The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-07-16
N|RELLA'S BARGAIN
seIf-DeniaI Cost a Spring Hat,
But Brought Happiness to
Several Persons.
Rx cLARIssA MAcKIE.

tNjrella" Shrllled Aunt keZiah,
avou've got to go down to Bascom' S
and get some tea. I declare. didn't
know we were so nearly out"
Nirella Elwood put aside her sew
ing and, taking her hat, went out into
tbe early June evening. 'I'll stop in
Miss DORIS and look at a hat" she
called back over her shoulder.
"Pick out something that will last
vou two years-you know you've been
saving that money for long while"
earned Aunt Keziah from the front
porch.
Mirella smiled with pleasurable an
dcipation as she went down the quiet
village street 1t had been a long
time since she had had a new sum-
ner hat
BY dint of many economies and the
earning of extra money through the
eve of her clever needle she had saved
enough to buy a. few simple summer
dresses and a new hat. She was think.
ing of the hat as she went down the
street. 1t was to be an ecru Tuscan
trimmed with red roses. Her best
gown of ecru wolfe would look lovely
with that much-dreamed-about hat.
Mireila was very happy as she
burned into Bascom's big grocery
store, where more than one person
nodded greeting and then paused to
look after her with admiring eyes.
Mrella grew prettier every day, they
Thought; she had clear, white skin
with soft, rose coloring, lustrous
hazei eyes, long curling black lashes,
and quantities of waving black hair.
At the back of the store Mirella
found William Bascom in converse
tion with a shabby youth.
"No, no." Mr.. Bascom was saying
barshly. Il can't do it. There don't
nobody in Fernville take no stock in
fddles l wouldn't lend you ten cents
bn it, but l will give you out and out
:"
I'm not asking for charity!" re-
torted the youth hotly. I've told
You that | merely want to borrow
enough money on it to get home to
New York AS soon as / get there
will send it to you and you can
lend the violin down by express
Ind"
q can't do it," said Bascom decis-
: |Fely. I've heard these hard luck
tories before, young man! l won't
tiye you any money, but wouldn't
prn anyone away hungry"
NO, thank you!" declined the
outh iercely, and, jamming his soft
|et hat down on his fair hair, he
icked up bundle wrapped in green
taize and marched out of the store,
bllcwed by many curious chances.
Well Mirelly, what can / do for
Ipu?" asked Mr. Bascom in his most
enial tone.
Mirella made known her want and
PIT the obsequious Bascom wondering
"A her haste to leave the store.
Far down the road moved the hurry
Ag figure of the young man who had
Pen trying to borrow money on his
bin.
Across the street were Miss DORIS
Nillinery parlors. Behind those Not
pgham lace curtains was the straw
p with the red roses that she GOV
led
Mirella banished all thought of the
and the roses and followed after
~ youth and the violin. Before she
Is up with him, he turned aside
Pm the roadway and flung himself
the ground, his face hidden by his
ns. Mirella saw that his clothes
Pc dusty and worn, his shoes in
Fry condition and that the hat which
had tossed aside showed hard
ar
Coming up, she coughed gently to
ract his attention.
Nth slight exclamation the boy
le was scarcely seventeen-jumped
and stared at her out of wet blue
es.
II beg your pardon" he STAN
red. I'm afraid l am obstructing
path" He stood aside to permit
ELLA to pass.
ut She stood still and looked at him
Agely.
followed you" she said quietly.
flushed hotly. You followed
he repeated.
happened to be in the store when
were trying to sell your violin,
I've always wanted to play the
ln-and came to see if you
ldnt sell it TO me-
eager look came into his face.
20 you really mean it?" he gasped.
would mean a lot to me if could
1t for five dollars. The money
ID take me back to New York,
once there-my father" He
FED and turned away his head.
lrella was opening her little green
e. From it she extracted five