10
TIIE SCRANTON TBIBUNB-SATUKDAT MOKNING, MARCH 16, 1895.
Comfort. Pease
And Her Gold Ring.
By MARY E. W1LK1NS.
These short serial stories are copyrighted by Bacheller, Johnson & Bach,
eller.and are printed InTheTribuno by special arrangement, simultaneous with
their appearance la the leading dully Journals ot the lurge oltlca).
CHAPTER IV.
Comfort felt again and again, with
trembling fingers. She could not be
lieve that the ring was gone, but Khe
certulnly could nut feel it. She vua
quite pule and shook us If nlie had a
. chill. She was too frightened ,to cry.
Hud she lost Aunt Comfort's.rlng? the
real gold ring she had given her fur her
name? She looked at the ln which
Miss Tabitha had iiuilted Into the top
of her pocket, but she dared not take It
out. Suppose .Miss Tabitha should ask
If Bhe had, and she had to tell her
and bo whipped! That would be ul
jnost worse than losing the ring.
Comfort had never been whipped In
her ltfe, and her blood ran cold ut the
thought of It.
She kept feeling wildly of the pocket.
There was a little roll of writing paper
In It, some leaves of an old account
book which her mother had given her to
write on. All the hope she hud was
that the ring had slipped Inside that,
and that was the reason why she could
not feel it. She longed so to take out
that pin and make sure, but she had to
wait tor that until she got home at
night.
Comfort began to search all over the
schoolroom lloor, but all she found
were wads of paper and apple cores,
slate-pencils" stumps, and pins. Then
she went out in the yard and looked
carefully, then she went down the road
to the old Loomls place, where she and
Matilda had walked at recess. Miss
Tabitha Hanks went home that way,
but no sign of the ring could she tlnd.
The road was as smooth as a white lloor
too. for the snow was old, and well
trodden.
Comfort Pease went back to the
schoolhouse, and opened her dinner
pail. She looked miserably at the pan
sakes. the bread ami butter, and the
apple pie and cheese, and tried to cut
but she could not. She put the cover
on the pail, leaned her head on the desk
in front, and sat quite still until the
scholars began to return. Then she
lifted her head, got out her spelling
book and tried to study. Miss Tabitha
came back early, so nobody dared tease
her. and the cold was so bitter, and the
sky so overcast, that they were not
obliged to go out at recess. Comfort
studied and recited, and never a smile
came on her pale, sober, little face.
Matilda whispered to know if she were
sick, but Comfort only shook" her head.
Sometimes Comfort saw Miss Tabitha
watching her with an odd expression,
and she wondered forlornly what it
meant. She did not dream of going to
Miss Tabitha with her trouble. She
felt quite sure she would get no sym
pathy in that quarter.
All the solace Comfort had was that
one little forlorn hope that the ring
might be in that roll of paper, and she
should find it when she gut home.
It seemed to her that school never
would be done. She thought wildly
of asking Miss Tabitha If she could not
go home, because she had the tooth
ache. Indeed, her-tooth did begin to
ache, and her head, too, but she wait
ed and sped home like a rabbit when
shj was let out at last. She did not
wait even to say a word to Matilda.
Comfort, when she got home, went
rii?ht through the sitting-room and up
stairs to her own chamber. "Where
are you going. Comfort?" her mother
called after her. "What ails the child?"
said Grandmother Atkins.
"I'm coming right back," Comfort
panted as she fled.
""he minute she was In her own little
cold chamber she took the pin from her
pocket, drew forth the roll of pnper
and smoother it out the ring was not
there. Then she turned the pocket
and examlntd 1.. There was a little
rip In the Learn.
"Comfort, Comfort," called her
mother from the foot of the stairs.
'You'll yet your death cf cold up
there," chimed In her grandmother
from thft room btjond.
I'm coming," Comfort Ka:i,'-d In re
ply. She turned the pocket back .and
went downstairs.
It was odd that, although, Comfort
looked so disturbed, neither her mother
nor grandmother asked her what was
the matter. They looked at her, tlvn
exchanged a meaning look with each
other. And all her mother said was to
bid her go and sit down by the fire and
toast her feet. She also mixed a bowl
of hot ginger tea, plentifully sweetened
with molasses, and bade her drink thnt
So she could not catch cold, and yet
there was something strange In her
manner all the time. She made no re
mark, either, when she opened Com
fort's dinner pall and saw how little
had been eaten. She merely showed It
silently to Grandmother Atkins behind
Comfort's back, and they nodded to
each other with solemn meaning.
However, Airs. Pease made the cream
toast that Comfort loved for supper,
and obliged her to cat a whole plate of
It.
"I can't have her get sick," Bh said
to Grandmother Atkins, after Comfort
had gone to bed that night.
"She ain't got enough constitution,
poor child," assented Grandmother At
kins. Mrs. Pease opened thG floor and list
ened. "I believe she's crying now,"
said she. "I guess I'll go up there."
"I would If I was you," said Orand
xnother Atkins.
Comfort's sobs sounded louder and
louder all tho way, as her mother went
upstairs.
"What's tho mnttcr, child?" She
asked when she opened the door, and
there was still something strange In her
tone. "While there was concern, there
was certainly no surprise.
"My tooth aches dreadfully," sobbed
Comfort.
"You had better have some cotton
wool and paregoric on It, then," said
her mother. Then she went downstairs
for cotton wool and paregoric, and she
ministered to Comfort's aching tooth,
but no cotton wool nor paregoric was
there for Comfort's aching heart.
She sobbed so .bitterly that her
mother looked alarmed. "Comfort, look
here, Is there anything else the: mat
ter?" she asked, suddenly, and she put
her hand on Comfort's shoulder. '
"My tooth aches dreadfully, Oh!"
Comfort walled.
"If your tooth aches so bad as all
that, you'd better gp to Dr. Kutchlns In
the morning and have It out," said her
mother. "Now, you'd, better lie still,
and try to go to sleep, or you'll be sick."
Comfort's sobs followed her mother
all the way downstairs. "Don't you
cry so another minute or you'll get so
nervous you'll be sick," Mrs.. Pease
railed back, but she sat down and cried
awhile herself after she returned to the
sitting room.
Pour Comfort stilled her Sobs under
the patchwork quilts, but she could nut
stup crying fur a lung lime, and she
slept very little that night. When she
did she dreamed that she had found the
ring, but hail to wear It around her
aching tooth for punishment, and the
tooth was growing larger und larger,
uud the ring painfully tighter und
tighter.
She looked so wan and HI next morn
lug, that her mother told her site need
not go to school: but Comfort begged
nurd to go and saiil she did not feel
sick, her tooth wns better.
"Well, mind you get .Miss Hanks to
excuse you and come home If your tooth
aches again," said the mut her.
"Yes, niu'am," replied I'oml'ort.
"When tiie door shut behind Cumofrt,
her Grandmother Atkins looked ut her
mother. "Km'ly," said she, . "I don't
bellve you can carry it out, she'll be
sick."
"I'm dreadfully afraid she will," re
turned Comfort's mother.
"You'll have to tell her."
Mrs. Pease turned on Grandmother
Atkins, and New Kngland motherhood
was strong in her face. "Mother," said
she, "1 don't want Comfort to be sick,
and she shan't be. If 1 can help It, but
I've got a duty to her that's beyond
looking out for her health. She's got a
lesson to learn that's more important
than any she's got in school, and I'm
afraid she won't learn it at nil, unless
she learns It by the hardest wuy. and It
won t do for me to help her."
"Well. I suppose you're right. Km'ly,"
said Grandmother Atkins, "but I de
clare I'm dreadful sorry for the child."
"You ain't any sorrier than I am,"
said Comfort's mother, and she wiped
her eyes now and then, us she cleared
away the breakfast dishes.
As for Comfort, she went on her way
to school, looking us industriously and
anxiously at the ground as If she were a
little robin seeking for her daily food.
I'nder tho snowy blackberry vines
. .. ... "l .-v.";
Hut There Wus Xo Glcura of Gold
peered
and In
seeking.
Comfort, under frozen twigs,
the blue hollows ut the snow,
as it were, in the little secret
places ut nature for her own little
secret of childish vanity and dis
obedience. It made no difference to
her that It was not reasonable to look
on that part uf the road, since she could
not have lost the ring there. She had
a desperate hope, which was not af
fected by reason at nil, and she deter
mined to look everywhere.
It was very cold still, and when she
came In sight of the school house, not
a scholar was to be seen. Either they
had not arrived or were huddling over
the red-hot stove Inside.
Comfort trudged past the school
house and went down the road to the
old I.oomls place. She searched again
every Inch of the road, but there was
no gleam of gold In Its white-frozen sur
face. There was the cold sparkle of
th' frost crystals, and that was all.
Comfort went back. At the turn of
that ro.ld she saw Matilda Stebblns
coming down the other. The pink tip
uf .Matilda's nose and her winking
black eyes Just appeared above her
red tippet.
"Hullo:" she sung out, In a muffled
Voice.
"Hullo!" responded Cumfort, faintly.
Matilda looked at her curiously when
she came up. "What's the matter?"
said she.
"Nothing." rwplied Comfort.
"I thought you acted funny. What
have you been up that road fur?"
Comfort walked along beside Matilda
In Silence.
"What have you been up that road
for?" repeated Matilda.
"Won't you ever tell?" said Com
fort. "Nu, I won't. Honest nnd true, 1 slack
and Mine, Lay me down and cut me In
two."
"Well. I've lost It."
Matilda knew at once what Comfort
mennt. "You ain't," she cried, stopping
short and opening wide eyes uf dls
msy nt Comfort over the red tippet.
"Yes, I have."
"Where'd yim luse It?"
"I felt uf rny pocket after I gut back
to school yesterday, lifter we'd been up
to the old Loom Is house, und I couldn't
II ml the ring."
".My!" said Matilda.
Cumfiirt gve n stilled Sub.
Matilda turned short around with a
Jerk. "Let's go up that road and hunt
again," said she, "there's plenty of time
before the bell rings. Come along,
Comfort Pease."
So the two little) girls went Up the
road, and hunted, but they did not find
tho ring. "Nobody would have picked
It up and kept It, everybody round here
Is honest," said Mutllda. "It's dread
fully funny.
Comfort wept .painfully .under the
folds of her mother's green shuwl, ns
they went buck.
'Did your mother scold you?" nsked
Matilda. There wus something very In
nocent and sympathizing and honest
about Matilda's black eyes as she asked
the question.
"No," faltered Comfort. She did not
dure to tell Matilda thnt her mllher
knew nothing ut all about It.
Mutllda, ns they went along, put nn
arm around Comfort, under her shawl.
"Don't cry, It's too bad," said she. Hut
Comfort wept harder.
"Look here," suld Matilda. "Comfort,
your mother wouldn't lot you buy an
other ring with that gold dollar, would
shnV"
"That gold dollar's to kep," sobbed
Comfort, "It ain't to spend." And In
deed shq felt as If spending that gold
dollar would be almost as bad as losing
tho ring; the bare Idea of It horrified
her. '
"Well, I didn't s'pose It wns,"J said
Matilda, abashedly. "I just happened
to think' of It." Suddenly she gave
Comfort a llttlo poke with her red-mlt-tened
hand. "Don't you cry another
minute, Comfort Pease," she cried, "I'll
tell you what I'll do. I'll ask my Uncle
Jared to give me a gold dollar, and
then I'll give It to you to buy a gold
ring." . ..
"I don't believe ha . will," sobbed
Comfort. ... . , ,
"Yes, he will. He always gives me
everything I ask him for. Ho thinks
mure of me than he does of Itosy and
Imogen, you know, because he was
going to get married once, when he was
young, und she died, and I look like
her.
"Were you named after her?" In
quired Comfort.
"Nil, her name was Ann Maria, but I
look like her. Uncle Jared will give
me a gold dollar uud I'll ask him to
take us to Ilolton In his sleigh Satur
day afternoon, uud then you can buy
another ring. Don't you cry unolher
mile. Comfort Peuse."
And poor Cumfort tried to keep tho
tours back, us the bell begun to ling,
and she und Matilda hastened to the
schoulhuuse.
Matilda put up her hand und whis
pered to her In school-time: "You
come over to my house Saturday after
noon, und I'll get L'ncle Jared to take
us," she whispered, and Comfort nod
ded soberly. Comfort tried to learn
her ulitlinietie-lessun, but she could not
remember tho seven multiplication
table, and said In the class that live
times seven were llfty-scven, and went
to the foot. She cried ut that, and felt
a curious satisfaction In having some
thing to cry for besides the loss of the
ring.
Cumfort did not look nny more for the
ring, that day nor the next. The next
day was Friday, and Matilda met her
ut school in the morning with an ulr of
triumph. She plunged her hand deep
In her pocket, and drew It out closed in
n tight, pink list. "Guess what I've
got In here, Cumfort Pease," said she.
She unclosed her lingers u little ut a
time, until a gold dollar was visible
in the hollow uf her pulm. "There,
what did 1 tell you?" she suld; "und he
says he'll take us to Ilolton, If he don't
have to go to Ware to see about buying
a horse. You come over tomorrow,
right after dinner."
The next morning ufter breakfast
Comfort asked her mother if she might
go over to Matilda's that afternoon.
"Do you feel lit to go?" her mother
said, with u keen look ut her. Comfort
CVr -sJLi'.W lL,i- . f
j if
. ' w, ;r.t
on Its White, Frozen Surface.
was pale and sober und did not have
much appetite. It had struck her sev
eral times that her mother's and also
her grandmother's manner toward hot
was a little odd, but she did not try to
understand It,
"Yes, ma'am," said Comfort.
"What are you going to do over
there?"
Comfort hesitated, a pink flush came
on her face and neck, her mother's eyes"
upon her were sharper than ever.
"Matilda said maybe her Uncle Jared
would take us a slelgh-iide to Uolton,"
she faltered.
"Well," said her mother, "If you're
going a slelgh-rlde, you'd better take
some yarn stockings and pull on over
your shoes', and wear my fur tippet.
It's must tuo cold to go sleigh-riding,
anyway."
Directly after dinner Comfort went
over to Matilda Stebblns', with her
mother's stone marten tippet around
her neck, and the blue yarn stockings,
to wear In the sleigh, under her arm.
Hut when she. got to the Stebblns'
house, Matilda met her at the door
with a crestfallen air. "Only think,"
suld her, "ain't it too bad? Uncle
Jured's had to go to Ware to buy the
horse, and we cun't go to Uolton."
Comfort looked ut her plteously.
"Guess I'd better go home," said she.
Hut Matilda was gazing ut her doubt
fully. "Luuk here," said she.
"What," suld Comfurt.
"It ain't more'n three miles to Ilol
ton. Mother's walked there und so has
Imogen"
"Do you s'puse we could?"
"I don't believe It would hurt us. ono
mite say, I tell you what we can do
I'll take my sled nnd I'll drug you u
spell, and then you cun drag me, and
that will rest both of us, anyhow,"
"So It will," said Comfort.
CHAPTKK Xi
Hut Matilda looked doubtful again.
"There's only one thing,", she said.
".Mother ain't ut hutne. She and Hosy
went over to grandma's to spend the
day this morning und I cun't usk her.
I don't see how ( cun go without ask
ing her Vxuctly."
Comfort thought mlAerubly: "What
would Muitlldu, iStebblns say If she
knew I took that ring, when my mother
told me not to?"
"Well," suld Mutllda, brightening,
"I don't know but It will do Just as
well If I ask Imogen. Mother told me
once that If there was anything very
Important come up when she was away
that I could ask Imugen."
Imogen was Matilda's oldest sister.
She was almost eighteen und she wus
going to a party that night, and wns
hurrying to finish a beautiful crimson
thlbet dress to wear. . , ,
"Now, don't you tulle to me and hin
der me one moment, I've everything
I can do to finish this dress to wenr to
the party," she Bald whim Matilda und
Comfort went Into the sUllng-roum.
"Cun't I go Jo Uolton with Comfort
Peuse, Imogen?" asked Mutllda.
"I thought you were going with
Uncle Jared. Didn't mother say you
might? Now, don't talk to me, Ma
tilda." "Uncle Jared's got to go to Ware to
buy the horse, and he can't take us."
"Oh, I forgot. Well, how can you go,
then? You nnd Comfort had better sit
down nnd pluy -checkers, and be con
tented." "We could walk," ventured Matlldu.
"Walk to ltnlton! You couldn't."
"It's only three miles, and we'd drag
each other on my sled."
Imogen frowned over a wrong pucker
In the crimson thlbet, and did not ap
preciate the absurdity ' of the . last.
"I do wish you wouldn't bother me,
Matilda," said she. "If I don't get this
dress done I can't go to the party to
night. I don't know what mother
would say to your going to Bolton any
such way,"-
mm
-1
"It wouldn't hurt us one mite. Do
let us go, Imogen."
"Well, I'll tell you what you can do,"
said Imogen. "You can wulk over
there; I guess It won't hurt you to
walk one way, and then you can rldu
over about halt past 4. I'll give you
some money."
"Oh! that's beautiful. Thank you,
Imogen," cried Matilda, gratefully.
"Well, run along, und don't suy on
other word to me," said Imogen, scowl
ing over the crimson thlbet; "wrap up
warm."
When they started Matilda Insisted
upon dragging Comfort first In the
sled. "I'll drag you as far as Dr.
Hutehlns," said she; "then you get off
and drag me as fur as the meeting
house. 1 guess Hint's about even."
It was arduous, and it Is probable the
little girls were much longer reaching
Uolton than they would have been had
they traveled on their two sets of feet
all the wuy, but they persuaded them
selves otherwise.
"We can't be u mite tired," punted
Matilda, ns she tugged Comfort over
tile last stretch; "fur we euch of us lode
half the. way, und a mile und a half
ain't anything. Yuu walk that uvery
day to schoul and back."
"Yes, 1 do," assented Comfurt. She
could not believe that she was tired,
either, although every muscle in her
body uched.
Uolton was a large town, and the peo
ple from ull the neighboring villages
went there to do their trading and shop
ping. There was a wide main street,
with stores on each side, und that day
It was full of sleighs und pungs und
wood sleds, and there were so many
people that Comfort felt frightened.
She hud never been to llultoi without
her futher or mother. "Just look ut
ull the folks!" suld she, and she hud all
uncumfurtuble feeling thut they all
stared ut her suspcluusly, although she
did not see how they could know
about the ring. But Matilda was
bolder. "It's such a pleasant day
they're all out trading," said she.
"Guess It 11 storm tomorrow. Now we
wunt to go to Gerrlsh's. I went there
once with mother und Imogen to buy a
silver spoon for Cousin Hannah Green,
when she got married."
Comfort, trailing the sled behind her,
started timidly after Matilda.
Gerrlsh's was a small store, but there
was a large window full of watches,
and chains, und clocks, und a man with
spectacles- Bat behind it, mending
watches.
The two little girls went In and stood
at the counter, and a thin man with
gray whiskers, who was Mr. Gerrlsh
himself, came forward to wait upon
them. Matilda nudgi.d Comfort. "You
ask him, it's your ring." she whispered.
Hut Comfort shook her head. She
was almost ready to cry. "You'd
ought to when I'm giving you the dol
lar." whispered Matlldu, with another
hudgc. Mr. Gerrlsh stood waiting and
he frowned a little; he was a nervous
man. "Ask him," whispered Matilda,
fiercely.
Suddenly Comfort Pease turned her
self about and ran out of Gerrlsh's
with a great wall of inarticulate words
about nut wanting any ring. The door
banged violently after her. Matilda
Stebblns looked after her In a be
wildered way, then she looked up at
Mr. Gerrlsh, who was frowning harder.
"If you girls don't want anything,
you'd better stay, out of doors with your
ok.,1 cniii ho. And Matilda trembled
and' gathered up the sled rope, and the
door banged after her. 'inert iir. oer--lui.
uni.i Hiimethinir to the man mend
ing watches In the window, and went
back to his desk in the rear of tne store.
Matilda could Just see Comfort run
ning down the street toward home, and
she ran after her. She could run faster
than Comfort. As she got nearer she
could see people turning and looking
curiously after Comfort, and when she
came up to her site saw she was cry
ing. "Why, you great baby, Comfort
Tease," said she, "going along the road
crying."
Comfort sobbed harder, and people
stared more und more curiously. Fin
ally one stout woman In a black velvet
bonnet stopped. "I hope you haven't
done unything to hurt this other little
girl?" she said suspiciously to Matilda.
"No, ma'am, I ain't," replied Matilda.
"What's the matter, child?" said the
woman In the black velvet bonnet to
Comfort, und Comfort choked out
something about losing her ring.
"Where did you lose It?" asked the
womun.
"I don't k-n-o-w," sobbed Comfort.
"Well, you'd better go tight home
"You Ask Him; It's Your King."
and tell your mother about It," suld the
stout woman, und went her Way with
many backward glances.
Matilda dragged her sled at Comfort's
side, and eyed her dubiously.
"Why didn't you get the ring when
we were light there with the gold dol
lar?" she demanded. 'What made you
run out of Gerrlsh's that wuy?"
"I'm go lug home," sobbed Com
fort. "Ain't you going to wait and ride In
the stage coach?"
"I'm going right home."
"Imogen said to go In the stngp coach.
I don't know as mother'll like It If we
walk. Why didn't you get the ring,
Comfort Peuse?"
"I don't wnnt any ring. I'm going
home to tell my mother."
"Your mother would have been real
pleused to have you get the ring," said
Mutllda, In an Injured tone, for she
fancied Comfort meant to compluln of
her to her mother.
Then Comfort turned on Matilda In
an agony of confession. "My mother
don't know anything ubout It," said
she. "I took the ring unbeknownst to
her when she said I couldn't, and then
lost It, and 1 was going to get the new
ring to put In the box, bo she wouldn't
ever know. I'm going right home and
tell her."
Matilda looked at her. "Comfort
Pease, didn't you ask your mother?"
said she.
Comfort shook her' head.
"Then," Bald Matilda, solemnly, "we'd
better go home Just as quick as we can.
We won't wait for any stage coach, I
know my mother wouldn't want me to.
S'pose your mother should die, or any
thing, before you have a chance to tell
her, Comfort Pease. I read a story -once
about a little girl that told a He and
her mother died and she hadn't owned
up. It was dreadful. Now, you get
right on the Bled and I'll drag you as
far as the meeting house, and then you
can drag me as far as the sawmill."
Comfurt huddled herself up on the
sled In a miserable little bunch and
Matilda dragged her. Her very buck
looked censorious to Comfort, but final
ly she turned around.
"The big girls were real mean, so
there, and they pestered you dread
fully," said she. "Don't you cry any
more. Comfort. Just you tell your
mother all about It, and I don't believe
she'll scold much. You can have this
gold dollar to buy you another ring,
anyway, if Bhe'll let you."
Tl)e road home from Bolton seemed
much longer than the road over had
done, although the little girls hurried
and dragged each other with fierce
Jerks. "Now," said Matilda, when
they reached her house at length, "I'll
go home with you while you tell your
mother If you want me to, Comfort.
My mother's got home. I can see her
heud In the window. I'll run in and
ask her." '
"I'd Just as lief go alone, I guess,"
replied Comfort, who was not crying
any more, but was quite pale. "I'm
reul obliged to you, Mutllda."
"Well, I'd Just us lief go us not, If you
want me to," suld Matilda. "I hope
your mother won't say much. Good
bye, Comfort."
"Good-bye," returned Comfort.
Then Mutllda went Into her house,
uud Comfort hurried home alone, down
the snowy road in the deepening dusk.
She kept thinking of that dreadful
story which Matilda hud read. Anxiety
and remorse and the Journey to Uolton
hud almost exhausted poor little Com
fort Pease. She hurried as fast as she
could, but her feet felt like lead and It
seemed to her that she should never
reach home. JJut when at last she
came In sight of the lighted kitchen
windows her heart gave a joyful leap,
for she saw her mother's figure moving
behind them, and knew that Matilda's
story was not true In her case.
When she reached the door she
leaned agulnst It a minute. She was
out of 1 breath and her knees seemed
fulling under her. Then she opened
the door and went In.
Her father and mother and grand
mother were all there and they turned
and stared at her.
"Comfort Pease," cried her mother,
"What Is the matter?"
"You didn't fall down or anything,
did you?" asked her grandmother.
Then Comfort burst out with a great
sob of confession. "I took It," she
gasped. "I took my gold ring that
Aunt Comfort gave me for her name
and I wore it to school, and Miss
Tabitha pinned It In my pocket, and I
lost it. And Matilda she gave me the
gold dollar her Uncle Jared gave her to
buy me another, and we walked a mile
and a half apiece to Bolton, to buy It In
GerrlBh's and I couldn't and I was
afraid something had happened to
mother, and I'm sorry." Then Com
fort sobbed until her very sobs seemed
fulling her.
Her father wiped his eyes, "Don't
let that child cry that way, Em'ly,"
said he to Mrs. Pease, then he turned
to Comfort. "Don't you feel so bad,
Comfort," he coaxed, "father'll get you
some peppermints when he goes down
to the store tonight." Comfort's father
gave her a hard pat on her head, and
then he went out of the room with some
thing that sounded like an echo of
Comfort's own sobs.
"Comfort," said Mrs. Pease, "look
here, child, stop crying and listen to
what I've got to say. I want you to
come Into the parlor with me a minute."
Comfort followed her mother weakly
Into the beat 'parlor. There on the
table stood the rose-wood work-box,
and her mother went straight across to
It and opened it.
"Look here. Comfort," said she, and
Comfort looked. There In Its own com
partment lay the ring. "Miss Tabitha
Hunks found it In the road, and she
thought you had taken It unbeknownst
to me, and so she brought it here,"
explained her mother. "I didn't let
you know because I wanted to see If
you would be a good girl enough to tell
me of your own accord, and I'm glad
you have, Comfort."
Then Comfort's mother carried her
almost bodily back to the warm kitchen
and set her before the lire to toast her
feet while she made some cream toast
for her supper.
Her grandmother had a peppermint
In her pocket and she slid It Into Com
fort's hand. "Grandma knew she would
tell, and she won't never do such u
thing again, will she?" said she.
"No, ma'am," replied Comfort, and
the peppermint in her mouth seemed to
be the very flavor of peace and forgive
ness.
After Comfort was in bed and asleep
thut night, her elders talked the mutter
over. "I knew she would tell, finally,"
Bald Mrs. Pease, "but it's been a hard
lessoiv-for her, poor child, and she's all
worn out; thut long trump to Uolton,
tuo!"
"I most wish Iher Aunt Comfort
hudn't been so dreadful careful ubout
getting her a ring big enough," said
Grundmother Atkins.
Mr. Peuse looked at his wife and
cleared his throat. "What do you
think of my getting her a ring that
would fit her finger, Em'ly?" he usked
timidly. i
"Now, futher, that's ull a man knows,"
cried Mrs. Pease. "If you went and
bought that child a ling now It would
look Just us If you were paying her for
not minding. You'd spoil all the lesson
she's got, when she worked so dread
fully hurd to learn It. You wait
awhile."
"Well, I suppose you know best,
Em'ly," suld Mr. Pease, but he made a
private resolution. And so It happened
that three months luter, when It was
examination duy at school, and Com
fort had a new blue thlbet dress to
wear, and some new blue ribbon to tie
her har, that her mother handed her a
little box, Just before she started. '
"Here," said she, "your father huB
been over to Gerrlsh's and here's some
thing he bought you. I hope you'll be
careful, and not lose It."
And Comfort opened the box and
there was a beautiful gold ring, which
Just lilted her third finger, and she
wore It to school, and the girls all
seemed to see It ut once, and exclaimed:
"Comfort Pease has got a new gold
ring that fits her linger!"
And that was not all, for Matilda and
Itosy Stebblns also wore gold rings.
"Mother said I might as well spend
Uncle Jared's dollar for It, 'cause your
mother didn't want you to have It,"
said Matilda, holding her finger up.
"And father bought one for Rosy, too."
Then the two little girls took their
scats, and presently went forward to
be examined In spelling, before the
committeemen, the doctor, the min
ister, and all the visiting friends.
And Comfort Pease with all the spell
ing lessons of the ti rm in her head,
her gold ring on her finger, and peace
In her heart, went to the head of the
class, and Miss Tabitha Hanks pre
sented her with a prize. It was a green
silk pin cushion, with "Good Girl"
worked on It In red silk, and she had It
among her treasures long after her
finger had grown large enough to wear
her Aunt Comfort's ring.
The End.
The most delicious and economical breakfast food
I in the wide, wide world. Pure and sweet. Try it!
Sold only In a
(ftUTION
TO our patrons:
Wushburn-Croshy Co. wish to assure their many pat
runs that tlicy will this vcar hold to their usual custom
of milling S'IRICTLY OLD WHEAT until the new crop
is fully cured. ew wheat is now upon the market, and
owing to the excessively dry weather manv millers are
of the opinion that it is already cured, arid in proper
condition for milling. Washburn-Crosbv Co. will take
no risks, and will allow the new wheat fully threo
months to mature before urindinn.
This careful attention to every detail of milling lias
E laced Washburu-Crosby Co.'s Hour far above other
rauds.
laVaVAl
MM
fflEGARGEL
Wholesale Agents.
IRON AND
Bolts, Nuts, Bolt Ends, Turnbuckles, Washers, Riv
ets, Horse Xails, Files, Taps, Dies, Tools and Sup
plies. Sail Duck for mine use in stock.
SOFT - STEEL - HORSE - SHOES,
And a full stock of Wagon Makers1 Supplies, Wheels,
Hubs, Rims, Spokes, Shafts, Poles, Bows, etc,
TTE1IE1I
SCR ANTON, PA.
WHITE PINE-OLD
Will it interest you to know that we have just
placed in stock over a million feet of 44, 54, 64 and 8 4
Old Growth, Thoroughly Dry, White Pine ?
We can guarantee it First-Class Stock and can make
Prices That Will Pleasantly Surprise You.
THE COMMONWEALTH
TELEPHONE 422.
THE DICKSON MANUFACTURING CO
SCRANTON AND WILKES-BAR RE, PA., Manufacturers of
Locomotives, Stationary Engines, Boilers,
HOISTING AND PUMPING MACHINERY.
General Office: SCRANTON, PA.
H'AKAN Kb'toOlf
Now diffMory
t I..-.
cotiftumption or iua Uv,
f M1 AIUI lull
Il l CU.-
ForaaK By JOHN H. PHElPS,
Sprue Street, Scranton, Pa.
CNieilll T Tt IllOHIlT MtDIMl AuTKcumn
1'CMcMTUAI lUUIIEU
mCATARRH
ft I rHEADACHE.
KNTKnf
iNTMi.rn win curs you. a
wondorlul b"n to "utfaron
from fold, r Tlirnut,
Infln.nf i. Rrnnphltla.
orllATtrVKlt. Afordt
immrdtuff rrliff. An efficient
rrmpitr. cntiTcnlMit to rarrv
la pnekftt, reajlT to via ou flrat tiulii'aMnrj ut uiiif.
CUaa4 tJM F.fftcU Permanent fare.
SaUflfMUOOfmftTailteodnrinnnoy refunded:. Prlrn,
eta. Trial frro at Urnnln. HnclMoml mail,
N tulA S. 1. C0S1IUH, air., Iim Eiicrt, Hick., U.S. 4.
C3TTI-XMAlVa3
BipilTUni The aureai and safeat ramcd? for
Hlbll I tlWU an ililndlMaavl, Koiem. Iteh. Salt
tDvMD.nlfl Mnraa,nurtia, ( nia. wonuernil rem
MT tor PI !.:. Price, S eta. nt Drue r aa
flila or by mall prepaid. Addrra-naaboTa. OHUr
Far aala bv Matthews Bros, snd John
H. Phaloa.
ROYAL t!? ROYAL
LADIES' ONLY I W
preucd and pninlul me tut runt km,
and a certain PREVENTATIVE '
all lemulft irrrxtilHritirs, Nildwun
a Writt Guarantee to Cum StnUaCc
atatnpforuarticularaaiHl"(iuidcfor
Ijldict." Iinit nn having Till BOTll
PtnuTK'tl Tttlati (Rod Crom Drand)
Alarm VHKVrll.llOVJl at 11. til. Ton.
aUeaurta'l.r.U.lt"!, aav, Nwlar
For Bale by JOHN H. PHEI.1'8, Drug
gist, Wyoming ave. and Spruce street.
r i
lb. Packages.
ST
GROWTH DRY.
Lie CO,,
SCRANTON
PA.
RESTORE
LOST VIGOR
Jn-dwlth WRITTi:!
horTjtm futility, I,os of hciuftl l'iwr in rithtuaei.
.. .......... at.ti lrm.hl.. lam, (.
II. wr Ktx b mail, C ! "e. fo. i.V Villi r?
l lur
Pharmacist, cor. Wyoming Avenue and
CcmpIexlGR teio"
DR. HEBRA'S
viola mm
Fomovre Freeklct, Pimplw,
Liver Moles, Blaokheada, '
fiiinhum anil Tan. anil ro
etorea tho sLIu. to its crtsl- .tJWt
Blear and healthy com-Vf aW:;'f
ploxlon. 6uperiorto!Uaifl , ' , ;-.'
irewintlorn ami iwfeitly htmlM , At Ml
ctruggisUrornuuletl tor 50eu. Soud tor Circular.
VIOLA SKIM 80AP 'Mr Imwararabla aa a
akin i.uillilaj Hoap, uaenuaM K w!f't . T1
rWal IV tat samiT. AliiirlT r. and dtlkatal
ataA. AUnitfliit, Prlaa 25 Cenfi.
G. C. BITTNEH& CO., Toledo, O.
For salo by Matthews Bos. and John
H. Pholoa.
Tlava vnn Hnro Throat. Plmnlna. fopnor-Colornd I
Spota, Aehea, old Horea. Ulcere In Month, nali-l
KalllnK? Wrlto Cook Itemed? Co., HOT Mil-1
aonlcTemple,'hltiairo,lll.,f or pnMifaof cures.
CupMaHl0U,Oo. ratlonl-Hiurtidnlne jenral
RgofodjonnajmwHlJH
& GONNELL
t43K
, ay
Rlllllli