The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-03-15
HER RED
| LETTER DAY
By NANCY VINCENT
Nd
Copyright, 1901. by
Nancy Vincent MeCleIldnd

ier's window counted, land the So that
you wanted all in quarters, Miss Penn
berton."
THANK you," said Miss Pemberton
absentmindedly. She fold ID up the
cracking notes TO fit her mouse colored
pocketbook, regarding the two small
piles of silver Oh the counter before
her with faint, amused smile. There
was one mint used piece among them
that glistened white and bright by the
side of the tarnished faces of the 9TH
ers. 1t caught the girls attention, and
with a sudden impulse she separated
1t from its family and held 1t back
eagerly TO the cashier.
Would you." she asked him, flush
ing slightly-"could you give me all
new quarters like this? ! have a par
ticular reason for wanting them shiny
and bright
He acquiesced with ready good hui
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
US she went out of the bank. Her face
was dimpling, and her step fell so light
that the old man Mt the window pulsed
with a throb OF sympathy for her
youth. her prettiness and her girlish
enthusiasm.
II was Easter Monday. Although
whiffs OF winter still fingered in the
shadows and lurked around the cor
ners. A blooming pink rose nodded
airy greetings from Miss Pemberton's
golden head in spite of the fact that
her hands were hidden in a sable skin.
Lady. buy a pa-per?"
1t was n small professional whine
that was pattering along by her side.
Miss Pemberton looked down, and
another one OF her irrepressible smiles
cropped out in the corners OF her face.
NO" she said discouragingly, max
Ing very apparent effort TO be severe:
II can't buy papers from any one who
asks me like that Some time II you
come up 10 me and say In a cheerful.
honest voice, Buy a paper. lady? ~
her own voice was bubbling over with
mirth-''why. very probably shall get
one from you, but so long as you
The boy jumped ahead of her.
whisked off his cap. Strengthened up
| and chirped out such a brisk imitation
of her own tones that she gurgled with
delight.
Buy n paper, lady;" 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; Il shall
have TO get one now, and you may keep
the change"
"Hully geer' exclaimed the young.
ster, standing stock still where she left
him and staring after the slight figure
with News tucked under Its arm
Don't have TO sell no more papers to-
| day less / wants TO, That's what
calls bein' a millionairer'
1t was really, however, the mendi-
cants whom she had meant TO favor
| that morning. She knew them all and
had pitied them a 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 shining
quarter in each OF the outstretched
hands.
As she escaped from their peerine
/ -la
tered a friend Good morning." she
bowed.
| But Mrs. narrower was not to be pu
Off with such a cursory greeting. Sh'
was n member of the Associated Bu
reau of Charities. and she had seer
Miss Pemberton almsgiving.
"My dear" she said rebukingly. de
tanning the CIR! in the middle of th'
sidewalk. you really oughtn't to wast'
your money like that"
Il suppose not" laughed Miss Penn
berton.
"They are not deserving; truly not,
her friend insisted. After the Italian
woman farther down street. who sit
| all day with a drugged child on he
knee, they are the greatest frauds IL
the city"
Il suppose So" said Miss Pembertol
again, aloud To herself she though
wickedly. What would she say il sh
knew 1t was 30 cents:"
Mrs. narrower spoke very seriously.
''It Is just such as you that make tn
trouble" she said You give indis
creetly. You are encouragers of pau
perism and crime"
All Miss Pemberton's dimples broll
ont rebelliously. She looked very III
repentant
But, you see," she cried merrill!
stretching her hand TO the other woma
IN farewell-"you see. you don't under
stand. I'm not normally such u wicke
person. Today it's different I'll te
you abont il some time. Goodby."
She was gone with dash Of Il smil
that showed thorough enjoyment of III
situation. II lasted until she stood i
front of the Italian woman with tn
; drugged child on her knees and let al
; other OF the new quarters fall with
soft. deliberate thud into the baby
lap.
The little black violet vender. WI
never by chance has n flower less tina
/, forty eight hours old: the patriotic mi
sirian who hestirs the feet Of the pas
ing throng TO keep time with the GO
net. the lesless man who sits ON u snia
platform and wheels himself incessan