The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-06-20

to be Gladys, announced her intention
of playing with Cynthia.
Very we'll, dear, do as you like.
remarked the lady, who was evidently
her mother.
Cynthia glanced at her unfinished
sewing and at Mrs. Curtis. You may
leave your sewing till later was Mrs
Curtis response to the unspoken ques'
ton, and Cynthia turned delightedly
to her unexpected guest.
"Now, let's play" said the little lady,
quickly. What do you play? want
to see your playthings."
Playthings! Cynthia could not re-
member having owned plaything ex.
cept some corncob dolls, and that was
long, long ago.
Il sometimes play in the barn." she
ventured. Would you like to go
there?' And on Gladys immediate
acquiescence. she led the way thither.
On the threshold she stopped. Your
beautiful dress-it is dusty in here
"This old thing?" said Gladys, airily.
"I shan't hurt it," And, pushing by
Cynthia. she threw herself with joyous
abandon upon a great pile of hay on
the floor.
"Oh. what fun this is! How sweet it
smells! 1 am going to slide down hill.
Come, Cynthia, let's see who'll go
down first" And the sport grew fast
and furious.
After q while Gladys tired Of this,
and, sitting up with flushed cheeks
and>tumbled hair, dema nded that some
new amusement should be forthcom.
ing.
1--WE might go down to the brook
said Cynthia, doubtfully. 1T is nice
down there. and there is dear little
| fish which see sometimes. He lives
under a big, overhanging rock, down
in the dark, and he's so shiny and has
such pretty red spots on his back! But
you must be awful careful, or you'll
wet your Dress looking ruefully at
the sadly rumpled organdy.
"Come at once" was the imperious
reply. Hurry! I want to see the
little fish"
But when the reached the brook. the
fish was not to be seen. They peered
over the big rock, and threw little peb-
bles in the water to stir him up, and
even took a stick and tried to poke him
| out, but no fish appeared.
Suddenly Gladys, who in her excite
ment and impatience had been leaning
far out over the rock in spite Of Gym
thia's remonstrance, lost her balance
and fell head first into the brook. The
water was not deep. and there was
no harm done to Gladys. But her
dress, the beautiful organdy-what a
sight it presented as she stood dripping
on the bank! "Oh, how dreadful!
What will your mother say? Your
beautiful dress! Oh, dear, oh, dear!'
walled Cynthia.
Mamma won't care about the
Dress" replied Gladys, "and I'm not
hurt. But what shall do? 1 can't
| 90 back to the hotel like this"
perhaps you could wear one of my
dresses. We must so back to the house
| right away" And the two fastened
back, Cynthia worried, anxious, and
| almost in tears; Gladys evidently look
ing upon her wetting as only a contin-
uation of the days adventures. And
so she continued to regard it while ar
raging herself in Cynthia's best calico
dress. which Mrs. Curtis hastened to
produce.
Gladys mamma, after her first
alarmed surprise, seemed also inclined
to regard the matter as a joke, saying
that, when one was in the country, one
must expect all manner Of mishaps.
The spoiled dress she regarded with
absolute Indifference. Throw it
away" she said carelessly. "It was
too small for Gladys, anyway"
But the next day Mrs. Curtis care
fully washed and ironed the dress, and
| 1t came out just as fresh and dainty as
when new; and, when Cynthia went
to church the following Sunday, she
wore the organdy dress with the blue
| cornhowers, for it was now her very
own.-Christian Register.