Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1881-08-24
THE LOVERS SACRIFICE.

looking back over that short space Of
life, she felt that she would not quite
care to live the years over again.
Her childhood had been as sweet and
bright as love and wealth could make
it, until the good father had died SC
utterly ruined financially that nothing
was left for his widow and only child
except II small, but pretty and pleasant
residence, and an exceedingly meagre
income derived from a certain property
not forfeitable by his many creditors.
Since the death Of that loving, indul-
gent but most incompetent parent, the
girl had known almost every viclssi-
tude of trouble and privation possible
to the experience of the young, the SEN
sitive, and the refined.
Fortunately the elegant, finely edu-
Gated and rarely accomplished Mrs,
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
ostracized by her pecuniary mstor-
tunes. And the daughter being duti-
full and tractable, as we'll az sensible,
had profted by this gentle but thor
ough home tuition.
AT twenty Vassarite might almost
have envied Tessie Rivers for her cru
dition and many Il pampered tavorlte
of wealth and aristocratc pretenuons
might have coveted her unaffected
grace and dignity Of demeanor more
perhaps than her rich, vivid and health
full loveliness.
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 a life, not Of utter Incidence
and clogging luxury, but Of perfect
freedom from prosy cares--a life filled
with sweeter possibilities and broader
purposes, and that might bring few
seasons of rest.
Il should not quite care to live my
twenty years over again. she averred
mentally, as divesting 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 coming.
Are you tired, DEAR" questioned
Mrs. Rivers, tenderly, as she poured the
tea she had made ready an hour before.
"Not at all, mamma, answered
Jessie, taking her seat at the cosy table.
when ones task is interesting, one
does not become fatigued easily; if |
had nothing less pleasant to do than to
arrange Lucille Carrington's flowers
and Aounces, / should be happy, |
think.
"Ah. Tessie," smiled the mother,
'the most humble labor would never be
distasteful to you SO long as you might
find an element of the aesthetic in it. y
"And if l might always serve lady
as considerate and gracious as Miss
Darlington she added. "She never
patronizes me she treats me like She
might a trusted friend. And yet | am
in a rebellious mood tonight am, III
deed, mamma. Why should she be
given so much and | so little ? The
lace that drapes the rose silk dress she
wears the single diamond on her
white hand-the pearls that CLEAN on
her bosom--if mine to transmute into
money, would lift the mortgage from
this dear old home and this heavy bur
den from our hearts
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
81 do not care TO think nor speak o.
a misfortune that cannot be prevented
my dear" she observed, after n sorrow
full pause. ITO grieve in prospective i
but folly. Heaven has proportional
our strength TO our trials, and to rebe
against the inevitable is unwise beside
Tessie, | am sure that Monreith Carr
ington is much too kind and generous
TO distress us about that mortgage.
But | should prefer not TO appeal
to Mr.. Carrington's generosity, mamma
And if you love me you will not d'
so, returned the girl, quickly, as sh'
blushed before the tender, inquirlns
eyes turned toward her.
"You fancy he would think you in
delicate TO request a favor since he ha
honored you with preference tina
you may not reciprocate," suggested
Mrs. Rivers, "but you wrong him
Tessie. He is too astute, as well as to,
magnanimous, to misjudge you.
wish, my love, you could give hin
some little hope. As his wife You
might be very happy, Jessie"
"And | might be very miserable,
protested Tessie kindly as his famil.
treat me now they might behave yer.
differently toward me as the wife q
the only son and brother of whom the
are so proud and expect so much. The
might regard me as an interloper, a. a
ambitious creature caring less for m
husband than for the pleasant life h
could give me. And as ] am rathe
fond Of appreciation / might not fin
the situation agreeable. Beside, man
ma"
The young lady paused, GROWN
slightly pale; and vague expresslo
Of yearning and pain shadowed he
bonny brown eyes.
4 L II.