The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-08-16
doing to YOURSELF" cried in dismay. =
cara smiled her own bright, cheerful

| dong TO yourself, CrleQ In dlsmay. =
Cara smiled her own bright, cheerful
smile. 2 >
~ have had very hard summer
she said, '.'but shall soon be strons
again. Now that it is all over 1 can tel
you about it, but at one time 1 really
thought that should nver live to do so;
ut was not a. romantic story; for there
was no love il, it; and no tragedy, save
as plainly foresaw, looking in my poor
Il I SUPPOSE 'pis ! was rather 4tsavaesn{
in nth t5e spring. !S said Cara' for Ire need a
money of Maud KS lessons would keep
left town rather suddenly in June and I
sent my bill to the house, however, not
doubling that it would be paid at once.
I waited a month, and in the meantime
that the strictest economy was necessary.
Do what 1 would, however, the money
despair, I resolved to write f0, Gr. K.
It,was a hard thing to do, but did It,
merely telling him that I had sent in my
bill to Mrs. K. at such a date and having
heard nothing from her feared that It
had not been forwarded. It seemed to
me that life and death hung upon the
answer, yet I did not really doubt that
he would send the money at once. His
answer came one day while you we're
with me-"
II remember" said, briefly.
There was no money enclosed, as I
had expected continued Cara. mere
~ informed me that the bills of Maud's
lessons and schooling were always set
tied by Mrs., x; that the bill had been
duly forwarded to her, and that, no
doubt, she would settl6 it promptly
upon her return in Septem Der. >. And I
had just sixty cents in the world?"', IL,
my poor Cara?' I cried, ''What did
w *D SS' What was there to o doa" said
Cara. fortunately my rent was paid
for three months in advance, so that I
was sure of shelter, at least. For the
rest, lived for a month upon that sixty
cents. Of course I could not afford to
buy fuel, so bread and water constituted
my entire diet. Two rolls day not very
satisfactory, but it WAS all I could afford.
Two cents a day will not set very lux
urious table. Hungry? I think was
not SO much hungry as weak. The
worst of all was that I could not paint
| had not the strength to stand before
the easel, and my hand shook so that I
could not manage the brushes, and
sometimes it really seemed that my
mind wandered. Dear, you must not
feel so badly aboutit. It is all over now"
For was crying silently at the
thought. of all she had suffered through
that horrible summer, and still ID ore at
the thought it was not all over, that, alas!
it had just began. -: -, -.
ooh, Cara! Why would you not d COME
to me when 1 begged your" l sobbed at
last. :.
"Dear, could not" said Cara gently:
II should have felt like .beggar. I
could not tell you of my straits, and I
could not 60 and live upon you, know
ing that l was actually pauper,
your servants. If you will ask me for a
make me independent, will come; but
at that time could not-I tried, but, in
deed could not.''
"Ask her? of course I asked her,
knowing we'll it was the last thing l
should ever do for her. That months
starvation had done it's work, and the
weakened system fell an easy victim to
the hereditary foe which might else
have been baf1ed. When Cara left our
house at last it was with hands meekly
folded upon her breast, with the sight
less eyes yelled by their long dark LASH
es, and the smile of the triumphant re.
deemed upon her pal1id lips"
Aunt Grace's lips were quivering and
her eyes dim with teaas as she finished
her story. Rose had dropped her work
and sat with her eyes fixed upon her
auht's face.
GLOW did DIR. X. feel when he heard
Of it," she asked, at last.
'He never knew it" said Aunt Grace.
"When I take up the religious or sec
ular papers and read the burning and
words in which he ple ,ded the
cause of some benevolent object, won
der what he would say if be knew the
true story of little Cara Hastings
"But he ought to know it," said Rose,
1T was hardly his fault, after ALL"
said Aunt Grace, gently. "He could
Dever imagine of what consequence a
sum of money, which Seemed trifling to
him. might be to a. poor girl. But that
IS the reason why always pay NY hills
promptly, Rose" g..
Rose stood up, put away her work and
her crewels and left the room. A few
minutes afterward she returned ,cloaked
and hated for the street.
'Thank you for your story, Aunt
Grace". she said as she buttoped her
glove. II am going down now to pay that
dill, and as for Mrs. Lorimer's reception
well, I can wear my old bonnet or
,tay at home."-New York Observer