The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-11-01

Shirts she sighed. ooh, Emily
who would ever have thought VIZ
should come to this?
Shirts aren't disagreeable to make,
said Emily cheerfully. 'All we have
to do is to fancy them embroidery OF
crochet workP
MY Imagination is not so powerful
as that!
Cultivate it then, DEAR said the
young sister. with laugh. 'These
must be finished by Saturday noon.'
'By Saturday nOon!' cried Kate,
fretfully. 1T is not possible
oh. yes, it is. Come, dear, get your
thimble.'
Kate Ellerslie burst into tears and
threw the unotfending shirts disdain-
fully from her.
You never had any aristocratic
pride, Emily. You would be willing
to slave yourself to death for five
shillings.'
Five shi!lings is very handy sum
now, Kate said Emily, as she went
patiently down on her knees to pick
up the scattered rolls of work.
But it's shame went on Kate,
flushed aud indignant, that l, who
was born to better things
She paused, with the hot current of
words yet OH her tongue, as as knock
came to the door.
'lt's only Mr.. Harley, in the next
roOm,' said Emily, rs she rose TO her
feet. Il know his knock
Mr.. Harley was a tall, fresh-looking
young man, with bright hazel eyes
and a smooth, broad forehead, who
had recently engaged the one vacant
apartment on the fourth story of the
house in Bland street. "A literary
gentleman Mrs. Farley had called
him ; while Mr.. Johnson asserted, with
less elegance, that he was 'Owl.editOr
Of one OF them papers that never tells
the truth
Poor people assimulate more readily
tidu tiioSC WIN OuAu Go
with the barriers of form and cere-
mony and, in one week of their
neighborly proximity, Mr.. Harley and
the Miss Ellerslies had become the
best of friends.
'The loop has come off my necktie
again. Mr.. Harley began apologetlc-
ally. Dare 1 venture to ask you to
sew it on a second time, Miss Emily ?
Emily smiled and nodded as she
threaded her needle with black silk,
and put on thrifty-looking thimble.
is anything the matter, Miss Kate?'
asked Harley as he observed the elder
sisters flushed cheeks and discounted
mood
Nothing she answered, petulantly,
but the old story-poverty and hu-
initiation. Oh,I wish I were dead ;or,
better STILL she went on,with increas.
ing energy, Il wish the villain who
cheats US out of all our money were
dead!'
Mr.. Harley WINGED little, and no
wonder, Emily thought; her sister had
spoken with unrestrained vehemence.
kate, Kate!' she said softly, you
don't consider. He is not to blame
because the law has given him what
was rightfully his own.'
He is, sayv burst out Kate, bnt
then she repressed herself. Give me
the shirts. Emily che said, ,resignedly.
we can't starve. Now the footstool
and the lk-basket. And just draw
that curtain the sun is shining in
enough to dazzle forty pairs of eyes,
Patiently Emily trudged hither and
thither for her sister, only too glad
that the storm of Kate's temper was
averted by Mr.. Harley's
presence. The young man, quietly
observant of all that transpirod around
him, began to think that, after all,
Kate was not so beautiful as he had at
fret supposed. Emily hsd the sweet
est, more Madonna like face. Then
she was so gentle, so quietly resigned.
Emily always was a drudge said
Miss Ellerslie, contemptiousy. She
never had. any more spirit than a ca
nary bird
So Emily did the work of the con-
tracted little room, washed and ironed
Kate's laccs, arranging her sisters
luxuriant hair, sat up at night to finish
the sewing Kate had thrown aside
because it made her nervous hours
before, and was sunny and happy
it all, while Kate sighed oyer
her fate, and persuaded herself that
she was the most wrctched Of created
beings.
And one day Mr.. Harley astouish-
ed her out of her cquanilnity by pro-
posing to marry her.
Upon-my-word' calculated she
the young man must have q very
good opinion of himself! OF course
YOU said NO!'
Emily hung her hcad until she look
ed like sweet.pea vine that has been
exposed to the June sunshine.
lin afraid said yes she falter-
ed.
What OH earth could have induced
you TO accept him 2 demanded Kate,
with both hands imploringly upiifted.
Because love him!' said Emily,
plucking up courage.
The selfishness of some people!
sobbed Kate. burying her face in her
pocket handkerchief, Il suppose you
never ouce thought what was to be-
come OF me!
Innocent Emily felt that she had in
deed been monster of ingratitude and
egotism.