The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-09-12
HOW NELLIE REPAIRED A NIs-
TAKE


Let's pretend we don't see her "
Three girls. arm in arm. we're walk
Ing along q vide sidewalk and they
were referring 10 another young girl
coming toward them on the opposite
side OF the street Two OF the three
had spoken. the other remaining ail-
emit
Straight ahead now. don't let her
| think we see her"
And right along the three compan-
ions went. keeping perfect step and
| looking neither 10 right nor left
There, that was very well done.
| IL she will wear such dowdy thiags
she must expect TO be snubbed-"
Eyes. Oh, do we drop you here.
Nellie? Well. goodbye"
| And be sure to come TO the par
ty tomorrow. Nell"
With smiles and friendly words
Jennie Reed and Ella Snow released
the arms of Nellie Field as they came
| opposite the corner where the street
led down TO her home.
| She had not spoken a word in the
conversation relating to the girl they
| r ad passed unnoticed on the opposite
side OF the street, yet she felt just as
guilty az IL she had.
She felt flushed and very uncom-
forable while replying to the chat
ter of the other two girls, and as
they passed on she stole a look in
the direction from which they had
come, hoping to get glimpse OF the
girl they had all sighted SO cruelty
But little Stella Gray in her last
which were certainly out Of style,
though pretty and becoming, had
passed beyond her sight and Nellie
turned, with a sigh, down the home
ward street.
II don't know what l shall do" she
said to herself ~ did not saw a
word about Stella, but I was with
the girls who did, and 1 looked
straight ahead Just as they told me-
and can never, never look Stella
in the face again."
This dismal prospect, as result
of being weakly Influenced by Jen-
ME and Ella, made Nellie very I'm.
happy What would she not have
given to be placed in the same posi-
ton which she had occupied half
hour before when she locked arms
with Jennie and Ella and started
down the walk with them.
When she entered her mothers sit.
| IN hnr f,,11 IF fro,
BILE, and, of course, her mother was
very quick to recognize it, only she
did not know the cause.
She was soon informed, however
NOW, mother, what shall l do?
Stella is the best girl l know, anl
we know why she cannot have new
clothes"
Eyes; it is because her father can.
not afford them, and is too homes
to buy things he cannot afford. You
certainly know just what is your
duty, my dear. Stella is probably
crying her eyes out this minute
grieving over the cruel snub you gave
her"
you mean that I ought to go ant
! see her and apologize, don't you
1 mammal"
i Eyes. Wait moment"
Mrs. Field stepped out into her lit
tile flower garden and when she came
in she brought bouquet of sweet
old-fashioned flowers.
''Take these to Stellas mother
from me, dear. They will help breaf
the ice for you, or smooth the situa
ton"
So without removing her hat Mel
lie turned around and retraced he
steps.
''It Is a rather delicate mission, bu
. think | can trust the child, AM
she must learn that yielding to wron.
influence always brings punishment
of some Sort
!, So the mother, who had been care
full to train her daughters hear
Alright, waited calmly to know the re
, suit of her first trial of her strength
, "The other girls ought to go bacl
with me-" thought Nellie. 81 hav
} half mind to go and ask them, blu
i GUESS "OA NACy SpOl
/ everything, and there has bee1
= enough harm done already. It viii
4 be the last time they ever get m
! into such a scrap; and I'll Sc elf
r can't make them see how much bet
ter mothers way is, sometimes whe
/ have a good chance"
Thinking thus, Nellie soon foun
herself at the door of Stella's home
? 81 want to see Stella, please" sh
, said to the little boy who answere
her knock.
\ He opened door at one side of tn
hall and Nellie went into a plain littl
sitting-room and waited.
Here are some flowers my mothe
4 sent to your mother, Stella,'' sal
= Nellie, as Stella came in the dool
q "And came to ask your forgive