"Why, of course, Cordelia, if you really wish to sell it," was the
response. "The shoes and stockings are for Susie, I suppose, but are
not the black ones nice enough?"

Cordelia had displayed the little black shoes and stockings to the
teachers with a deal of pride.

"But the brown ones are much prettier for the Jack Frost song," she
argued, pressingly.

"Very well," replied the teacher, opening her purse and handing her the
dollar, with a sorry look. "Perhaps, however, we would better see the
little things before you buy them."

The brown shoes and stockings were examined by the teachers and were
thought quite satisfactory for the price. Cordelia bought them
breathlessly and hid them in her coat pocket to insure their safety.

But the home-going in the early moonlight evening was less joyous than
had been the journey to the store. To the young Sioux girl the
sleigh-bells seemed to jingle harshly, and the gumbo hills, whose tops
were bare of snow, seemed frowning blackly from across the river.

Cordelia Running Bird passed some peppermints to the children, which
awoke a burst of gratitude.

"We little girls shall always choose Susie in the games," said one.

"Yes," exclaimed another, "Hannah Straight Tree and the dormitory girls
have told us not to, but we shall."