The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-09-18


wonders the city holds for the little
ceuntry'gir She too had longed to go,
all her life. F aA
"But Laura doesn't care for books as
II do" urged her generous impulse,
s'she has no pleasures except in society
and going about, while / can forget my
disappointment in book. 1t is, hard,
too,'' went on the invisible omonitor,
" she is pretty, fond of dress and society,
and she.has never been out IN the world
at all" .,,-~ -,
IIAlllthe evening the contest went on in
her heart, while her eyes were bent on
her book, All night she tossed and tum-
bled, and in the morning announced her
decision while they were dressing.
"a "Laura, Pm decided not to go to New
York, and Ill give you the money for a
party dress.n ,.s tH tst.stIa
Laura turned quickly from the glass
where she stood arranging her hair.
y "What' that forP" she said sharply.
Swell, p said Katie, 81 think per-
haps you care more for it thanl do. L
don't care for society any way, you
know, and the pictures and books and
authors want to see, will wait. My
turn may come some day. "r3 F'
80 well; if you don't care to co."
Laura said eagerly, 81 shall be very
glad to have it, for L do want to go aw-
fully. iTtFllbget a blue silk saw yester-
daU at Mas0n's. a lovely shade, and 1
won't have Miss Steel make it.; III take it
to New York, and have it made stylish
and so, selfishly full Of her own pleas
ure, she accepted, without'even thank
you, Katiels hard sef-denial"0D .,t %.
Katie. felt a sharp pang, but she had
not expected, gratitude in Laura. The
worst was to tell mamma, and get her
consent, for she did not wish Laura's
selishness to. be humored.Q Papa posi-
lively 4 objected, but Katie pleaded so
earnestly, that finding her really set up
on it, he gave unwilling consent. aq1
Gr Fhe dress was bought Uaura's trunk
was packed, and in high spirits, with all
the remainder of Katie's hundred dol
lars. in her purse, she started for New
York, while Katie buried herself deeper
than ever in the books that were to be
consolation asIwella as society to her.
-, "Where's1 Katie?1ny was Aunt Ruth s
first question, when Laura entered her
door. i1il hdf 13fiIs4Il - 1IlFQ ~
be- " She preferredto stay at home. She
doesn't care for much but books, you
know" said Laura. hastily rs
I" But when I sent the money 1 think
she might have humored an old auntie
enough to make her a VISIT" said queer
Aunt Ruth, who persisted in knowing
reason. -nr{lfu hs1ttf 4d r. gnn, J
t.'Well, she bought some books, I be-
lieye, and some clothes" said Laura,
carelessly, looking with eager delight on
the elegant furnishings Of her aunt's
house, thinking. how happy she should
be always to i've. in such a beautiful
place, and rejoicing IN the fancy of how
well her blue silk would look here. To
Katie S self denial, and her aunt's mis-
understanding of it, she gave not
thought. In. f''S
No more was said about Katie. Aunt
Ruth made up her mind that she had,
deliberately preferred tospend her mon
ely for books and clothes, and not to
come and see her, and hard feeling
against her was planted in her heart
from that hour. ~ ~ '''' ''''h sui4
With Laura she was delighted, for
that young lady dressed to suit herself,
and, being besides loaded with presents
BY her aunt, and treated to society and
rare gayeties, had not a wish ungratifed,
and consequently was amiable and adj
as lovely as one could wish. g,
Much as she enjoyed her aunt's house,
there was one place she did not like to
visit, and that was the library. 1t was a
large room, somber with dark woods
and rich. bindings, with cheerful open
fire, plenty Of comfortable reading
chairs, and shelves upon shelves Of,
choice and valuable books. ~
Somehow she could never come into
this room without vision of Katie
reyeling in its delights, and in spite of
the, crust of yselishness over her. heart,
1t proved a most uncomfortable visitor
there. Thoughts of her unselfsh sister
would rise before her, and for hours she
could not forget them. Katie sitting
alone. in their dingy room longing for
pictures and choice books, and all beau
tiful things, as She well knew she did;
Katie eheerfully giving up all the antici-
pated delights of her visit that she might
makea display on one evening; Katie
losing the affection, of her aunt on her
account; herself loaded with presents,l
and Katie's poor ll little en-; money in her
j Do what she would she could not
drive these thoughts away She got 9
better view Of the real Laura than she
eyer had before, and and the picture did not
please her. N"9i "Sy'l YET h''"H/ r ..
% When heilong expected evening ar
rived, and Laura put on the coveted silk
dress, made in style and enriched by
some old lace of her aunt's; and when
at last that doting lady clasped on her
neck and wrists a lovely set Of pearls to
complete the costume; the thought of
Katie and her sacrifice, and herown sell
fishness, spoiled all the pleasure which
had cost 50 much. g.
This was made worse during the even
ing by her Introduction to people whose
names stood high in the literary world,
and to see whom would be to Katie the
greatest happiness she could conceive.
Laura cup turned to'bitter waters in
her hand. Ulhg Gb2 g 10 s2Si iU!H .r.
The next day she astonished her aunt
by bursting into tears of shame and re-
pentance, and telling the whole story
of her complainings, and Katle's gem
crosby, and. begging her to let her go.