The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-10-05


her treasure. Joyously she grasped
the precious pile with eager hands,
then looked ruefully at the empty spot
in the drawer. She hcsitated a mo-
ment, quickly found the dingy nickel,
and smiled content as she placed 1t
back in its old corner and closed the
drawer
With trembling hands she ar7ayed
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 checks So
pink" said Il pretty girl on the back
seat to her companion, as the coach
stopped for its passenger.
why, Nellie" said Matilda 10 this
same pretty girl, as she clambcred in,
lam | going to have you to ride with?
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 it was nearing
Nollle's wedding day. This warmed
her heart 10 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 to
breathe!
Are you going away for Ions, Miss
Matilda?" inquired Nellie politely.
"No-only a little trip" she replied,
trying to look unconcerned, as if trips
We're an everyday occurrence with her.
but the red deepened in her checks and
her voice tremblcd little us she asked
abruptly:
Where are you going to take your
wedding trip, dear:"
The girl colored painfully.
1--WE can't take any at all, Miss Ma
tilda-isn't il dreadful?" and the young
face looked pinched and drawn with
woe. You see Jlm's money. that he'd
been saving up to 20 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-
mant.
Miss Matilda sat very still. She
thought her heart had stopped beating
then it gave a big thump ard there
was Il strange. tight feeling in her
throat. She did not say anything, and
Inv aud ,,r Nal1;, 1,ni-o.1 ..,,4 ~. ,,-;,,
dow with a grieyed expression on her
pretty face When they reached the
junction the young girl turned her
head and said constraiucdly, as she
jumped lightly from the coach:
II 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
ard sat down on an old settcc ON the
shady side OF The building.
BY and by a train rumbled in--shools
itself of passengers gathered a new
lot-and rumbled out again. One-two
three trains did the same thing, ana
the forlorn little woman still sat on
the old settce
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 al him with duh eyes, and
shook her head
When the stage coach made its even
ing trip TO the village Nellie was sur.
prlsed to find Miss Matilda on tie
back seat
why l didn't eypect to see you so
soon! Didn't you go?' asked the young
sirl pleasantly.
NO, ! had-I had a hcadache-I
! mean a throat-ache," stammcred Ma
l'tilda in confusion.
The next night Nellie burst into her
mothers room with an excited face,
holding an open letter and a paste.
beard 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 | felt real cross.
cause | thought she didn't care a bit.
hut Just sec what that dear old maid
! has done,
My Dear Nellie: I think wedding
trips are the incest things in the world,
and don't want you to give up yours.
/ had little extra money that | 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 aud 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.