The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1909-02-18

-nI-h'A LWOuIu Ue Dc1OI
you'd discover that retorted Miss Viz
ginia. Her conscience was troubling
her, but she would not yield. She toss
ed a key to her sister and then put
the drawer back.
"'Tain't In my drawer either" said
Mrs. Perkins. II guess it must be in
that bag You'd better hurry, Miss Ad-
elaide. She'll be home pretty soon."
Miss Adelaide pulled the bag out and
fitted the key. The four old ladies:
peered eagerly down at her. Suddenly
she drew her hand back again.
81 can't she said. Zone Of YOU
must do it,
Mrs. Perkins stopped down and pull
ed open the bag, which seemed full Of
bits of silk and ribbon.
"Where'd she get so many" she
asked. at looks as if we're on the:
track now, don't it? And see here!'
She pulled from under the rags
three little packages carefully tied up
in bright colored bits of tissue paper
She distributed them rapidly, passing
one to Miss Adelaide, who made mo-
effort to take it, but let it roll under
the bed. Mrs. Perkins diwed after it;
and came up flushed just as Mrs. Slo--
cum gave an exclamation of dismay.
whats the matter?' asked Mrs.
Perkins impatiently. Mrs Slocum laid,
something on the bed The others;
crowded round; only Miss Adelaide
never moved. They saw red pin
cushion in the shape of rude heart,
and on it in crooked letters the pins,
| formed the words, Deer Mis- Adlade.
! Merry Chrismus"
The silence made Miss Adelaide turn,
| and she caught up the ugly cushion!
with little cry.
That's what it tmeantr she cried.
That's her 'meectdn' ways! She was;
making us Christmas presents-us;
who'd never dome thing for her. not,
thing to make her lonely life less;
| lonely, not a thing tosmake Christmas:
happy time fer her, and she feed
ing her poor starved life ON the scraps;
OF Kindness: We fiung.herv'
A tear rolled down and splashed Out
the red cushion. MissiVirginia snatch
ed the cushion away.
"Therer' she cried. make things:
better by spotting thH!'
Miss Adelaide left the,room, and her.
sister did not oppose her. The rest
worked in silence until every thing was.
IN order. Then they fled silently out
and shutsthe. door.
That night Miss Adelaide had q sirk
headache. Scraps came up at supper.
time to bring her some toast. Her.
thin little facey looked sharply through
the glooms OFT the room.
'.Here'ss ydm toast" she said. Its:
dark ing he ire. Shan't 1 get Fou g.
light?"
No. +nof' answered Miss Adelaide
quickly. 1T seemed to her she. could.
not meet the child's eyes. Scrapssstood
moanent, full Of sympathy.
I'm yserry you're sick, Miss Ade--
lafdae. fshe said awkwardly. Il guess
you'll feel better in the morning, WON'T
your
Yes" answered Miss Ade1aide, bury
ing sher'facesin the'pillow. run down
stars and kget your supper. Scraps. It
will Fbesallj cold"
scraps 6beyed, assshe always did, and
MISS Adelaide heard her shuffiing down
the stairs lnaher loose old shoes. When
MISS Virginia came liz she found her
sister sitting up in bed, with a flushed,
excited face.
Virginia." she cried, "how much
money have Il in my purseY'
Ihuee dollars and five cents" an
sWered Miss Virginia.
1Fs mrgoing to get Scraps a pair Of
shoes foT Chrisamasr' Miss Adelaide
Was' frightened when she had said it,
IorT 1t was understood between them
tnat Miss Virginia should say what