The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-01-13
The StinSiness
OF Grace
BY MARTHA HUMPHREYS
Copyright, 1904, by 7. C. Mcclure


was so Stingy! OF course the more
money you have in this world the more
you want. She doesn't look like a girl
who thought of nothing but money.
Misery people are supposed to have
steely gray eyes and sharp chins. and
she has the softest brown eyes and a
dimple in her chin"
"Who has emp asked Tom Bliss,
rolling over languidly in his steamer
chair.
81 was talking about Grace Patter-
son."
HAS she dimples and brown eyes?"
asked Tom innocently.
His sister flung him a scornful
glance.
"You ought to know. You have been
hanging around her ever since you
came down."
"Well, a fellows got to do something
when he's on his vacation" said Tom
easily. "You can't expect him to turn
woman hater when he's the only man
to twoscore of pretty women"
"That's just why I'm complaining.
With so many pretty girls here I don't
see why you should devote yourself to
one"
Margaret Bliss would have objected
to any woman her brother might have
selected as the object of his attentions.
Her love for the six footed bachelor.
oldest of her brothers, was distinctly
selfish, and she was glad the occasion
had arisen to prove Miss Patterson far
from perfect. Tom lighted a fresh Gig
arctic, and the hand which tossed away
the match patted his sisters head in
patroniZing fashion.
"And how has your ladyship been Of
fended?"
"You know Jim Green, the man who
has been on the beach boat for two
seasons, died last night. All the board
ers knew him, and of course we looked
right into the matter and found out
that he left his family almost penni-
less, so we are going to give a fair for
their benefit. We asked Miss Patterson
to make something for it, and she said
she was too busy; then we asked her to
preside at n Of the tables or to rattle
off the embroidered sofa cushion Mrs.
Marshall is going to donate, and she
said she didn't believe in rafles."
"My opinion of Miss Patterson i'm
prcves," said the ~aggravating Tom.
"Many a time and oft have 1 been done
at Jour fairs and r~afles."
Margaret rose angrily.
II might have known she was max,
Ing some sort Of a grand stand play.
That sort of girl only cares to please
the men,"
Tom leaned back in his chair and
smoked dreamily. He had rather en-.
5oyed Miss Patterson's society, be-
cause she knew enough to steer a boat
and MOTTO screech when 1t shipped wa
ter. Now he felt a curious desire to
know her better. A girl with tender
brown eyes and a dimple in her chin
rarely held decided opinions on such
grave matters as hotel benefits and
rafles. But she was not in sight at the
present moment. Then he recalled that
his stationery needed replenishing, and
he started for tue village store. 1t was
a cheap imitation of the city depart
ment store, and as he was passing the
dress goods counter on his way to the
stationery department he heard a Ia
miliar voice say:
us that the best quality of nuns
yelling you have?"
Its enough better than anything
she's been used to having" said the
middle aged woman behind the coun.
ter.
Tom Bliss stopped short, an amused
smile on his lips, for he could see that
Miss Patterson was flushing indignant
~ at the woman's rudeness.
Mrs. Green may not be able to huv
another black dress soon, and l want
to select something that will wear we'll
and not turn rusty"
Tom woke up. Green, Greenv' WHY.
that was the name of the man who
had handled the life saving boat. Why
was Grace Patterson shopping for his
widow? He drew closer.
Il think the henrietta cloth is better.
You can give me ten yards of that and
three yards of the Grape; also four
yards Of that lusterless black ribbon"
She turned suddenly, almost bump.
ing into Tom.
Won't you let me help?' he said.
with a note in his voice that she did
not recognize.
NO, thank you," she said, blushing
prettlly under his earnest gaze. Il
think we have everything" He no.
decd the I'VE" and liked it.
But the children" he urged
"oughtn't they to have something: saw
little black frocks"
NO, there would be no time to make
them. The funeral is tomorrow. Won
Know. Besides, they're such babies to
wear black"
1T would please the MOTHER he
urged, possessed Of a sudden madness
10 snare In this shopping expedition.
Miss Patterson's eyes smiled frankly
into his.
well, if you are SO determined. wa
might get some ready made white
dresses for the children with black rib.
bons and sashes. It may be a great
comfort to Mrs. Green to feel that she
and the family are so neatly CARRIED
for the funeral"
Just So" said Tom, pulling out his
wallet.
The next fifteen minutes were hrsv