Charlevoix county herald., 1911-10-21

| mean great deal. III ne ala not see
her. ii was unlikely he would come
looking for her at home-and that
baggage Dora Carter would be sure
| to make much of him.
Joe hadn't no bobbinet, but he
sold me this veil dirt cheap-only SO
Lane said as she flung the veil In
Margaret's lap.
Margaret gave little cry. She was
no more lace-wise than her elder, but
she knew beauty anywhere-the cob
web traceries, the delicate fioriation,
as fine as frost-lace, filled her with
JOY.
You're real good to me. mother"
she said. looking up, dewy-eyed. "But
1t don't seem right to go in debt fo-
anything We can do without. II
don't seem right, either. to cut and
slash this" touching the lace tender
ly. Il wonder how Joe ever came to
buy It, | never saw it In the show
case"
You are the beat of all" Mrs. Lane
said fretfully. Here l been trompin'
bareheaded in the sun to get what you
want. and you amt satisfied"
I'm too satisfied; the veil is too
pretty" Margaret cried. getting up
and enveloping her throat in the fine
fabric
Unquestionably It became her, as
unquestionably, if anything would re-
deem the blue aeolian it was this
f-hf f-I s,,,A 81
TO work. yet in the midst of her
ardors bore conscience. Such cut
ting as was inevitable she managed
so as to leave intact the most beauti'
full Of the flowers.
When she started to the picnic
next morning she was almost happy.
Blue was certainly her color; this
blue matched her eyes. She would
not look down at the taggy rufIled
skirt-rather she held up her head
so the lace at her throat might show
its full beauty. She had put in lace
sleeves, too-the veil was long and
ample And still there remained
lot of It, enough for covering her
frowsy pink hat as soon as she had
time to do it. And just at the gate
she ran uron Jimmy Traynor, coming
to escort her to the picnic grounds
He gave a satisfied whistle at sight
of her and said:
Peggy, | shall have the swagger
est girl of anybody. You look good
enough to eat. but don't you be
afraid"
Il sha'n't be-" Margaret laughed.
Her holiday mood ran unchecked
until dinner time. Jimmy stuck by
her, and, such is the force of exam
pie. three other young fellows who
otherwise would have no more than
nodded to her, had made a great pre-
tense of hanging around the pair.
Miss Aida Venn came to the picnic
in anything but holiday mood. She
had been angry over coming to the
Gores-they were rich and childless,
therefore to be concilated. But they
need not have dragged her out among
their villagers! 1t would have been
so much pleasanter to motor to the
springs twenty miles away. True, the
springs were in prospect for the late
afternoon. But Miss Aida was i'm
perious-it CALLED her dreadfully not
to have her own way at once.
If she had not been in such a tenn
per she might not have gone to ex-
tremities. At sight OF Margaret-in-
nocently fine and vain, in her rose
point-she gave a little gasp and
clutched Mrs. Cores arm. crying:
81 knew it was stolen-my veil!
But you insisted there wasn't thief In
all your precious village"
"Alida, hush!" Mrs. Gore said in an
imperative whisper. But Miss Venn
had darted from her, caught Margaret
by both shoulders and was shaking
her hard as she cried
How dared you ruin It? My veil!
You know you stole it"
Excuse me. ma'am-but you know
that's no such thing" Jimmy Raynor
interrupted. breaking her clutch on
Margaret as he spoke.
Margaret was white as death. She
put her hand to her throat. as though
asking something of the lace. Intu
itively she sensed her stepmother's
piteous subterfuge. II did not steal
your lace-and l am sorry to have
cut It.. she said tremulously. We
found 1t. You can have 1t all
back"
Found Il! A likely story" Miss
Venn began.
Raynor stepped before Margeret
IF you've got any men-folks. I'd
like to talk with them." he said.
Miss Venn shook her head.
Listen. I'll pay for your veil! What
did 1t cost?"
"Only $300-just a cheap thing.
you know" Miss Venn flung at him.
malevolently.
Margaret shuddered, but Jimmy
smiled.
I'll send you a check in the morn
ing-Judge Gore will tell you It's
good" he said. He turned to Marga-
ret. And you, Peggy. can maybe fix
the thing SO it'll do for a wedding
veil"