The Democratic advocate., 1909-02-26
Charity's
Reward.
BY MURIEL HAYNES.
Copyrighted. 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.

WNNNNNNNVNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNVNA
"Dicky Ames, you're the most pro-
voking"-
"But best brother that ever lived"
concluded Richard Ames. 'fLook 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 If give up the So
ciety of the beautiful Miss Hempsted
for sweet charity / am to pick my own
company.
''The way you fred me at Nella
Brewster's head the night of the
church sociabIe was nothing short Of
indecent. If 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 Harllinson." 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 zoo 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 abject apology
sent her." suggested Dick.
"Did you really send itT demanded
Maude curiously. "She says she never
got it 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 10
that charity which IS It's own reward"
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 But
here was Dick drawing Off just as 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 10 the
church, where a 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 Checvers.
'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 n chuckle.
"By the way" went ON Cheevers,
there's something l found In the over
coat of that little darky 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 enyel-
opes were grimy and worn. but he
could see that they were some letters
from himself that never had been de
llvered 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 he opened first, and his heart
glowed as he realized that without
waiting for him to speak Eella had
written her own letter Of forgiveness
II didn't know that there were SO
many old clothes in town." be de-
clared wonderlngly, and one OF the
workers directed him briskly toward
one Of the piles.
s.ss This is only the first lot" she said.
'sThese are the mems and boys clothes.
Will you help get those Strengthened
outf We want them sorted roughly by
Sizes"
Dick followed the example OF the
r4har man In tho rnara aud o1lnnad oNP
bis coat before he attacked the pile Of
garments.
Here were clothes of all sizes and
weights, and as he picked up the first
garment one Of the men on the other
side called to him:
first. found a 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
ef man as he turned to lay coat OF
its proper heap, and Dick again benz
to his task.
The pile Of clothing seemed formi
dable, but with half dozen men work
ing briskly they had disposed of thu
entire lot before the mounds Of fem
inine wear were half sorted.
1t was clear now. Alexander wal
worse than forgotten. He could no
forget because he never seemed /,
know anything
The letters that were handed him h
failed to deliver and then lied out Of 1
when he was taxed Now Nella wa