The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-04-26

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long Lily's life. The school is now dis
missed"
| Many and various remarks were made
by the girls as they rushed out into the
open air, all greatly impressed with the
need of the case.
II shall certainly bring at least a dol
lar" said Alice High, the richest girl in
the school. "And l." "And l." chimed
in others who would only have to ask
their fathers for the money.
II never thought about an Easter offer
ing," sighed Edyth, "or else might have
saved my allowance. Perhaps mamma
will advance it, or / can borrow some
thing from sister Grace" Nora said
nothing, and even when Edyth rallied her
about being SO quiet, murmured some
thing about headache and hurried home.
IAN Easter offeringr' How 1t rang in
her ears. What could she give that would
be worth giving? Alas nothing but the
money for the hat
She was miserable, her long-talked-of
grandeur seemed to vanish the check was
weighed in the balance against Lily's
health, possibly her life. What must she
do? All she knew from the first only
| too well. The hat must be given up; the
| sacrifice must be made, and all summer
| she would have to wear her old sailor,
| just as she had worn her alpine the past
months. 1t never occurred to her for an
instant that she might compromise the
question and give half or even third.
| No, it would be all or none no other
hat but the one her fancy had so long
dwelt upon would satisfy her, and only
the check intact could purchase that.
True, she need not give it-no one would
expect it; she had never cared particu-
larly about Lily, who was younger, any
how, and in lower classes. And yet,
when she thought what Easter meant, and
of the story of Good Friday, how could
she hesitate? Poor little Lily, coughing
her life away, because, forsooth, she must
have smarter" hat than any one else
in church on Easter. Nora was face to
face with problem hard to solve, and
yet with but one right answer, and that
she realized. Why think Of it? Fare
well, vain pomp and glory of the world"
she quoted to herself, for Nora did love
beautifully turned sentences, just as she
adored gorgeously trimmed headgear.
She did not tell her mother, though
naturally they noticed her dullness at
home and attributed it to overstudy. II
am glad" said Mrs Loring, that the hol-
idays will begin on Wednesday,"
"And then the great hat DEAL" exclaim-
ed Charley, but Nora did not tumble into
radiancy as usual, only looked more sad.
Don't tease her." begged her father;
'she is tired, and has been bothering over
her lessons. / am going to give, you both
dollar on Easter-so, cheer up"
Hip! hip! hipl 'rah! 'rah! 'rah; !"
shouted Charlie, but Nora only got up
and kissed her father and thanked him.
Have you endorsed your check, dearT'
he asked.
"Yes, papa, on the back as you told
me-"
Mora did that at once" explained her
mother, though told her better wait
until she was ready to spend 1t. But,
my dear, on Wednesday, after school, we
will go to Nine. lie Tastes and order the
hat-that is, If you have finally decided
upon the kind that you want"
Nora muttered, Eyes, mother" and then
asked if she could be excused, and left
the table, ostensibly to study her lessons.
The two following days at school were
ordeals for Nora, and only headache,
which she literally had from worry, kept
her from being teased numerically, for
she positively refused to discuss either
Lily's illness or the hat. Edyth thought
that she acted very strangely, but said
nothing, not even when she saw Nora
continually looking at her check, which
she now carried with her in her small
pocketbook. She could not bear to let it
out of her sight, nor could she make up
Some of the girls, who apparently had no
objection to their left hands knowing
what their right hands were doing, would
conspicuously put their offerings in the
box, and boast of II afterward. But no
one could discover If Nora had given
anything. $50 mean," murmured the
girls, always suspicious. when she had
such big check she might spare 80 cents
for poor little Lily" and although Edyth
also thought SO she was too loyal to Nora
to admit 1t. and defended her to the girls
by saying that such hat as Nora wanted
would cost every penny of the check. No
one ever imagined that all or nothing was
what Nora was trying to decide.
At last Wednesday came the school
holidays began, and the girls with their
arms laden with books rushed merrily
away, followed more slowly by Edyth and
Nora. "Come on !" cried Edyth, tossing
her books in the air, II am to 20 with
you after dinner to the madams. YOU
promised, and your mother, won't OBJ
ject-come on ~ But Nora still ioiter-
ed. "Go along, Edyth," she said desper-
ately, II must go back for something"
LET me come with you"
20, no, no; do CO. for the time had
come when the decision must be made.
now or never must the check 70 In the
box. So hurrying away and leaving
Edyth hurt and surprised outside, she ran
In, managed to squeeze the check In the
opening Of the box, just as she heard one
Of the teachers coming down stairs, then
she came out and Joined Edyth on the
pavement. She said nothing and finally
Edyth left in huff, declaring Nora was
too hateful and airy for words" and she
would not 90 with her about the hat or
take any more interest in It."
Just as well, thought Nora, sadly, yet
on the whole she felt glad that she had
done 1t; she only wondered what her
mother would say, for somehow she could
- all axan Edvfh Il fookad l,kn k.~.