Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1910-03-17
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writing. she might as well commit the
small additional crime of sending II
to its destination. There was just time
to run to the postofice before she
must start supper. She pinned on her
hat in haste and set forth, the guilty
letter in her hand, a pathetic little
figure, yet one distinctly graceful and
refined, for Denotes mother had been
of good family and Dencie herself
bore the hallmark of gentle birth.
"Dencie! Dencie Sheriff." sweet
voice called her name. She was pass
ing before the largest and most i'm.
posing house in that part OF the town
and over the fretted railing leaned
an elderly woman, smiling down upon
her. Itswas Miss Markham-the Miss
Markham! Surprised. Dencie ran
across the thick sward of the beauti-
full lawn and lifted her face to Miss
Markham's.
my dear" Miss Markham said, Il
see that you are in hurry and won't
detain you, but just wanted to say
to you that am giving little party
tonight to some young people-a
very informal affair with music-and
] want you to come. Will your"
Dencie did not know that Miss
Markham was acting from sudden
strong impulse, created by the sight
of her wistful young face and some
past knowledge of her loneliness and
dutifulness. She knew only that she
had been asked to real party by one
Of the finest and richest women in the
town,-oh, much greater lady than
either Mrs. Ord or Mrs. Claus! The
happy color rushed to her face and
lit it as candle lights a delicate
vase which contains it. She tried to
stammer out her thanks. failed and
came almost to tears. but Miss Mark
ham understood.
Never mind, my DEAR" she said.
only be sure to come and look your
prettiest. At eight. you know. That's
all. Good-by"
Dencie started on in daze of joy.
Then she remembered her letter.
Why, it could wait as well as not.
And tomorrow she would have some
thing true to write. A party at Miss
Markham's! oh, nothing so lovely
had ever happened to her before.
She turned about and hurried home,
and the letter went toward kindling
the fire that was presently merrily
cooking the supper. When her father
came, Dencie told him, and he was
almost as pleased as she was. 1t was
not his fault that she did not have
good times.
While Dencie was DOMINIC the old
Brussels net her father brought up to
her great spray of pink roses, which
Miss Markham had just sent to her
by messenger. This put the finish
ing touch to Denotes joy, and she
went to the party, young radiance
personified. If anybody was surprised
to see her there nobody indicated it
by so much as look; she was treated
with the sweetest consideration, and
when it came time to go home she
left under the escort of a man who
had come for his daughter.
With hair ruffled and eyes shining,
her cheeks afame and her lips smi.
ling. Dencie burst in upon her father,
eager to tell him all about it. But
she fell back when she saw that her
father was not alone. A tall young
man was with him-a very expectant.
eager young man, who had risen and
stood waiting for her welcome.
Hugh" she gasped. when =
how" And then she stopped; her as
constituent and delight at seeing him
were almost too much for her.
Il came just after you left for the
party" he said, getting hold of her
hands and looking at her as if he
could never look enough "Your IA
Their wanted to have you come home,
but l wouldn't let him. My, what a
good time you must have had! Your
eyes are like stars" He squeezed her
hands hard and Dencie suddenly be-
came conscious that her father had
obligingly slipped from the room.
"Oh, / did have a good time, the
first" and then before she knew it
Denotes confession had rushed to her
lips, and within two minutes Hugh
knew the whole story of her letters
and her transgression. When she had
finished he began to smile, and the
smile grew into little laugh of re-
lief.
That's your confession, Dencie,' he
said. Now, listen, while l make
mine. lied, too, and for the same
reason--I wanted to appear we'll in
your eyes. l haven't been going to
any parties or dinners, but my chum
did, and he told me about them. And
/ only went to the theater twice last
winter. I've been saving my money
because-oh, Dencie, we've been a
pair of fools, but I'm glad we've got
down to the truth of things at last
l felt guilty every time l wrote one
of those whoppers to you. but l didn't
want you to think just had to bone
along by myself without ever getting
asked anywhere. And now want to
tell you how / come to be here so I'M
expectedly. I've got that raise and
But come out in the moonlight and
let me tell you all about 1t, dear"
The Old Story.
lwg& L. H.