Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-03-31

shall / do?a
Just moment she hesitated, then.
giving quick look around, she
picked it up and fairly ran down the
street
"Pshaw." said Ned with a frown.
i didn't want her to find it."
I'd like to know why?" asked Will.
Il should think you might like to
put up joke on her. You haven't been
geeing so well lately"
I Geeing-no, they hadn't been gee
ing, as Will put it. Ned knew this
very well. Yet only two weeks ago
he and Dolly had been the best of
comrades. He would have taken
ner part against the whole school If
need be, glad and proud to be her
champion, but something had come
between them. Perhaps neither one
could say just what, and that some.
thing had grown, as such things will.
And now when they met Dolly only
gave her head a little toss and Ned
pressed his lips together tightly. and
not a work would either speak
OF course. it isn't geeing," said
Ned to himself. "but-pshaw," and
added, aloud, tricks are no good.
Let's go home"
Did you call me while ago?" he
asked. going in to his mother.
Yes. Ned, but you did not answer.
so | supposed you had not heard me-"
did, mother, dear, but was in
such a hurry, and | meant to come
back right away"
You always mean to do things.
Ned, but that is not enough. | wanted
to tell you that Uncle John has
gone!"
Uncle John gone. Why, mother, |
thought he meant to stay until Thurs.
day."
HE did, Ned, but telegram
called him away today. He left your
f1ve-dollar gold piece, as usual"
Ned breathed a sigh of relief. That
was safe then. He was afraid Uncle
John had forgotten it in his hurry,
and there We're so many things he had
planned to buy with It. Indeed he felt
he could not live much longer without
the lovely hockey skates he had seen
a few days before.
MAY lave t aow. mother?" he
asked
why, yes, dear; you will find it In
the pocketbook in your top drawer
Uncle John put it there"
Neds heart seemed to stop beat.
ing. but without word he turned
away and went up to his room. He
wouldn't tell his mother yet, he de-
cided. He would go to Dolly first. 1t
would be a little hard but he meant
to be very dignified about it, So quiet.
ly he went downstairs and into the
street. A few blocks from Dollys
house he met Dolly herself.
ooh, Ned" she cried In her old
bright way; then she stopped with a
sudden remembrance of their quar-
rel.
Dolly" he began very stifly
Then he, too, stopped, for Dolly's lips
were quivering and her eyes were full
of tears, and he couldn't stand that
II just can't be angry with you any
longer, Ned" she almost sohbed, as
she came closer to him and put
her hand upon his in the old caressing
way 1--WE been horrd and cross,
know, but I've been so miserable
about mother She has been i'll, you
know, and father has had the worst
luck There has been no money ex-
cept for necessary things, and none
for the extras which the doctor said
would help to make mother strong,
and now | can get them for her be-
cause I've found, Oh, Ned, you could
never guess. At first | thought it
an April fool could only see the pa
per, but away down in the corner was
S. gold piece. Really and truly,
Ned, in an old pocket book. And 1t Is
mine, isn't it, and / can't give 1t back
If l know, can II"
Ned's honest blue eyes fell before
here questioning brown ones. He him
self was thinking of hockey skates
and other things dear to boys
heart, and was struggling hard to an
swer bravely:
mo, you can't, Dolly. 1t Is yours,
Of course. I-think-no. I'm sure the
owner will never try to claim It,"
A little later Ned told his mother
the whole story, and then, because
her good opinion was very precious
to him, he asked:
T did right, did | not, mother
mine?" And with kiss that said
more than words, his mother an
swered:
"You have made mother proud of