Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-05-11


man, smelling Of garlic, behind the
counter. He snatched eagerly at the
ring as Bertha offered 1t for his inspec-
tion. No words could describe the PAIN
with which she saw it seized by his fat
fingers. .~ g M ,..
Dish ring' 1 will give you ten dol
lars for il, mlsh.' s,-I af .,.g b..
Ten dollars And when 1 bring you
back the money, can baye the ring
backs' SAID Bertha earnestly. ..
'Yesh; you caa, any time widin tree
mont's' 'of lfa .- '.'a ' e'-.''-
He hauded bertw crisp Ave dollar
notes. Her thin finger closed over
them, bat she had removed her veil, and
stood looking anxiously at the man. ,s
You will be sure not TO sell the ring,
sir. l will certainly redeem it before
the three month are out. Ny name is
Bertha Fay she added. 4 1--we at 20,
Albert street, n{ .-e ai -se4
The old broker smiled at the mn.
sophisticated air. His customers were
not usually SO willingly frank and COM
muncatlYe. 81 t.. .-.,.
Il will write it down. You can have
de ring when you bring back de money,
he added, clvilly. l--..t oil
bertha came out, trying TO think on
ly Of the notes in her hands. They
would buy her dear, sick mother nour'
ishing food. But when she reached the
market, she found that she was still
CRYING softly for her ring. Again she
drew down her veil. She bought a
steak, nice fresh butter, and French
loaf. She could have hugged the bun
dies with gladness and gratitude as she
received them. Darling mother, your
precious life is saved!' she murmured.
She ran home, opened the draught of
the range, broiled the steak. made some
tea. aud was at the bedside Of the inya'
lid in less than half an hour from the
time she had left, with an appetElng
repasl spread upon tray. 81 rs
oh. how nice y exclaimed Mrs. Fav.
Help me sit up, dear. Did you cook
the steak yourself! 1 don't remember
that Nab ever prepared anything sc
nicely. 1t is all dellcious.'
And weakly, yet with an evident en- :
iovment. she ate and drank all thai
was brought her. Her daughter hung
over her with delight. ..-
Bertha, dear, l think you ought not
to have discharged Nab. There are
the fires 10 make-you never made a
fire in your life-and the steps tc
wash
Dearest mother, L had as soor
make the fires as not; and as for the
steps, never mind. Lie down and
sleep. then you will get strong
And Bertha, who for three weeks
had dragged through the unaccustsmed
task OF making fires, cooking, washing
dishes, sweeping, and nursing an inva'
lid day and night, arranged the bet
clothes, lifted the tray. and ran dowr
the stairs with a slight step.
The next day, she bought the sherry
more beef, aud another French loaf
aud then sac must needs hire q strong
woman to laundry the great basket o
clothes which had accumulated during
the mothers sickness. lr ..e.,r,--- .s
Washing and irouing were arts un'
known 10 Bertha even if she had the
strength. Her trail, white hands, ant
delicate muscles never would have &C
comphshed the task. But the trouble
was that the ten dollars began to
dwinde. 1t will not hold out mucl
longer, said Bertha, at last, 'Wha
can. do? I must earn some. l mus
earn enough to liYe on, and get M
back my ring s,.
Sill keeping hermother in Ignorance
NJ their Strengthened circumstances, the
airl daily stols forth, during the alter
noon nap of her invalid, and went rom
store 10 store offering her services.
But business was dull; there wal
more help than occupation; and al
though many, pleased by her appear
auce, promised to give her chance
when times improved, she effected ne
engagement. .E9i 81 iliEo 3
Weeks ofdesperate efrortand wear.
waiting went by. The day CAM
when poor Mrs. Fay, nursed in luxnr,
and unequaled to the emergency, wa'
required to know that poverty hac
oyertaken her. At the most meagrs
rates, Bertha obtained little plain
sewing-enough 10 buy their DAILY
bread. Beyond this she could accom-
plish nothing, and when at last the
three months we're up, she could ne
produce single dollar. And the cir
shed the bitterest tears OF her life.
Philip St. Henry had just returned
from abroad. 1t was summer and the
season unusually hot. .s.e., -.
He strolIed along Washington street
a handsome fellow to see, certainly
But you have seen happier faces, per
haps. vaw os-u -.t
"A wear:some coming home, he said
Hooking along the familiar street. II
who was coming home to be married J
! A look Of bitterness crossed the hand
some blonde face. ,, ~. = ~.
How soou she forgot mel See wha
a woman's promise is worth y
lie was proud and resentful. Tw'
unapswered letters had beeh enougb
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