Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-11-30

On the morning of her birthday Bes-
sic was surprised and much affected
at receiving little box containing a
dainty opal ring from her loving
friend. Mary.
Name was on hand very early Mon
day morning, though she was so merry
GUS that she arranged her curls. made
or real hair, in five different ways be-
fore Bessie arrived, to all appearances.
as healthy and happy as ever, and
Overlooking with gratitude and pleas
ure In her new ring. All the morning
, she struck attitudes which best dis
| played II until Name was aghast.
Had she only added to her rivals
charms? Would nothing happen to
avenge her? She thought with dis
may Of The S4.9S with which she had
intended to buy her new shoes, and
which now lay in the Golfers of r. H.
! Marsh in exchange for her friends
bauble. Really her last years shoes
were so bad. Tears of vexation filed
her eyes.
What else did you get?" she asked
that noon at lunch. She was deter
mined, you see, to keep posted.
We'll, / got the dandiest pair OF
earrings from Jim, and some candy.
and barrette from the other girls,
and Jim took me to see Lost Tho
Won My, 1t was grand" which in
| formation hardened Names heart past
all relenting.
That afternoon she watched wear
lily till she was just about discouraged
when-what was that? A crowd
around the wall counter, loud voices,
Bessie in tears! Name waited in a
fervor Of impotence to get the news.
Now amt that awful?" whispered
the girl next to her. THAT woman's
no lady. She says Bessie gave her
So too little change, and the poor
things got to have it took out of her
salary, We working girls sure do get
it in the neck"
Names heart gave a thrill of tri-
umph. Now would she get a lavender
ahat? Perhaps she would even have
| to wear shoes like her own.
That night she couldn't rest com
| fortably. She kept wondering what
would happen next to Bessie. 1t made
her nervous. Supposing-but at the
memory of Jim's birthday gift she
shut her lips in a straight line, and
! went to sleep.
In the morning she watched rather
| anxiously for Bessie who, rather to
her relief, appeared punctually, with
! fauynIc in hot
form. At noon they lunched together
as usual.
Gee, Name, my head is bursting,
and I've got the awfullest cold"
Fear gripped at Names heart. Was
she to be a murderess?
81 know l can't go out with Jim to-
night Say. Name, don't you like
him? think he is the one best bet"
"Oh. he's nice enough fellow. Our
floor walker looks pretty good to me-"
answered the now desperate Name.
YES, we all know that Him ogling
| you every time he passes. You hadn't
ought to let him Name. Jim says So"
Il don't care what Jim says, and
I'll thank you to mind your own bust
ness" and she f1ounced from the res
| taurant.
The next morning she was delighted
to see Bessie's face swollen. Evident
" an liberated tooth. She had ban
ished mercy from her soul She fiirt-
ed openly with the floor walker; she
wore seven new puffs, and a pair OF
Jet earrings reaching nearly to her
shoulders. which had cost her the
price of her winter underwear. What
cared she? Perhaps Bessie would
think them the gift of some man.
A succession of troubles came TO
Bessie. She lost her purse. tore her
new dress, the cat scratched her face
most disfguringly. More than once
Name had misgivings. so that when
one day her friends failed to appear
she was utterly unable to keep her
mind on her work.
Coal hods? Wall counter. Don't
see where? oh. beg pardon. in the
basement"
DRY goods? Wall counter. lady"
No. we don't keep earrings. What
are those? oh. beg your pardon.
| didn't understand"
Two d>vs. three days passed. bring
ing no Bessie. Night after night
Name tossed from side to side I'M
able TO close her eyes. Had Bessie
lost her job Was Bessie i'll? Was
! Bessie. perhaps-how could she even
say it,-was Bessie perhaps dead?
She dared not ask.
On the fourth day she could bear
It NJ longer. Her fear washed ell
the jealousy from her heart and back
in It's place flowed the love she had
always borne her Bess.
Crying and stumbling she came to
her friends room. afraid to knock.
rfraid not TO At the summons to en-
ter she burst in. and threw herself
weeping on Bessie's neck.
Bessie. oh, Bessie. thank heaven!
You're all right. aren't you. Bess?
You're not dead. you aren't even sick.
If you've lost your job. you can have
all my money till you get new one.
oh Bess. Bess. amt glad and she