The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-07-31
Lace Medallion.
BY Louis D. Quincy.

now. The large kindly face Of Mrs.
Graham wrinkled into a troubled
1fo@n as, standing first on one font
then ON the other, like a schoolrirl
caitsht in some misdemeanor, she
surveyed her handiwork, hanging
IMPLY against the small glass win
dow OF the new front door.
Lucella put down the pink mus
lin waist she was finishing and came
out into the hall, her dainty pretti-
ness contrasting strangely with the
duii' old-time surroundings. Bits of
coarse netting lay on the floor. and
she stopped to picked them up before
answering.
guess we might as we'll give II
up she said, after hurried gIanca
Il spent all day yesterday and dav
before on it. It's not fit to be seen !"
she Durst out; then, as if ashamed Of
her petulance, ats of no account
anyhow The housell be fine enough
without lace medallions. I'll inst
roll the thing up, and put it back in
inc drawer, and no onell ever know
'houSHI VI tne door.
Mrs Graham pulled the lacv fail
ure this way and that, trying to bring
the medallion to its proper place in
the centre. A little pang smote her
at the thought of asking assistance
yet the task was clearly bevond ber
poWers' she made a last stand for
independence with the deprecatory
remark:
Its not in the middle exactly.
Lucella, but it's pretty good. Any
now, I've seen worse"
We'll, l don't know as 7 have "
SAID Lucella. "Everybody'll be look
ing at it, and maybe critlcizing, lust
when | want everything to go off
especially well. My land!" she said.
tne lovely color sweeping up to the
roots of her soft, brown hair. "T
wouldn't have Tom see it for the
world"
Wen, I should think mott" her
mother upheld her, Loyalty. "And
your engagement party, too"
A Dgure of indecision she stood
perplexed for a moment; then the
lines of care were swept awav nv
saving thought.
III tell you what" she said
NOW" and her voice grew more
cheerful with each word, well ask
MRS. Blumm to tea, and maybe she'll
help out. I don't know as I like to
do 1t just that way, but the times 50
short. You run right back to the
sitting-room, Lucella, and I'll get NV
thlngs on, and go see Mrs. Blumm.
Sakes alive!" she calculated, looking
up into the girlish face, grown sud-
denly radiant with expectation. 81
should think Tom'd run off with Won
tomorrow, instead of waiting till
Christmas"
She stepped into the kitchen as
Lucella went back to her work. She
looked at the fragrant loaves of cake
iylng IN row on the pantry shelf
and gave a sigh of satisfaction az
she tested the hardening frostine
with her finger.
She drew the steaming kettle to
the back of the stove, pulled the
shades to the middle of the south
windows, and put her husbands
rocking-chair in its place beside the
weekly papers, where it would COM
1ortably invite him, should he hap
pen to return before dinner.
IN more than thankful can do
everything but the medallion" she
said, brightly, taking a last look
round the room before going for her
bonnet and shawl.
i may be gone quite a SPELL" she
said, looking into the sitting-room
on her way to the front door. 'If
your pa comes in before I come back,
tell him where I've gone"
She walked briskly along. her
mind intent ON her mission. The
morning sun shone brightly down on
the snowy road as she climbed the
hill toward Mrs. Blumm's. II de-
clare she gasped, pausing to rest
beside the Carriers hitching post, 'if
1t had been anything but TIL medal
lion that Lucellas got her heart so
set on, l don't know but I'd let it
gol"
A pung came over. the hill, with
1angling bells, and stopped beside
her.
We'll, If it's not Mrs. Graham.
sure's you live!" exclaimed the loud
voice OF Mrs Walker, the village
grocer's wife, and, incidentally, the
gossip of the town. Il said to my
self when l saw you standing here,
Some one to get poor Mrs. Blumm
again to help out Then, No l
said, If it's not Mrs. Graham!' What's
the matter at your house? Nobody
sick, or anythfng?"
NO." said Mrs. Graham. "Just a
friendly call on Mrs. Blumm, that's
ALL"
Now isn't that too bad!" lament
cd the shrill voice from the seat.
Mrs. Blumms gone to her dead hus-