspense
for three days. Mary had suddenly
gone to spend two days with Aunt
Rachel. and Burney could get no hint
of the revenge that she was contem-
plating.
MARY always has been contrary"
her mother said, and Burney did not
see the laughter in her eyes.
Finally he did hear" from Mary
on twelve pages of her best monogram
paper,-and these are the words he
read in the concluding paragraphs:
Aunt Rachel says the house viii
hold ten cnildren at time. You can
send them for ten days each as soon
as they are well. Grace Is coming t.
stay all summer. and so are two of the
other girls, 80 we can easily take care
of them. The money father gave me
in place of my tickets to and from
California will be enough to pay for
the things they need. First of all
though. Burney Harriston, you will
just explain. If you can, why, in the
hours you have talked about your slunl
children. you never happened to men
tion that they were sweet, and that
rhey made as much difference to theil
fathers and mothers as any children
Youths Companion.
Chinese Honesty.