Middletown transcript., 1903-03-21

ter by former marriage, and
Myrtle's father had died a few
years previous; so the child was
comparatively alone. She was
fifteen, and of warm, romantic
nature, with which her STEP
mother could not sympathize.
She had on several occasions
found Myrtle reading her be-
loved books. and her wrath knew
no bounds, novels, in her opin-
ion, being a certain path to de.
struction; hence the child snatch
ed every opportunity to pore over
books in secret, and as we have
seen, really sometimes neglected
her work.
| Great preparations were made
during the rest of that week over
James expected arrival. Cakes
and pies to bake, fowls to dress,
| fresh curtains to put up, and a
thousand and one things to keep
Myrtle busy from morning to
night, so that she found no time
to read.
i 1 wonder, she thought half hu-
morously, how it feels to have
such fuss made over one; I'm
sure it must be very pleasant.
Tim drove to the station to
meet Jane, or Mrs. Herman as
she was now, and was quite over
whelmed by her city airs.
| How are you, mother? she said
kissing her fondly. I was quite
homesick for a sight of your face
again. And Myrtle, holding out
her hand carelessly as the girl
clme forward, you are looking
pretty much the same, only you
grow too fast. | do think, she
added, that growing girls are the
most awkward-looking things I
ever saw.
Myrtle flushed at the careless
words. 1t was hardly necessary,
she thought bitterly, to remind
me of my awkwardness as soon
as she gets home.
Myrtle, said Jane that evening,
| there is something I have brought
you from town, and she held out
a lovely crimson sash.
Oh, jamie, I thank you so much. |
1t is just what I have been want
ing, and grateful tears sprang to
the girls eyes.
Pshaw; it was nothing. Here
is collar of the same shade; I |
meant to get blue, but you could
never wear it with that complex
ion of yours.
But Myrtle was too happy to
notice the allusion to her COM
plexion. 1t was so good of you
TO think Of me. You do care for
me a little, don't you, jamie?
Well, if you aren't the queer
est child 1 ever saw in my life.
There, she said, you have crush
ed all my flowers.
I'm so sorry, jamie, it was my
awkwardness.
Myrtle was kept busy during
the weeks that followed; but she
was more light-hearted than be-
fore. She had almost dreaded
James visit; but now that she
understood her step-sister better,
she found that she was really
good hearted, and while her blunt
manner and sarcastic speeches
hurt her sometimes, she knew it
was only thoughtlessness and did
not mind so much.
One night, when she got done
earlier than usual, she slipped up
to her room and lighting a lamp
she drew out her novel from un-
der the wardrobe where she had
last secreted it, and was soon so
absorbed in it's contents that she
was oblivious to everything else
until the door opened and her
step mother stood before her.
Myrtle, she said, where did you
get that book?
Elsie Cook lent it to me the last
time I was over, said the girl.
Indeed, mother, it is beautiful
story, and can do me no possible
harm.
presume am the best Judge
of that, said Mrs. Fisher, angrily.
Oh, mother, don't burn it, said
the girl. What will Elsie say if I
don return it?
It makes no difference to me; I
AIN going to burn this novel; how
dared you disobey me! she cried.
oh, mother, l meant no harm
Then beseechingly, let me take it
back?
You obeyed me SO well before, .
she said sarcastically, I shall not
know how to trust you again, and l
she loft the room.