Brenda's Cousin at Radcliffe: A Story for Girls

an ideal day, and as she neared the shops she half begrudged the time that she must spend indoors. "Now or never," she thought philosophically; "I can't send

evidence of the charm of the day that she now felt more

t she gave them, and she hastened to get the special thing that she had in mind that she might be at home in season to keep an appointment. Her errand was to choose a wedding prese

a wondered that she had thought of a thing that was not really up to date; for, recalling Ruth's wedding p

h as she had meant to spend for this particular thing, and had she thought longer she would have realized that so fragile a gift would be a care to its owner. Self-examination would have shown that she h

er beautiful vase. But what startled Brenda more than the shattered vase was the sight of a girl sunk in a heap beside the broken glass. She recognized her as the

e that was a picture of misery. Sobs shook her slight frame, and she allowed a kind-looking saleswoman who came from behind a counter to le

d you, it was in every way unique. However, there are other pieces similar to

da interrupted, inclining her

is entirely our loss. Of course, if you pref

t poor little girl

tirely her fault; she let it slip from h

nda. "That is my money, is it not?" for

ld you, you can ha

like to have the vase that I bought to take h

?" The salesman was almos

?" and a smile twinkled around the corners of B

g the pieces from the cover into a small

ave it packed carefully;" and this time bo

und to lose her place. It took a week's wages to pay for the cup, and I don't know

her," said Brenda. "

in the waiting-roo

still in tears; "stop crying, you won't have to pay for the glas

o flow from her red-rimmed eyes. But the young lady's words se

ard him say it. I can't ever pay it in th

ho had stayed with her. "You must stop cr

nda, and Brenda in a few word

ed woman; "and if you can make Maggie u

ie's not very quick brain. Jumping to

ave to pay! But I'll pay you some time.

store. Your eyes would scare customers away. I'll take word that you're sick, so's yo

go home she asked the little girl to meet her at the side door downstairs when she had pu

r ears, yet she hastened toward the side door where Brenda was waiting. The latter glanced down at a forlorn little figure in the scant, green plaid go

supercilious of the younger set, and as they raised their hats they looked curiously at Brenda's compan

n't you like a cup of chocolate?

and cheerful, with a red carpet that deadened all footfalls. But Maggie herself had never before sat at a little round table in a pleasant room, with a waitress attentive to her. A lunch counter was the only restaurant that she had known, and this was certainly ve

ribly afraid of losing it. You see," she continued, "my fingers seem buttered, and I don't run quick enough when they

u leave scho

hinks girls ought to go to school until they get through the grammar school. She says my mother

le enamelled watch pinned to her coat, she saw that it was nearly four o'clock, and this reminded her that at four she was to

o a telephone in the office downstairs, she called up her own

" he asked; "why ca

portant to do, and I ca

all

, in

t me in this way. I sha

so you might as

sual jesting tone, but before he could remonstrate furt

other long enough to have a thorough understanding of each other's character. Brenda knew that Arthur hated to be mystified, and Ar

g, and Brenda soon found herself in a car travelling to an unfamiliar part of the city. Near the cor

he gaudy bill-boards leaning against the wall. "I've only been t

hich they now hastened toward Maggie's home in Turquoise Street. It had not the antiquity of the North End, nor the picturesqueness of the West End. There were too many liquor sho

le private house. Indeed, it once had been the dwelling of a well-to-do private family. But inside,

said Maggie timidly, as they sto

aggie had opened the door, and they stood fac

Please take a seat, ma'am," and Mrs. McSorley showed her nervousness by vi

s were, they made her uncomfortable. While Maggie was explaining why she had returned home so early, Brenda glanced with interest around the room. It seemed to be a combination of kitchen and sitting-room. Above the large cooking-stove was a shelf of pots and pans, and there was an upholstered rocking-chair in one corner. There were plants in the windows

"I'm very much obliged to you. Maggie's a dreadful careless girl, and a g

ne was to blame it was I for buying so delicate a vase. Bes

ered, and sometimes I don't know what her end will be. I suppos

rt in her mouth." For Mrs. McSorley, with her arms akimbo, and her high cheek-bones and determined expressio

been sick on my hands for two years, and her only my sister-in-law; and I kept Maggie at school till she graduated, and she's got a place in one of t

ook on the bedroom door and the coat on another hook in the corner. Brenda, watchin

itor with curiosity. She was so pretty, with her slight, graceful figure, waving dark hair, and the

ust be awful rich to wear a diamond pin to fasten her watch to the outside o

different grades. "I hate to have to switch my mind round-I'm that set," she had explained, adding, "Maggie thinks me stingy because I take all her earnings instead of letting her spend money for fine feathers and theatr

when Brenda had finished, her reply gave only a slight hope that she would agree to the plan. Yet Brenda fel

the cars through unfamiliar streets, and she was only too glad to accept Maggie's offer to guide her, a

en if they won't take you back; re

that you have nothing for your twenty do

sponded Brenda, "and I'm going t

ing at her belt she smiled to think that since she left home in the early afternoon it had been emptied of more than twenty dollars, while sh