The San Francisco call., 1910-01-15
ny FRANCES TAIRCHILD.

IN III ELLA was sitting In an old nick
IVl ory chair on the front porch Of
her aunts cottage. reading and
watching alternately, for she was ex-
pectIng some of her girl friends at any
moment. Even now she could see in
the far off distance a blur of pink and
white against the yellow of the dusty
road. She knew it was her friends,
Cora and Mildred Meek and Jennie
Kamp, coming to go with her hazel
nutting
AS the girls drew nearer Media found
the tears were rolling down her cheeks
and dropping on her book I'm 16
years old and crying because can't do
as l like" she thought "Oh, I just
can't help it; I'm SO disappointed" The
lump in her throat grew smaller and
she didn't feel quite so much like
choking as She did half an hour before.
when her aunt told her she must forego
the pleasure of going today, as she
needed her very much. Any girl of 16
knows just how Media felt as she
watched the girls drawing nearer.
II must come out Of this and stop
being such an overgrown baby" she
thought SO she Strengthened her
pretty figure and tried to wipe all
traces of the tears away. Then she
walked down the path gathering car
the girls. hoping they would not notice
her red eyes. In a few moments they
were at the gate.
Good morning, Media" said Cora
where's your bonnet?" MeGa faced
them as bravely as she could and said:
II can't go, girls
Can't they all cried out at once.
why not?'
We'll, auntie felt she needed me to-
day and ! must stay with her," she
answered cheerfully.
The girls looked at her in amaze
ment, which made her feel rather un-
comfortable. Mildred who had hasty
temper, flashed out, II just cali that
selfish and q shame! Of course she
knew you wanted to go?'
Yes said Media, but don't think
about 1t any more. I'd love to go, you
all know that. Take these carnations
with you in place of myself" and she
tucked few in each of the girls
belts. Now, be off," she said, land
don't gQ>by here tonight without leav-
ing ms some hazelnuts"
AS the girls walked slowly away,
they said, We'll, goodby; it's too bad
you can't 60"
Media watched them until they dis
appeared around the bend in the dis
tance, then sauntered up the path to
the cottage. Going into their humble
living room she found her aunt stand
ing before the mirror that hung be-
tween the windows and just over
small table. Her stopped figure in its
rusty black gown struck Media as look
irg more poverty stricken than ever
before.
Child she said, won't you please
fix my collar straight? I'm not as Skill
full as I used to be. My fingers are
all thumbs" MedaJ with her deft fin
gers, soon fixed the old fashioned lace
just where it should be. I'll put this
pin on, too. as I like it much better
than the gold one"
So Media fixed 1t on for her patting
the collar and pulling each particular
point in place. Then she Strengthened
the stray gray locks over her forehead
and tied on her stiff mohair bonnet
with its rusty lace trimmings that she
had worn for the last 10 years to her
own knowledge. This bonnet was her
aunts dearest pride and she had al
ways kept 1t for best. All the time
Media was waiting upon her aunt her
thoughts were with the girls.
This is such a beautiful day feel