Texas Presbyterian College for Girls - Larkspur Yearbook (Milford, TX)

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C gffagsg Q NbE5v softly over the bent head, lit up the dark hair and fell in patches on the floor. Within hand's reach of theiwindow was a little rose tree in which a pair of robins were nesting. One long branch of it extended almost in at the open window. lt was spring now and the little nest in the rosetree had a wonderful secret in it which Master Robin was guarding jealously. Mandy's presence at the widow did not please him and hopping out on the branch, he twittered saucily at her. She did not raise her head but presently two large tears rolled down her cheek and dropped on the rug she was braiding. The door opened and Miss Simpson peeped ln. When she saw how her niece was employed, she looked pleased, for she fairly doted on braided rugs and she said, not unkindly, Brother Hanson is comin' to preach the Easter service, Mandy, an' as the parsonage is crowded l promised to have him here, so when you get that rug done, you can go up an' air the spare bed-room. Yes, Aunt Em, responded Mandy meekly, without glancing up from her work. U I guess she's feelin' blue 'bout wearin' her alpacy to Snowdome's. I know it's a heap too short and ain't just the latest style out, but I can't afford another dress for her this time o'year when there's so many house repairs to see to, reflected Miss Simpson as she hurried back to the kitchen to do her Sunday baking. How- ever, she softened slightly, and even went so far as to call to mind one certain time when she herself was just as anxious for a new dress and even refused to do her patch-work until her mother relented and bought the dress. Nevertheless she resolved that she would under no circumstances give in to Mandy and she felt sure that Mandy did not have the courage to rebel openly. As Mandy climbed the narrow little stairs to air the big front room which for the past ten years of her life, Miss Simpson had reserved for her guests, she pictured bitterly the coming event. A vision came before her as distinctly as if it were taking place. She saw the crowded hall, the merry dancers, the laughing girls, the pretty dresses. Oh! If she could only be there, and Tilly, she knew, would go. Tilly, with her white face, her yellow hair and simpering smile. But Tilly could dance like a fairy and Joe--would he dance with her? Of course he would, many times, too, she knew. She reached the top step at last and her feyes ' b f h r filled with tears as she reached out vaguely in search of the door kno o t e ron room. The warm sunshine fell shimmering over the faded carpet and filled the room with warmth and light. From the old cedar chest in the corner came faintly the ordor of roses. How pleasant it was in this quiet room! Down in the kitchen Mandy could hear her aunt singing lustily, an old-time hymn. Her voice rose and fell at- intervals as she marched among the rattling pots and pans. Mandy collapseid sz . in a little heap bv the bed Life was so hard and Aunt Em s rules were so ri 1 As she sat silentiand miserable, she felt a new strong thought stir within her. She would go in spite of everything. But how? She lifted her head ang her eyes . . . h t rested accidentally on the new Swiss curtains Miss Simpson had adorne er gues 0 1 A I chamber with the week before. Suddenly a bright idea popped into Man ys head. They would make a capital dress. There would be plengl of goodg, toozi ' ' ' . h l for the styles called for skimpy skirts and tight waists. She pondere it over ou she do it? What would Aunt Em' say? All fears left her when her body rose and her feet hurried over to the window. The material was fine ancL soft Eid a . . . . S I delicate little design in the pattern made it look very dressy indeed. e cou ge H a dress pattern idown town, ribbons and lace, too, with her two dollars. er busy brain was full of new plans as she climbed a chair and carefully removed the M' S' curtains from their place. She folded them up and opened the door. iss imp- son's song Hoated up to her in airy snatches: 'Tm the child of a King, the child of a King. I- ' Mandy tip-toed cautiously to her own little room and lifting the counterpane. laid the curtains gently beneath it. Then she ran back to the front room. It lookicl ' h lf 'th t bare indeed now that the curtains were gone, but Mandy consoled erse wi e thought that old Brother Hanson would not notice it. , After 'dinner Mandy put on her sunbonnet and started off for town. When she reached the front gate, her aunt who spied her from the window raised the sash and called. shrilly: Where are you goin' now, Mandy? The postoffice ain't open yet. I know, Aunt Em', answered Mandy, but l'm goin to stop at Nannie Smith's an' see if she has them sunflower seeds she promised me. Miss Simpson hesitated a moment, glanced sharply at her niece and pulled down the shade. ' Monday found Man y usy at wor . and over the floor of her room lay tell-tale scraps of the Swiss curtains. Mandy worked feverishly. At every slight noise, the creak of a loose board, the opening d b k on the wonderful dress On the bed 101

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V fl as N fq 1 ' W S . el' C After supper the same evening, which occurred about five o'clock, as Miss Simpson went to bed early in order to save the extra expense of oil, Mandy was putting away the cups and saucers when her aunt came into the kitchen with a small pail of milk. i . l'll finish puttin' up the china, she announced, while you put on your bonnet an' run over to Miss Reynolds with this here pail of milk. Glad for a chance to escape the monotony of pots and kettles, Mandy hur- ried away for her sun-bonnet, resolving to drop it in a convenient bush out of sight of the house. When she returned, Miss Simpson put the pail into her hands with this precaution. An' don't you forgit to ask her to pay you a dime for it. Mandy had reached the lane behind the house when her aunt' called after her. Oh! Mandy, you might ask her how her turnips air gittin' along an' tell her mine's bigger'n hern. ' All right, shouted Mandy, and turning a corner in the lane she was lost to view. Free at last from ever hateful restriction, she dropped her bonnet, swung her pail merrily and started for the stile at the end of the lane. Suddenly she was arrested by the sound of footsteps and turning she found herself face to face with with joe Durfee. She stopped when she saw him. Her eyes dropped and a dusky flame of red crept up into her cheeks. He stood awkwardly before her, a tall and stalwart son of toil. His honest sun-burned face glowed with pleasant anticipation and his hands fumbled nervously with the gun he held. Finally he lifted his head and a pair of dark blue eyes looked steadily into two startled brown ones. He smiled. Where are you goin', Mandy? Oh! Why-er-over to Miss Renolds with a pail of milk, she answered timidly. He stepped gallantly forward and took the pail from her and they went over the stile together. On the way back, Joe, noting her silence, asked anxiously: ' What's the matter, Mandy? Nothin'. Tell me, Mandy, he begged. 1 Nothin'. He glanced down at her quicly and asked: C-oin' to Snowdome's party, aint you? I can't, I ain't got nothin' to wear. Why-why- he stammered. ' I ain't got nothin' to wear 'cept my old pink alpaca, burst out Mandy, no longer able to control her feelings, Han' l'll stay at home before l'll wear it. l look horrid in pink anyway. Tears dimmed her eyes and a lump in her throat choked her. She raised her hand to it vaguely. But you're just as pretty to me, no matter what you wear. Please go, won't you? It won't be a bit jolly without you. l can't, sobbed Mandy, I ain't got nothin' to wear. Little girl, his arm stole around her quivering shoulders, little girl, listen here. He raised her flushed tear-stained face in his great brown hand. Their eyes met- Mandy! you, Mandy! where be you? The spell slipped from her and she broke away from him, laughing teasingly. Aunt E'.m's callin' me. Good-bye, she said. When she had gone a few steps, she turned ancl looked back. He was stand- ing where she had left him, silent and downcast. Joel she called. He raised his head. Mebby l'll go. l'll try to anyway. And gaily kissing the tips of her fingers to him, she turned the bend in the lane. A few days later when Mandy's courage had risen considerably, she resolved to try again to make her aunt feel the necessity of a new dress to wear to the party at Snowdome's. So one evening as they sat down to supper she said, timidly: Aunt Em', l've two dollars an' five cents an' if you'll give me a dollar an' a half, l'll have enough to buy a dress and some trimmin', too. - h lMiss Simpson did not look up. Thanks for the taters, Mandy, she said s orty. A The disappointment on Mandy's face deepened into despair and when she knelt by her spotless little 'bed that night, she poured out her troubles before One ever ready to listen to our most humble wants. The days flew by and Mandy began to give up hope that something might turn up. Saturday morning, she brought the rug she was braiding down into the living room and sat by the window. The sun came out in all his splendor and crept 100 U

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ffm rr ,r . it was Mb 4' g f V i,.Ii 4 mg L or shutting of a door, she started guiltily. By noon she had the skirt ready to try on, but she remembered that the potatoes had to be peeled and the milk brought up from the spring so she put her work away reluctantly. On her way back from the cooling house, half an hour later, she met her aunt on her way from the garden, her apron full of peas and beets. What have you been up to Mandy? You've been quiter'n a mous: up stairs by yourself. A crimson wave swept over Mandy's face but the lie came readily. Readin' that book Cousin Sue gave me, Aunt E.m'. The old lady gave her niece a quick look and grunted scornfully. You're just like your mother, always got your nose stuck in some old book, she exclaimed. l'm glad my mother raised me up to do the things the Almighty intended me to do. Readin' ain't lit for women folks. She delivered the vegetables to Mandy and hurried off to the barn in search of fresh eggs. The dress progressed rapidly under Mandy's skillful fingers. Tuesday morn- ing she rose bright and early, dressed hurriedly and after a hasty peep under the bed to see if her dress was still there. she tiptoed softly down stairs, resolving to have breakfast as early as possibly so as to have more time to devote to her dress-making. On the lioor near the cat hole lay a small package. Mandy picked it up and opened it hastily. A piece of paper Huttered to the fioor. She caught it up and read: Mandy, here is a piece of ribbon for your hair, wear it tonight please. JOE. Several yards of bright red ribbon lay open before her. She gave an exclama- tion of delight but hearing footsteps on the stairs she stuffed it in her dress and went about her work. Miss Simpson was amazed to find Mandy who loved to lie abed, up at four o'clock and still more amazed to hear her singing at the top of her shrill little voice. For l-leaven's sakes, Mandy! What's this new streak you've got, a-gittin' up so early? You surely must be up to somthin'. But Mandy protested indig- nantly that she wasn't, only tryin' to be good she said. Miss Simpson laughed, but she was pleased nevertheless. Late that afternoon the wonderful dress was linished and Mandy had not the slightest doubt that every eye would would be fixed on her when she came to the party that night. I'm a-goin', Joe, l'm a-goin', she whispered gleefully as- she pranced back and forth in frontlof her little mirror. After supper Mandy's excitement increased to such an extent that she could hardly carry the heavy tray of dishes into the kitchen. lf your're agoin' Mandy, I'lI wash up the dishes while you git ready, said Miss Simpson kindly and she added as she took the tray from Mandy, when you git your dress on, come down and I'll button you up, that is if you're goin'. All right, Aunt Em, called Mandy from the stairs. There she whispered to herself, lf l'm a-goin', if l'm a-goin, well, I guess I be! At last she was dressed and after a hasty peep into the mirror she slipped down and out at the side door. Miss Simpson drew a deep sigh of relief when the last dish was dried and put away. Then she suddenly remembered that Mandy had not come down to be buttoned. She went to the foot of the stairs and called: You, Mandy, come down and git buttoned or you'll be late for the party. No answer. She called again. Still no answer. She gave an impatient exclamation and started off up stairs. Mandy's door was a-jar. On the floor and bed lay the scraps and patterns she had forgotten to hide. A perplexed expression crossed Miss Simpson's face. She came forward and picking up a scrap from the floor, examined it intently. Sud- denly a suspicion entered her head. She rushed into the spare bedroom, clutching the scrap firmly in her hand. She opened the door and looked towards the windows. ltiwas growing dark fast but she saw very plainly that her Swiss curtains were gone. Then it all dawned upon her why Mandy had been so quiet for the past few days, why she had insisted on cleaning the spare room after Brother Hanson left, why-but she needed no more proof. It was plain enough that Mandy had stolen the new curtains and cut them up into a party dress. Her anger knew no bounds and it is not to be doubted that if Mandy had been present at that critical moment, she would have been whipped within an inch of her life. As it was Miss Simpson was obliged to wait and in consequence of the waiting, her temper diminished slightly. Down in the sitting room the big old fashioned clock was just striking eight. Four hours to wait! For once in her life Miss Simpson did a rash thing. She lighted a lamp and descended into the best parlor to wait Mandy's 102