Page:Saxe Holm's Stories, Series Two.djvu/148

138 to gray. Then he recollected the locked drawer and said to himself:— "Some day I 'll give Susan the key to that drawer. I suppose the things might as well be used first as last."

When John gave his wife the key, and told her what the drawer held, she said in her clear, resolute, kindly tone:— "Well, just as you like, John. Of course, I have n't any feeling one way or another about it; but there 's so many folks in need of clothes, it seems a pity to let anything be lying by idle."

As soon as John had gone out to his work, Susan went up-stairs to open the drawer. It must be confessed she had her own curiosity to look into it especially as John had said to her, a little huskily:

"I have n't ever opened the drawer. It 's just as Molly put the things in before she was sick."

"Poor little thing!" thought Susan, as she turned the key and slowly drew out the drawer; "it was real hard for her, but I can't say I 'm sorry exactly," and Susan's eyes took on a softer light. She had found out that she loved John Bassett better than she had ever loved Josiah Thatcher. She shook out the folds of the two silk gowns,—one black and one of a pale gray.

"I don't know as there 's any reason why I should n't use this black," she thought, rolling a bit of it between her thumb and finger, and mentally estimating that it must have cost at least ten-and-sixpence a yard.