Show The Telegrams Telegram s Daily Short Story I MIRELLA'S BARGAIN By CLARISSA MACKIE Copyright 1915 by the McClure I Newspaper Syndicate Mirella shrilled Aunt Keziah youve g got tp to gp gp down to Bascoms Bascom's i arid and get some tea tea fea J 1 dec declare a e know mo we were so nearly out Mirella Elwood pu put aside her sew- sew 1 ipg g and taking her hat w went n out into int the he early June evening Ill 11 stop in in Miss Dorrs Dorr's and look at 11 a ah a ahat ahat h hat r she sile called back over aver her der Pick out something that will last you two years you years you know youve you've been saving laving that money for fora a long Ion while warned Aunt Keziah from the front porch Mirella l smiled with pleasurable anticipation anticipation anticipation an an- as she went down the quiet village street It had been a long it me since she had had a new summer hat By dint of many economies and the earnings of extra money through the eye of her clever needle she ehe had saved enough to buy a a. few simple summer dresses and a new list hat She was thinking of the hat as she went down the street It was to be an ecru ecru Tuscan trimmed with red roses Her Iler best gown of ecru voile would look ook lovely with that much dreamed about hat Mirella l was very happy as she turned into Bascoms Bascom's big grocery store where more than one person nodded a greeting and then paused to o look after her with admiring eyes Mirella grew prettier ev every da day they thought she had a clear white skin with soft soU rose coloring lustrous hazel lazel eyes long curling glack Back lashes and quantities of waving black hair At the back of the store Mirella found William Bascom in conversation conversa- conversa tion ion with a shabby youth No no Mr Mir Bascom was sa saying ing harshly I cant can't do it ft There dont don't nobody in Fernville take no stock in fiddles I wouldn't lend you 10 cents on it but I will give you ou out and out out out- Im not asking for charity re retorted retorted retorted re- re the youth hotly Ive told you that 1 I merely want to borrow enough money on it to get home to New York As soon as I get there I r will send i it to you and you can send the violin down by express and and If I cant can't do it ft said Bascom de de- de Ive heard these hardluck stories before young oung man I wont won't give you any money but I wouldn't turn urn any anyone one away hungry No thank you declined the youth fierce fiercely and jamming his soft felt felt elt hat down on his fair hair he I picked up a bundle wrapped In green baize aize and marched out of the store followed by many curious glances W Well ll what can I do for you asked Mr Bascom in his most genial tone Mirella Urella made known her want and andl l left eft ft the obsequious Bascom wondering wonder- wonder ing ng at her haste haBte to leave the store Far Fardown down moved the hurring hurrying hur bur ring figure of the young man who had iad been trying to borrow money on his ils I violin olin Across the street were Miss Dorrs Dorr's millinery milliner parlors Behind those Nottingham Nottingham Not- Not ingham lace curtains were the straw hats lats and the red roses rOlles that she cov- cov eted ted Mirella banished all thought of th the hat and the roses rose and followed after the ho youth and the violin Before she was up with him he turned aside from rom the roadway and flung nung himself himsel on the ground round his face hidden b by his arms Mirella saw that his clothes were vere dusty and worn his shoes in n sorry orry condition and that the hat which he had tossed aside showed I hard wear to to Coming up she coughed gently attract his attention With a a slight exclamation the boy boyhe boyhe boy boyhe he he was scarcely 17 jumped 17 Jumped up a and stared at her out of wet blue eyes eyes' I I 1 I beg your pardon he tn I obstructing I Im afraid am ans the thel path He stood aside to permit Mirella 1 to pass But she stood still and looked at him gravely i I I followed you she said quietly He flushed hotly You followed me he repeated I happened to be in the store when you were trying to sell your our violin and Ive I've always wanted to play the violin violin and and I came to see If you wouldn't sell it to me An eager look came into his fate face Do you really mean it he gaspe gasped It would mean a lot to me if I could sell it for 5 They money would take talce me Back gack to New York and once there there there-my my father father tather- He choked and turned away his head Mirella was opening her little gr green en purse I From rom it she extracted a five- five dollar bill it bill It represented the new summer hat hat and and handed it to him There she smiled cheerfully You have got what you want and when you give me the violin why I Ishall Ishall Ishall shall have what I always desired It cost said the boy as he laid it in her hands If It I was anywhere anywhere any any- wh where re except in his benighted country country coun coun- try region 1 might pawn It for tor 50 But your 5 5 has saved my life life life-l I was discouraged down and out I was ready to step out of lif life But everything is changed now I can go home and even if I confess I rave have vt j failed It will be something to see the some faces again He lie choked sU suddenly suddenly sud sud- denly and held out his hand Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye Good bye he said gruffly Do you mind telling me your name Mirella Elwood said Mirella her own eyes bright with tears I Mirella l That's a pretty name and easy to remember but remember but It would be hard to forget you anyway he said with boyish admiration in his voice Goodbye Mirella 1 Youre You're a brick When he had disappeared Mirella 1 tucked the green bundle under ner arm and went home The glow of satisfaction that pervaded her unselfish un unselfish unselfish un- un selfish heart carried her safely past Miss Dorrs Dorr's little shop It was not until she opened the gate and saw Aunt Keziah's anxious face that sh she realized that a bad half hour was wa's be before before before be- be fore her Where under the sun have you been demanded Aunt Keziah What have you got In that bundle Not the hat Ill I'll be bound Haltingly Mirella explained her hep transaction with the youth Its It worth she added in order to placate the irate woman Two hundred fiddlesticks I retorted retort retort- ed Aunt Keziah sharply filling the teapot But its it's none of ot my busness business bus busi ness Mirella Elwood If you'd rather I have a twanging fiddle than a new hat why I dont don't care a mite only folks will certainly laugh at you for wearing that old black straw an another another another an- an other season One hot August morning the Elwoods Elwoods El- El woods were making blackberry Jam Mirella l sat on the back porch looking over the luscious fruit and her finger fingertips fingertips tips Ups and her lips we were stained with the ruddy Juice In the kitchen Aunt Keziah was singing in a high cracked fd voice some Borne ancient love diU ditty of her faraway youth A quick ste step sounded on the tho grav- grav ra cled path and Mirella looked up to see see her a tall young yOUe man standing before Miss Mirella Elwood he hc asked bowing hat in hand before her Yes Yes said waid HaldI Mirella I 1111 a. a My Iy name Is ls Castings he ex ox- ox George Hastings I came to thank you for tor your our kindness to my brother a few tew weeks a ago 10 Some of us would have como come down before belore this thi but Harry has ill with typhoid Mr Jr Hastings sat lIat down on 01 the steps and In a afew few words related relate l the story etory of young Harry Hastings Hastings' passion pasion for tor music and his desire to adopt it as all a profession The elder Hastings b being inea ine a man of ot hard practical Ideas had opposed the notion and finally Harry had run away from home When I stopped at the to Inquire the way to your house the postmistress took occasion to Inform me concerning the adventure with my brother and now I know the whole sto story story how how how you sacrificed a I much desired hat hat in order to help j I save a boy from starvation Mirella blushed confusedly It Jt had seemed such a simple thing to Jo in at atthe atthe atthe the time with Harry's Harrys hungry homesick homesick home- home sick Bick c eyes es urion upon her hn but to hear it from the lips of Harrys Harry's big hiS brother filled her with a wild lId desire to run runaway runaway away and hide herself herselt It is nearly time for winter hats now she stammered and I really didn't mind it at all T I me me Is your our father going to allow Harry to study music Yes he has promised him that he shall go to Paris as soon as he recovers re- re covers overs his strength The bo boy is wild over it IL I have promised to bring him tum um down here as soon as he is able to ride Aunt Keziah who had heard enough to satisfy her curiosity I lad d hastily changed her dress Now she came out in a lilac dimity gown with witha a dainty lace trimmed apron and ando o so gracious was as she he to Mirella's morning caller that he accepted her invitation invitation In tion to dinner r. r Mirella darkly beautiful as ever was con conscious cious of a strange sir singing ing happiness in her heart The Time whole world looked fair and lovely lovel and the future was a a. rainbow tinted dream I Hats and red roses were rele relegated to the background I The following week the whole I Hastings tam family II motored down from New York to see Mirella Elwood and j I her aunt Harry looking gaunt and I pale smiled radiantly upon Mirella U and when Aunt Keziah heard Mm im I 1 pIa play on the violin loUn which Mirella 1 brought forth the old lady declared that never before had she heard r real l music mUlde After that Aunt Keziah Kl- Kl 1 wood never referred again to a a. fiddle fiddle fid i dle dIe As All Harry mischievously expressed ex- ex ex expressed I pressed it it Aunt Keziah eziah spells violin I eX-I I with a a. capital V V. V and Im I'm responsible for it It was the episode of the violin also that made him the gratified I I law in of pr pretty Mirella El Jol- Jol wood |