Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-02-25
HER RED
LETTER DAY
By NAHCy VINCENT
HCLELLA.ND
COPYRIGHT, 1901, by
Nancy Vincent McCIelldnd

DcrlOI.
THANK YOU" said Miss Pemberton
abscn,mlndedly. She folded up the
cracking notes to fit her mouse colored
pocketbOok. regarding the two small
piles of silver OH the counter before
her with IL faint, amused smile. There
was one mint used piece among them
that glistened white and bright by the
side of the furnished faces Of the 9th
ers. 1t caught the girls attention, and
with sudden impulse she separated
1t from its family and held it back
eagerly TO the cashier.
"Would YOU" she asked him, flush
Ing sllghtly-"could you give me all
new quarters like this? | have par
ticular reason for wanting them shiny
and bright"
He acquiesced with ready good hu-
NOR
Miss PembertOn thanked him again.
put the bright quarters into little vel
vet chatelaine bag that hung at her
side and said a CHEEKY good morning
as she went out Of the bank. Her face
was dimpling, and her step fell so light
that the old man at the window pulsed
with a throb Of sympathy for her
youth, her prettiness and her girlish
enthusiasm.
1t was Easter Monday. Although
spring was In the sunshine, sullen
whiffs Of winter still fingered In the
shadows and lurked around the COP
ncrs \ blooming pink rose nodded
airy greetings from Miss PembertOn's
golden head in spite Of the fact that
her hands were hidden in sable skin.
Lady. buy II pa-perT'
1t was Il small professional whine
that was pat:ering along by her side.
Miss pembcrton looked down. and
another ole Of her irrepressible smiles
cropped out in the corners of her face.
"No." she said discouragingly, max
Ing very apparent effort to be severe;
Il can't buy papers from any one who
asks me like that. Some time II you
come up TO me and say in a cheerful,
honest voice, Buy paper, ladyT -
her own voice was bubbling over with
mirtli-"why, very probably shall get
one from you, but so long as YOU
The hoy jumped ahead Of her,
whisked OF his cap. Strengthened up
and chirped ont such brisk imitation
of her own tones that she gurgled with
delight.
buy paper, ladyT he grinned,
his teeth flashing In appreciation of the
maneuver
Miss Pemberton stopped and put one
of her clean quarters into his grimy
hand.
Yes" she said laughing; 81 shall
have to get one now. and you may keep
the change"
"Hully gec." exclaimed the young
ster, standing stock still where she left
him and staring after the slight figure
with q News tucked under Its arm.
Don't have TO sell no more papers to-
day less | wants to! That's what l
calls bein' millionaire!'
1t was really, however, the mendl-
cants whom she had meant to favor
that morning. She knew them all and
had pitied them score of times-those
miserable creatures who haunted the
same street places day after day. She
knew that the next one she met would
be an old man and his wife. who stood
there arm in arm through every change
Of weather. a little sOberly she went
up to the old couple and laid n shining
quarter In each OF the outstretched
hands
AS she escaped from their peering
yes and feryent blessings she encoun-
cred a friend Good morning." she
)OweG.
But Mrs Narrower was not TO be put |
'ff with such II cursory greeting. She
vas member of the Associated Blu
eau of Charities, and she had seen
Hiss Pcmberton almsglving.
"My dear" she said rebukingly. dc.
aiming the girl In the middle of the
idewalk. you really oughtn't to waste
our money like that"
81 suppose not" laughed Miss Penn.
,ertOn
"rhcy are not deserving; truly not"
er friend insisted. after the Italian
woman farther down street. who sits
II day with Il drugged child OH her
nee. they are the greatest frauds In
he city
81 suppose So" said Miss Pemberton
gain. aloud. To herself she thought
What would she say If she
new ii was 30 cents?"
Mrs narrower spoke very seriously
at is just such az yon that make the
rOuble." she said. You give lndis-
reetly. You are encouragers Of pau
erism and crime"
All Miss Pemberton's dimples broke
ut rebclllously. She looked very un-
apentant.
"But. you see" she cried merrily,
iretchlng her hand to the other woman
! farewell-"you see, you don't under
and I'm not normally such wicked
erson. Today It's different. III tell
OH about II some time Goodbye
She was gone with fash Of Il smile
Iat showed thorough enjoyment OF the
tuation. 1t lasted until she stood In
ont OF the Italian woman with the
rugged child on her knees and lot an.
her OF the new quarters fall with I
1T. deliberate thud into the baby's
p.
The little black violet vender. who
ever by chance has flower less than
,rty-eight hours old; the patriotic mu
clan who bestirs the feet OF the pass
x thrOng TO keep time with the cor
IT. the Iegless man who sits on small
atforn and wheels himself incessapt-
-. IN