Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-03-12


concluded Richard Ames. "I.ook here
Maude; III 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 If L give up the So
ciety of the beautiful Miss Hempsted
for sweet charity am to pick my own
company.
"The way you fired me at Nella
Brewster's head the night of the
church sociable was nothing short of
indecent. If she doesn't want to speak
to me again, why should you deprive
her OF that satisfaction
Its 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 L passed her skating with
Ben Harkinson," commented Dick
shes game. She would smile II
she had the toothache and - npened to
see you coming" persi IA 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 a letter of abject apology I
sent her." suggested Dick.
did you really send it?" demanded
Maude curiousiy, ''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 I"
Maude paused uncertainty. It was
the first time that Dick had spoken
freely about his quarrel with Nella
Brewster, and she wanted TO sound
the trouble to its greatest depths Rut
here was Dick drawing of just as she
mad seemed about to reach the bottom.
That the trouble had been trivial Mt
the start she knew, and with two ner
sons like her brother and Nella II 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 q rummage sale for the
poor was being prepared,
Old clothes were pouring in 10 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"
Il heard Oracle Chester say that at
last she could be certain that Mrs.
Pomeroy's dress wasn't silk lined" an
swered Dick. with a chuclxle.
by the way" went on Cheevers.
here's something 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 n 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.
lie recognized even the letter ip
which he had sought to win her for
Siveness for all he had said during
heir 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 |
hat he opened first, and his heart |
siowed as he realized that without |
waiting Tor him 20 speak Nella had |
written her own letter of forgiveness.
Il didn't know that there were so |
many old clothes In town." he de- /
Jared wonderingly. and one OF the
workers directed him briskIy toward
me OF the piles.
This is only the first lot" she said.
These are the mems and boys clothes.
Viii you help get those Strengthened
ut! We want them sorted roughly by
ICES"
Dick followed the example of the
Their men in the room and slipped off i
Is coat before he attacked the pile of
Here were clothes Of all sizes and
and as he picked up the first
arment one Of the men on the other
de called TO him:
Better go through all the pockets
rst. L found a dollar bill in a vest
while ago. and Cheevers did better
IAN that. He found two"
we should leave them In the cloth.
lg, suggested Dick. Perhaps thet
onors put them there on purpose"
"They forgot them," declared the 9th
man as he turned TO lay coat OH
proper heap. and Dick again bent
} his task.
The pile OF clothing seemed formi-
able, but with half dozen men work
g briskly they had disposed of the
ltire lot before the mounds OF fem
Inc wear We're half sorted.
IL was clear now. Alexander was
orse than forgotten. He could NOT
rget because he never seemed tn
low anything.
me letters that were handed him he
lieu 10 deliver and then lied out Of Il
hen he was taxed. Now Nella was ,
'sry because Dick had not answered ,
# gracious little note, and he could ,
It blame her when he knew that she
yer had received any of his more re. I
Mt letters. Z
he slipped the package into b,s
cket with word of thanks to Chez.
rs, and then he left the turmoil of
rummage sale to look for Nella. 4
lie met her just leaving her home. n
as he came up the walk she re. 4
rded him curiously. :