Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-10-28

"Diciy Ames, you're the most pro-
voking'-
But best brother that ever lived"
concluded Richard Ames. Look here,
Maude; I'll give up my intention Of
taking Miss Hempsted out driving and
devote the time instead to the noble
cause Of rummage, but only with the
understanding that IL give up the So
ciety Of the beautiful Miss Hempsted
for sweet charity am to pick my own
company.
The way you fred me ut Nella
Brewster's head the night Of the
church sociable was nothing short Of
indecent. II she doesn't want to speak
to me again. why should you deprive
her Of that satisfaction
"It's not satisfaction" insisted
Dicks sister. "Nella is as utterly mis-
cradle as You. and you know It."
"She didn't look that way this after
noon when passed her skating with
Ben Harkinson," commented Dick.
"She's game. She would smile II
she had the toothache and happened to
see you coming" persisted Maude.
"She wouldn't let you see that she was
hurt by the way you have acted, but
well. any woman can see that she is
dreadfully hurt"
$50 much hurt that she could not
answer letter of AFFECT apology
sent her." suggested Dick.
"Did You really send it?" demanded
Maude curiously. "She says she never
got 1t and that you didn't even answer
hers"
Because there was none to an
swer." retorted Dick. "Come on, now!
Let us get down to the church and to
that charity which is its own reward"
Maude paused uncertainty. It was
the arst .ime that Dick had spoken
freely about his quarrel with Nella
Brewster. and she wanted to sound
the trouble to It's greatest depths. But
here was Dick drawing on Just az she
had seemed about to reach the bottom.
That the trouble had been trivial at
the start she knew. and with two per-
sons like her brother and Nella It was
hard TO tell where the trouble might
end, but the chances were that they
would drift farther and farther apart.
Meekly she slipped into her wraps
and prepared for the walk to the
church, where rummage sale for the
poor was being prepared.
Old clothes were pouring In to be
sold to the needy for whatever their
slender purses could afford. When
Maude led Dick into the Sunday
school room he whistled In surprise at
the stacks Of clothing.
'They are stopping all the time to
talk about Styles" explained Cheevers.
1.-THE moment they get dress that is
out of the ordinary they all stop to see
how It's made"
IT heard Oracle Chester say that at
last she could be certain that Mrs.
Pomeroy's dress wasn't silk lined" an
swered Dick, with chuckle.
"By the way" went on Cheevers.
there's something l found In the over
coat of that little darby that the
Brewsters brought up from the south
with them last winter. Looks as
though Alexander had been holding
out some letters on you"
He passed over thin package of
letters. and Dick gasped. The envel-
opes were grimy and worn, but he
could see that they were some letters
from himself that never had been de-
livered and others from Nella that had
shared the same fate.
He recognized even the letter In
which he had sought to win her for
giveness for all he had said during
their last Quarrel-a quarrel which had
started over some Of her letters which
he now held In his hand for the first
time.
There was bulky one from Nella
that lie opened first, and his heart
glowed as he realized that without
waiting for him to speak Nella had
written her own letter of forgiveness.
II didn't know that there were 90
many old clothes In town." he de-
ciared wonderingly. and one Of the
WWASAu Onc<tro uAtA1 0kAc4fy toWos0
one OF the piles.
'srhis II only the 6rst lot" she said.
'AThese are the mems and boys clothes.
VIII you help set those Strengthened
outi We want them sorted roughly BY
sizes"
Dick followed the example Of the
other men In the room and slipped on
his coat before be attacked the piIe Of
garments.
Here were clothes q AL sizes and
weights. and a he picked up the 6rst
garment one Of the men on the other
side called to him:
Better 60 through all the pockets
nrst. found dollar bill In vest
awhile ago. and Cheevers did better
than that He found two"
I'VE should leave them In the cloth
Ing" suggested Dick. Perhaps the
donors put them there on purpose"
They forgot them" declared the 9TH
er man as he turned to lay a coat on
It's proper heap. and Dick again bent
to his task.
The Pile OF clothing seemed formi-
dable. but with half dozen men work
Ing briskly they had disposed OF the
entire lot before the mounds Of fem
tv.I.<~ 1890 ~-~~-- go --.-4