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

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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

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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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C A f iz s :ttf La-1XS ?:2, if ,S S ' SA U . his 6 ,rl coming. She made up her mind that when she had finished with her niece, Mandy would never want a new party dress or even dare to think of it. Mandy was gettin' entirely too flip here lately and needed a tonin' down'. She would get it too, beyond a doubt. The room was very still. Out under the doorstep a frog croaked dismally. It was growing late and the air was chilly. Miss Simpson shivered and drew her shawl closer around her. Her fingers unoccupied, her mind traveled back to the time when Ruth came to live with her, a thin wistful face confronted her. the white folded hands, the silent lips. Miss Simpson glanced over toward the little rocker by the window. It seemed almost as if Ruth was there now. She used to sit in the dark little parlor, hours at a time, waiting, with patience heart-rending to see, for one who never came. Her unoccupied manner was maddening to Miss Simpson who used to exclaim, For I-Ieaven's sake, Ruth, do pick 'up your knittin', your're gettin' lazy these days. Even now she fancied she could see the bent head and quivering lips when she was reproac-hed for idleness. Then she remembered one day how the chair was empty. She could see Ruth's pleading eyes raised to her's. She could hear that low- quivering voice, saying, Take her Emma and be good to her for my sake, won't you? That was long ago, she knew, and now Mandy was growing into womanhood, tall and slim, with her father's great dark eyes and her mother's thin, delicate face. Did Mandy enjoy any recreation from her work? Were her opportuities equal to those around her? Miss Simpson questioned herself closely. Then she thought of how often she, herself, had been ashamed of Mandy's shabby shoes, her faded dresses and made-over hats, what would Ruth say to all this? She remembered too, the tidy little sum in the bank. Was there reason why it should not be, put to use? If she had any doubts on the matter in question, they left her now. I'm a selfish old woman, she whispered to herself, shivering in the cold night air. The lamp burnt low and the clock crept on towards twelve. Mandy would come then, she would not stay a moment after twelve. Mandy! whom she intended to punish severely. She recalled the great, wondering eyes raised to her's only a few hours ago, the quivering lips. What a world of love lay beneath the quiet little face if she only chose to possess it. And if I live I shall, she murmured. It's not too late to love her as I should. Then a peace she had not known in years came creeping over her. A peace which came to her ibut once before when she lay beside a tiny infant and knew that God had spared er. The clock struck twelve and soon after footsteps were heard on the gravel walk. A voice, low and kind, floated out to her. Good-night, little girl, and the quick response, Good-night, Joe. The door opened and Mandy rushed in. She stood for a moment, gazing in wonder at the light in the parlor, then running to her aunt, she knelt before her, crying: Oh! Aunt Em' I'm a wicked, wicked girl, ain't I? But I did so want a new dress-it was so hard! I'll get some new curtains just like them, Aunt Em', I will. I won't be bad any more, honest, I won't. A hot tear fell on Mandy's clasped hands. She looked up in surprise. O, Auntie! Don't cry, she pleaded, I'd rather you'd whip me. Then it was that Miss Simpson spoke. I ain't goin' to punish you child, she said softly. I ain't goin' to scold- but I am a-goin' to love you. And lifting the girl's flushed face in her toil-worn hands, she kissed her, not once, but many times. EDITH BORDEN. ju ef , lf! N il' f GH: Lv W lll ' 1-.a S-5 Xt a 103