The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-10-09
Poor ard Proud.

"strawberries! strawberries! Very fine
and fresh-lady, please bny!"
But Madeline Joyce, leaning from the
open window, with her cheek idly sup
ported on her hand, shook her head.
"No, don't want any, chid'
And the strawberry girl passed on, her
cle2s shrill voice echoing fainter and
fainCer in the distance as she went.
Madeline gazed after her with sad, vio
let-gray eyes.
poor and proud! proud and poor!" she
mumured to herself. "Oh, heaven! why
was not yonder ragged strawberry girl,
or even the child who sweeps the crossings.
and earns an honest penny now and them
But now-now my hands are tied by
mammals absurd prejudices! Well, Bea,
trice, what is it?"
For her younger sister had come noise
lessly ina tall slip of thing, like one OF
the graceful field-lilies that grow in soil
tary places.
''rhe bill from the bakers. Madeline"
"Another bill!' wit an impatient lift OF
the eyebrows. "Did you tell the man We
had no money, Beatrice?'
"What would have been the use, Maddyi
Of course did not tell him."
"And, mammal"
/ 'She does not know-she is reading in
the parlor; she will not let me mend the
table-cloth; she says it is 1ot work fol
ladies'. Oh, Maddy, what shall we do?"
Madeline rose, and began pacing i'm
patiently up and down the room, her
white, slender hands clasped over he
head.
"Hush!" she cried, abruptly; 81 there is a
ring at the bell. 1t is Mrs. Ben njamin
again. Go, tell her am engaged-busy
gone out-anything you please. No
stay-stayl Perhaps had better see her,
after all"
And Madeline went down stairs to the
darkened room, where Mrs. Joyce sat in
faded silk, and darned lace, relic of the
glorious past, with white, wasted hands
folded in her lap, and an embroidered Of
tOman under her feet.
SIT is like dream" Madeline said to
herself, smiling impatiently, as Mrs. Ben
iamin and her mother prattled on about
the current topics Of the day. Sand to
think that there is nothing in the house
for dinnerl Perhaps Mrs. Benjamin will
, ask mamma to dine, and Bee and can
send out for some biscuits. We can eat
r anything"
t And through her disjointed meditations
her mothers soft, sweet voice. sounded
as voices sometimes sound when one is
] half sleeping, half awake.
b, "To the Lakes, with you2 My deal
Mrs. Benjamin, you are very kind, l an
y sure, and Maddy must use her own dis
It cretion about accepting. Do you hear
: darling? Mrs. Benjamin wants you to ac
company her to the Lakes as soon as sht
:, has secured a governess for the dear littl,
$ boys. am sure it would be charming
$ opportunity for you to see a little of life
y. for circumstances you know"-with
e gentle little preclude me from Civ
e ing you much variety"
Madeline looked up with sudden gilt
:, ter in her eyes; and Mrs. Benjamin though
e with surprise how pretty Mrs. Joyce
3 eldest girl was growing.
!, "A governess? think l know of som
n one, Mrs. Benjamin, who will suit you,
N If yours terms are at all liberal"
j. "Sixty pounds year and all expense
k paid" said Mrs. Benjamin, complacently
y 81 think it isn't at all stingy. Who is i
Madeline?"
=, "A young LADY, friend of min
IN When do you want hert'
is "At once; and then We can be off will
~ q. out delay. You will accompany US, Mad
al line?"
~ "Oh, of course-of course. That is,
ID ID mamma approves?" with glance at tt
a pretty. faded efigy Of former gentilit
who sat in the shadows beyond. as beittt