The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-02-20

|
heart a hope began to rise that her
dark days would pass, and that he
might find her again and know her bet
ter.
His brief nights sleep was cut short
by a sharp knock at his door the next
morning. He awoke with a confused
idea of being on a sleeping car, and
wondered if he had plenty of time to
dress, but his sisters voics quickly
dispelled the illusion.
"Tryon, aren't you almost ready to
come down to breakfast? Do hurry,
please. I've something awfully impor-
tant to consult you about"
His sisters tone told him there was
need for haste if he would keep in her
good graces, SO he made a hurried
toilet and went down. to find his house
hold in a state of subdued excitement.
I'm just as worried as l can be-"
declared his mother. 81 want to con-
suit you, Tryon. l have put such i'm
plicit confidence in Norah, and ! can
not bear to accuse her unjustly, but
| have missed a number OF little things
lately"
What the matter, mother? Norah
been appropriating property not her
OWN"
on. What would you do about it? 1t
is SO unpleasant to charge a person
with stealing. 1t is such a vulgar thing
to steal. Somehow l thought Nora was
more refined"
why. l suppose there's nothing to
do but Just charge her with 1t, is
there? Are you quite sure it is gone?
What is 1t, any way? A ring, did you
say?"
mo, it's a hat" said Cornelia short
ly. "A ~sixty-dollar hat. I wish I'd
kept 1t now, and then she wouldn't
have dared. 1t had two beautiful will
low ostrich plumes on 1t. but mother
didn't think 1t was becoming. She
wanted some color about II instead Of
all black. left 1t in my room, and
charged Norah to see that the man
got 1t when he called. and now the
man m and says he wants the hat.
and 1t is gone! Norah insists that
when she last saw it, it was In my
room. But Of course that's absurd, for
there was nobody else to take it but
Thompson. and he's been in the family
for so long"
"Cornelia," interrupted Tryon, quite
beside himself. don't think of such a
thing as speaking to that poor girl
about that hat. | know she hasn't
stolen it.. The hat will probably be
found, and then how will you feel?"
But | tell you the hat cannot be
found!" said the exasperated sister
And shall just have to pay for a hal
that can never wear"
Mother, | appeal to YOU" said thu
son earnestly. Don't allow Cornelis
to speak of the hat to the girl.
wouldn't have such an injustice done
In u house. The hat will turn VI
soon If you just go about the matte
calmly. You'll find it quite NATURAL.
!, and Unexpectedly. perhaps. Any way
If you don't, I'll pay for the hat, Path
er than have the girl suspected"
The mother rose reluctantly.
We'll, we might let it 60 anothe
day." she consented. Then, looking
up at the sky, she added: 81 wonder /
1t is going to rain. l have a reciprocit,
meeting On for today, and I'm a dele
gate to some little u~nheard-of place. |
usually does rain when n goes int
the country. I've noticed"
: She went into the hall, and present
| ly returned with a distressed look VI
: on her face.
"Tryon, I'm afraid you're wrong.
she said. Now my raincoat is miss
) ing. My new r%aincoat! l hung 1t II
in the hall closet with my own hands
after it came from the store. | reall
think something ought to be done!"
t "There. I hope you see!" said Col
nelia severely. 81 think it's high tim
something was done. l shall phone TO
a detective at once!"
"Cornelia. you'll do nothing Of tn
r kind" her brother protested, now tho
y oughly aroused. "Ill agree to pay 70
the hat and the ~raincoat If they ar
( not forthcoming before a fortnigt
passes, but you simply shall not rui
that poor girls reputation. I insis
mother, that you put a stop to sue
rash proceedings. I'll make myse
personally responsible for that girl
honesty"
We'll of course. Tryon, if you wis
n It" said his mother, with anxiou
= hesitation.
Il certainly do wish it, mother.
shall take it as personal If anything
done in this matter without consultin
me. Remember. Cornelia, will ne
have any triiing. A girls reputatio
Is certainly worth more than sever;
hats and raincoats. and l know she ha
not taken them"
9 He walked from the dining room an