Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-08-29
A Girls Sacrifice.

| easements, WueIc lud Ly III scIdi
iums and ivies drank in its bright
ness in grateful green-the maple
along the edge of the woods wer
Just donning their crimson mantle
of blOom-amd Lillian SpellgrOvC
from the great house on the bil
could not but own to herself tina
''Iove IN a cottage" could be yer,
beautiful. even without chandeliers
gilded dOOr-knObs and inlaid floor
Miss Spellgrove was a belle,
petted favorite in society, and th'
rcctor's daughter was only a blue
eyed, simple-hearted lass of eigll
teen; but Lillian was chronicall!
''borcd" in the country, aud evel
Ida Lynn was better than no one tt
talk to.
The rector's daughter sat at hel
desk as the visitor rustled in, hel
fair brOws knit, her ivory teeth me
chauically nibbling the handle o
her pen. She looked up in second
smiling and gracious.
"Always busy" said Miss Spell
grove. 81 don't see how you man
age it,"
"Oh, Lillian, l am so glad to SEE
youw cried Ida. 81 was just con
triving about the Easter charities
for the poor"
'The poOrw repeated Lillian. 81
am sick of hearing of the poor. 1t
does seem to me that they are al
ways wanting something.'
ga very natural state of things,
as You would soon find out if you
were poor YOURSELF" laughed Ida.
go, Lily, if l were only as rich as
you "
"What would you do 2" demand
ed the heiress, yawning.
~ would give all the poor people
something to make their hearts glad
on Easter Day. But, oh, dear! |
have only fifty cents after the house
hold expenses are paid" she added,
with sigh.
"How much would it take?' AK
I'd Miss Spellgrove. Lda's eyes
in anticipation OF com
ing la,yesss.
"Fifty dollars would be more than
enough" she answered.
II know how You can get fifty dol
lars" said Lillian, surveying a tiny
rip in her lavender kid glove.
"HOw 2"
al will give you fifty dollars for
that old lilac and silver brocade
dress that was your mothers. l
want to have it made over to wear
at Mrs. Danesbury's party"
Ida'S cOuntenance fell.
"My only silk dress-the dress
that was mammals when she was
bride-oh, Lillian y she uttered,
rather incoherently. "And l was 60
ing to wear it myselfw
And in the same second she re-
membered that Harley Egremont
was to be at the Dauesbury party
that never, in all her innocent young
life, had she attended a ball-that
she certainly could not go in the
larned and antiquated white Swiss
muslin that was considered good
for the ordinary neighbor-
lOOd festivities.
ooh " said Miss Spellgrove, with
;he slightest possible intonation of
in her voice, "I thought
'Ou were really anxious about these
,eople. And as l fancied the dress
-"
"Stop, please, a minute, and let
ne think" pleaded Ida, her blue
yes swimming in suspicious mois-
ure, and her scarlet under lip quiv-
,ring. Was she then so selfish, so
utterly lost to all considerations but
Ter own pleaures Was this all
he benefit she had gained from her
Bible studies, her fathers sermons,
Ter daily prayers in the little white
'Ower sacred to her maiden inno-
'encei "l-l did lfot reflect. Yes.
lillian, you may have the dress"
81 should like it," said Lillian
Spellgrove, ,indifferently. "And you
ire so young and so deliciously
blonde, dear, that white muslin
would be the very thing for you TO
wear. Get white Organdie, and trim
t with"
"You forget, Lillian" said Ida,
With a faint smile. "that there are
TX children of us, and a new dress
$ by no means the every day affair
II our household that you seem to
it. Snail l get the dress