Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-12-20

PURCHASES Set OUT OelONe uct. AiSSi
her usual fashion Miss Betty COM
munei with herself.
"You were foolish, Bstty Dane, to
pay dollar and half for a china
cup and saucer when yoa have more
than two dozen of them now. But it
is a beauty" touching the fragile
porcelain with a caressing finger,
sand there's nothing nicer to give a
woman than china. There are two
handkerchiefs. They are the sheer
est, softest linen, aud the embroidery
is beautiful. am not SO sure about
the book. The girl at the store said
The Blue Flower was one of the best
selling books of the Sc .son. But |
did something worse than buying these
things"
Miss Betty paused. Her eyes
sparkled, and she trembled with ex-
citem ent.
"You ordered two dozen red car.
nations sent up to yourself on Christ
mas eve. Yes, you did. Betty Dane.
Well, I suppose you had a right to,
A.
only it's loo bad there is no one else.
With a sigh she commenced her
preparations for supper. The mo-
mentary depression passed as her
mind dwelt upon her days outing.
When she. sat down to her supper
Miss Betty was at peace with al! the
world.
The table was spread with snowy
linen. glistening silver and pretty
china. There was quaint, old fash
ionen silver teapot of fragrant hyson,
bread. pat of yellow butter, dreamed
potatoes, thin slices of pink ham, a
dish of blackberry jam and plate OF
rich dark fruit cake.
The windows of the diniug-room
faced the eide street. In her abstrac.
ton Miss Betty had forgotten to low.
er the shades. she glanced that way
nervously when the door bell rang.
When she opened the hall door the
light from the lamp in her hand fell
upon a fair girlish face framed round
with sunny hair. Miss Betty recog.
nized her caller as one of the teachers
from the village school.
"Good evening, Miss Nesbit. Will
you walk in ?
Florence Nesbit followed the mis-
tress of the house to the sitting-room
As soon as she was within the room
the girl began speaking
"Oh, Miss Dane. my erraud is a
strange onel You know | am 8
stranger here, and l have been &c
homesick / haven't any home-my
mother went away from me year
ago. | looked In your window as l
walked by. You looked so coy and
homelike, l just came in to ask you Il
you would board me-
BOARD you Why. I've newell
thought of taking boarders. What
put it into your head p
Florence's lips quivered. "Just
because you were alone. like myself
l wouldn't be any trouble and-ob,
Miss Dane, 1 could be so happy here
with your
"Where do you board p
with Mrs. Elmer. There is to be
vacation of two weeks at the holi.
day, and I must stay there.
Miss Dane recalled what she knew
Eof Mrs. Elmer's housekeeping and
shuddered.
"You poor child Of course you
can come here. There is the Other
bedroom downstairs, always warm,
and the place opposite me at table
Why, Miss Nesbit, L believe they have
been waiting for you"
Florence threw both arms around
the others neck. II can't thank
you there are no words to tell yor
what it means to me. | waike1 by
your window three times before
could get courage enough to knock
Oh, you don't know howglad am
| 1t is like beautiful Christmas pres
ent."
Miss Betty stared, remembering he
own longing for Christmas remem
brsnce. Would not this girls pres
ence in the house be to her, in he
loneliness, gift that would partak
of the Christ mas spirit2
The days went by quickly. Muc1
to Miss Bstty's surprise. she foun'
herself busy with preparations for tb
coming holiday season.
There were the children In Flor