The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1916-03-24
BEDTIME STORIES
FOR LITTLE
FOLKS
ADA's MISTAKE.

Ada stood in the farmhouse door and
watched the big carry-all creaking up
the stony, mountain road. Then she
remembered that she had to set the
table for tea and ran into the dining.
room.
When the vehicle stopped in front
of the door an elderly lacy dressed in
black climbed down and was followed
| by a child about Adas age. The little
girl was fashionably dressed in white
with white shoes and stockings, her
big hat sat jauntily on the side of her
golden curls and from her gloved
hands dangled a silver purse.
Il guess the new boarders are awful
rich" said Ada to herself as she peer
ed at them from behind the curtain.
They wanted to come on top of the
mountain for quiet-well, they'll get it
here Nothing about in these woods,
but rabbits and crows
At tea Ada waited on the table
while her aunt cooked a big supper of
waffles, old ham, biscuit and other
deiicacies. She noticed that the little
girl, whose name was Pauline, did not
eat much and that she was pale, as if
from illness. After tea Ada was busy
washing the dishes, so Pauline was
left alone
81 don't think she wants to play
with me, anyway" thought Ada, as
she enviously looked at the new child s
rich clothing.
So Ada began to be envious and
imagined Pauline was stuck up. The
result was that each girl kept to her
self
Now Ada lived with her aunt, a
widow, whose sole support was this
rocky mountain farm. BY good luck
she had heard that Mrs. Beverly and
her niece. Pauline. wished to come to
the mountain for the summer, and she
was glad to get them to make a bit
of extra money. Ada had no cause
of complaint, for her aunt was kind,
but, being poor. could not afford to
give her much pleasure Yet when
Pauline came Ada began to grumble.
One day Mrs. Beverly was called
back Unexpectedly to the city and left
Pauline in Aunt Mary's charge. The
result was that Aunt Mary got up a
basket of lunch and told the two girls
to have a picnic over by the old mill.
But a pair of gloomy faces it was that
walked sadly along, having nothing to
say.
"She's too proud to talk" said Ada
to herseIf-she did not see the tears
of loneliness in Pauline's eyes. At the
mill they ate their lunch in silence.
Then Ada thought of wicked scheme.
Il will brighten her good" she said
to herself. "And let her see l can do
things she can't" Out over the mill
race ran thin plank. Ada walked
out on it carelessly
Come over here, Pauline" she
called. There is some lovely wild
viOlets here by this rock" Pauline
was frightened but did not like to re-
fuse to go. Her pale face grew whittier
as she stepped on the plank and felt
it shake Trembling, she took a few
steps, then stopped.
II am afraid" she whispered in
low voice. Ada felt proud of her own
daring. She was glad she had put the
girl in a humiliating position But
just then the plank gave way and
Pauline was thrown into the water.
Over the great wheel she tumbled and
was swept down into the swift cur
rent.
Save me. save me-" she cal;od Wild
~ as her white face appeared above
the water. Ada was plralyLed with ,
horror What had she done with her
wicked envy?
81 will save her if it coses my own |
If she whispered % nersalr as sle |
raced along the papi of the stream. |
Pauline had disappeared beneath The
water. Ada thought with agony that
the girl might never appear again. A
lew yards, in front of her grapevine
hung over the mill race and some of
is branches swung loose. Ada grabbed
I and just then saw Paulines death
ike face appear on the surface. Hold
ng to the vine by one arm. she swung
outward and seized the drowning girl
~ one arm.
Hold tight and | will save you" .
hammered Ada Then in loud voice /
he screamed for help In a few mo- 6
nents the miller came running toward /
he girls. By the time lie reached the I
ank Ada was almost exhausted, but t
e was strong man and managed to c
ct them both safely to the shore /
nd in an hour Pauline was feeling |
LrOng enough to ride home in a buggy + S
sxl