Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-02-27
The Lovers Sacrifice.

The Lovers Sacrifice.
Tessie Rivers is Just twenty, and
looking back over that short space of
life, she ielt that she would not quite
care to live the years over again.
Her childhood had been as sweet an3
bright as wealth and love could make
it, until the good father had died so
utterly ruined financially that nothing
was left for his widow and only child
except a small, but pretty and pleasant
residence, and an exceedingly meager
income derived from certain property
not forfeitable by his many creditors.
Since the death Of that loving, TO-
dulgent, but most incompetent parent,
the girl had known almost every vicis-
situde Of trouble and privation possible
to the experience of the young, the
sensitive and the refined.
n Fortunately, the elegant, finely edu.
Gated and really accomplished Mrs.
v Rivers was competent to instruct her
child in scholarship as well as in the
subtle lore of etiquette affected by the
social circles from which she had been
ostracised by her pecuniary misfor
tunes. And the daughter being beau
tiful and tractable, as we'll as sensible,
had profited by this gentle but thorough
home tuition. .... p,
At twenty Vassarite might almost
have envied .Tessie Rivers for her
erudition and many a pampered favor
ite of fortune and aristocratic preten-
sions might have coveted her unaffected
grace and dignity of demeanor more,
perhaps, than her rich, vivid and
healthful loneliness.
But she was not at all satisfied with
the station to which fate had assigned
her. She was sick to the soul of this
perpetual struggle between hidden
want and ostensible modest comfort.
She longed for life, not of utter in.
dolence and clogging luxury, but q
perfect freedom from prosy cares-a
life filled with sweeter possibilities and
broader purposes, and that might bring
a few seasons of rest. ..,
II should not quite care to live my
twenty years over again." she averred
mentally, as divestingc herself of her
becoming black cloth cloak and prettily
plumed black velvet hat, she entered
the cheerful room where her mother
was rather eagerly awaiting her com.
ing. TIA TjI j. f.. "a 'NpN
care You tired, dear?' questioned
Mrs. Rivers, tenderly, as she poured
the tea she had made ready an hour
before. T ~ r - =. II. /.
"Not at all, mamma" answered Tes-
sic. taking her seat dc the cosy table.
When ones talk is interesting, one
does not become fatigued easily if I
had nothing less pleasant to do than to
arrange Lucille Carrington's flowers
s and f ounces, ! should be happy, T
"Ah, Tessie," smiled the mother,
the most humble labor would never
be distasteful to you so long, 9s you
might find an element Of the aesthetic
in it," .f., i.,b r..,.. .ri'
And if I might always serve a lady
as considerate and gracious az, Miss
Darlington, she added. oShe lh9ver
patronizes me; she treats me as she
might . trusted friend. And vet am
IN rebellious mood tonight am,
indeed, mamma. Why should she be
given so much and I so little? The lace
that drapes the rose silk dress she
wears-the single diamond on t,erwhite
hand-the pearls that CLEAN on her
bosom-lf mine to transmit into money.
would lift the mortgage from this dear
old home and this heavy burden from
our hearts," -~.,-. --.iy-
Mrs: Rivers sighed as she slipped her
tea silently. choosing neither to con.
template nor discuss an impending
trouble unless that it might be averted.
DO not care to think or speak of
misfortune that cannot be prevented,
my Gear, she observed, after a sorrow.
ful pause. ITO grieye in prospective is
but folly. Heaven has proportioned
our strength to our trials, and to rebel
against the inevitable is unwise: be.
sioes, Jessie, l am sure that Monreith
harrington is much too kind and gen.
e1ous TO distress US about that mort.
gage"
but should prefer not to appeal
10 Mr.: Carringtons generosity, mamma.
ana II You love me you will not do SC. y
returned the girl, quickly, as she
blnshed before the tender. inouirinp
eyes turned toward her.
You can fancy ne woald think you
indeiicase to request favor since be
nAs honored you with a preference that
S9u may lot reciprocate." suggested
Trs, Hivers; but yoa wrong him.
-essie' tie is too astute, as well AS too
maenAnlm Gus, TO misjudge you. I
,;. .sn' my love, you could give him some
m; .,9 Iope. As his wife l think Won
might be very happy, Tessie.
nu / might he very niserabl. -
! protested Iessie kindly as his fam.