Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-26

Philippa REDEEMED. Did you accent
the offer. Ida q she asked stiHy
81 did not. told them that 1t didn.t
belong to me, being only borrowed
from you and Amandy. and IL IL had
been mine I wouldn't have sold 1t be-
cause it had belonged to your Aunt
| Susan"
I'VE gave It to you. Ida You can
sell it If you want to-"
I'm proud to have anything that be.
longed to Susan Fancher," said Ida
Finney. "She was very kind to nv
| folks once, and when I learned the
millinery. trade she loaned me the
money to go into business I paid II
ali back, too, but / amt forgot her
goodness"
Ida Finney arose and moved toward
the door. "Weu. I must hurry home
again. I just thought I'd let you know
about the Offer
"And you won't sell the bed ana
keep the money? We don't care" said
Philippa.
mo; I'd rather not sell It I know
Miss Susan set great store by that bed.
She said it belonged to her great-grand.
mother and IT had history"
Ida went out and closed the door
rather sharply, as was her wont. She
had a way of stirring ones conscience
without actually preaching.
Philippa finished her pickles and
then, changing her dress. went across
the street to see her cousin, Amanda
Dowd.
what Ida Ffnney had told her about
the four post bed which the city peo-
pie valued at $50.
Something Ida said made me feel
ashamed of giving the bed away"
ended Philippa sadly. You see,
was very angry the day Mr.. Weems
read that letter. and so I didn't care
about the bed or my share Of # I've
been thinking that Aunt Susan was
very kind to me. She did lots of nice
things for me when I was girl, and
I ought not to have calculated on her
leaving me any money"
Amanda Dowd nodded her head. Il
feel the same way, Philippa. Aunt
Susan helped my brother Jim to study
for the ministry, and / guess I'll get
my half of the bed back from Ida
Finney. I'll give her $5 toward an
other one"
$50 will l." said Philippa, who could
Ill afford it.
A week later Amanda Dowd and
Philippa Fancher went over to see Ida
Finney.
After an hour of lively persuasion
the Independent Miss Finney reluctant
ly consented to accept $40 for the bed,
which the remorseful owners had Civ
en- her some time before.
81 feel as mean as getout," said Ida
as she placed the money in her worn
pocketbook and led the way upstairs.
"As a punishment for my meanness
shall carry my half home piecemeal,"
said Philippa firmly as they proceed
I'd to dismantle the ancient bed of its
spotleSs coverings.
And I shall do the same" said
Amanda, her broad face grave with
regret. Now. Phil. do you know how
o uncord the thingT
Philippe worked with def fingers.
md presently the bed was apart and
divided according to the last will and
testament OF Susan Fancher.
Philippa lifted one heavy post at
ooks as if it could be unscrewed here.
lee where the joining is quite plain.
t will be easier to carry II it does
ONE apart" She twisted the end OF
be post, and 1t moved easily around
nd around until she lifted the carved
op and disclosed a deep, cuplike hol-
wv. The hollow was filed with white
issue paper, which, pulled out and I'M
olded, revealed a packet of money
IN 500 bills.
In dazed silence her companions
'atched Philippa while she unscrewed
ne top OF her second bedpost and
ound a similar sum of money.
Then 1t was Amanda Dowd's turn.
nd she, too, was remembered in the
ime manner by eccentric, kind heart
Aunt Susan.
Little Ida Finney watched them in
,arful delight as they made these as
'unding discoveries, but Ida was to
AXE a discovery on her own account
Ida Finney," said Amanda after
Tort consultation with Philippa. Phi
ppa and I would never have found
lis money If it hadn't been for you.
on made US ashamed OF ourselves.
Id, Ida, you've got to take this. II
III won't do it gracefully I'll have 1t
1t to your credit in the Little River
INK" She extended a packet OF bills
ward the little milliner.
II don't dare decline 1t because need
so badly" half sobbed Ida.
Take itr' ordered Philippa and
mandn, and Ida Finney took the
Icket and cried over it like a baby.
r it contained ten 500 bills.
As for the cousins, they bore the Sec
ms OF the four poster home, and 1t Is
credit to them both that each one
rs thinking more OF the past kind
sses OF Aunt Susan and of the mys-
rious workings OF Providence, which
rough their own awakened con-
ences had brought them TO degree
prosperity.