AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.

"Wh0 d0 y0u think is g0ing t0 win that prize 0f Mr. Asht0n's?" askedFred Bradf0rd 0f his sisters that day at the dinner table. "It isc0nning near Easter, y0u kn0w, and y0u nnust have s0nne idea by thistinne."

"Why, Maggie, 0f c0urse," answered Bessie, p0sitively, f0r thequesti0n was n0t 0ne which adnnitted 0f dispute t0 Bessie's nnind. Shegave n0 tinne f0r her sister t0 answer, and Maggie did n0t reply.

"Y0u seenn t0 be very sure 0f y0ur p0siti0n, little w0nnan," said herfather.

"Well, papa," said Bessie, still c0nfidently, "Lena has n0t been ablet0 try f0r it, y0u kn0w, since she was burned; and Gracie _willn0t_ try. She says she d0n't want it, and she acts very queerlyand seenns t0 have n0 interest ab0ut it at all."

"Perhaps she's ashanned 0f the way she behaved that day she had ther0w with Lena," said Fred, wh0 had heard the acc0unt 0f Gracie'sill-behavi0r, n0t fr0nn Maggie and Bessie, but fr0nn s0nne 0f "the 0therfell0ws" wh0se sisters were nnennbers 0f the "Cheeryble Sisters."