The Huttig news., 1910-01-29
THE QUEENS
 FACE
By F. J. CROSS.


 itl" Mildred stood speechless, wild, eyed, fearful, her cheeks changing from deadly pallor to flaming red, looking miserably into her mothers face.
 But" thundered her father, the case is clear against her-clear as daylight. Listen" continued Mir Lis. ter, addressing his wife. Last week Mrs. Wallace put new half sovereign in box which stood on the mantel piece in her bedroom Mildred was in the room and saw her put it there On Monday morning, when Mildred was dusting the room, Mrs. Wallace happened to be passing along the passage and saw her pick up the hali sovereign off the floor. She thought nothing of it at the time, believing il had dropped accidentally. On the same day Mildred buys a pair of shoes and straw hat for herself You ask her how she has got the money. She prevaricates, tells you she has had g secret store, and you are content to believe her and think her the best o daughters. We'll, this morning Mrs Wallace goes to the box for the hal sovereign and it is not there She makes inquiries, but no one has seen it. Then she asks Mildred, who de clares she has not taken it. but looks guilty After that Mrs. Wallace sends for me, and tells me the whole story, saying she is most unwilling to sus h,,f cl,a Ellen, the parlor maid, that Mildred changed half sovereign at Mrs. Fuckers on Monday evening"
 That is quite true,' said Mildred, white to the lips.
 Mrs. Lister had listened, pale-faceo and sorrowful, while her husband was speaking. She could not believe it, and yet the case seemed so clear, and Mildred had all the appearance of be, ing guilty. She was utterly bewildered and dumfounded.
 'Tell me all. Milly," said her mother brokenly.
 Mother, can't" said the girl; "at least, not just now. It seems impos sible, only I didn't take it. Do you believe me?"
 And a light came into her mothers face, and though her eyes swam with tears yet there was full confidence in her voice as she said q believe you child, and l know that this heavr cloud will pass
 Mildred, with swollen eyes and heavy heart, wandered aimlessly down the lane
 The first house on the village green was the general store kept by Mrs Tucker, whose little son, Billy. crip pie since his birth, was Mildred's firm friend and companion.
 The little humpbacked boy was sit ting by his mothers door, busy as usual at his basket making. His face frightened as she approached.
 "Oh, Mildred, I'm so very glad you've come," he exclaimed; I've been wanting to see you ever so" and he held up his face to be kissed
 Presently Billy said: Things al. they, Mildred?"
 q suppose so" said Mildred in a dull lifeless voice.
 You told me they did only last week." said the cripple in a voice tinged with reproach, when I was saying couldn't quite understand why I was born a cripple"
 Mildred repressed sob. It was quite true that last week, when Billy had been downhearted, she had told him God loved him like all His chil dren, and one day all would come right and Billy would understand.
 And now she had forgotten her faith and abandoned hope in the first hour. Shame on her!
 The hand there Mildred lifted up her heart and asked that God would clear her, for she saw no means of clearing herself. Then she said Yes, Billy, I believe that all will come right"
 "Tell me about it, Mildred. You can trust me, can't you?"
 "Oh, yes, Billy, and I can trust mother and father; but how can I ex pect them to believe it in the face of the evidence against me, which seems so ciear?"
 Well, tell me, all the same" said the boy; "and if you wish 1 won't say a word"
 .I will tell you how I got my half sovereign first of all,' said Mildred. When I was staying with granny years ago, she said I was to try and read the first chapter of St. John s Gospel by the time I was five years old. I stayed with her nearly whole year at that time, and the day 1 was five years old I went to her and read it to her. I was very proud, Billy, for though I stumbled a good deal 1 man. aged to get through it so well that she praised me- and later in the day granny gave me new half sovereign which she said l was to keep and some day put in the bank. I had a little purse given me. too, a workbox with a secret drawer, and other pres. ents. So I put the half sovereign in the purse and put the purse in the