The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-10-06
Nuby's Sorrow.

81 wish were dead, 80 therel"
And Ruby Brown stood the picture
OF lovely despair, gazing down at u
yellow mass at her feet, consisting OF
six dozen crushed eggs.
Poor Ruby had been whole month
saving and boarding these treasures
which were to play an important part
in the purchase Of lovely Coaster
bonnet" Aunt Emily had contempt-
uously called it, when Ruby had said
in a pleading tone, "But, auntie, all
the girls are going to have pretty new
hats to wear on Easter Sunday,'
"Easter bonnets, indeedI'' snapped
Aunt Emily. "Girls in my time didn't
think eternally about bonnets; and
Easter Sunday wasn't made show day
for bonnets, either"
"1f l could have the eggs, auntie, {"
pleaded Ruby, ignoring her last re-
marks.
"Well, take 'em; I don't care, if you
can save enough tween now and then.
You'll have to have a bonnet at any
rate shortly after Easter"
Ruby ran joytully out into the coop
to gather the first instalment, after
giving Aunt Emily all affectionate little
hug:
THAT child always gets the best of
me, " smiled the spinster Aunt, grimly
who had been mother and aunt for
many years, nearly eighteen now, since
her dearest and youngest sister had
died. No one knew whatever had be-
come OF gay, wild, dissipated Will
Brown, Ruby's father, whom people
said had once been Emily's lover, and
who had deserted her for the younger
sister, pretty Helen.
The eventful morning had come on
which Ruby's eggs were to be disposed
OF. Blithely and gaily she started forth,
Il neat willow basket OH her arm, her
eyes shining like twin stars, and cheeks
rlvaling summer roses. a stray robin
chlrped obviously overhead in the
budding. but leafIess trees, and visions
OF the "Easter hat" tioated before
Huby's vision, with which the young
curate, who had just been settled at
the "Caworth village" church, should
be ensnared; for all the girls, Aunt
Emily said, "were casting sleeps eyes
that way" Ruby tripped along in the
crisp March air, satisfied with herself
and the whole world, when, alasl for
human hopes and joys how teeting,
Ruby caught her foot in some tangled
weeds, and fell headlong upon her
precious basket Of eggs, and for a mo-
ment felt as if the whole world had
crushed all the JOY and happiness out
or her young heart and life. In her
great sorrow she gave vent to the ejac-
ulation, 81 wish l was deadl', as she
slowly arose from the ruins of all her
(eggs) hopes.
Can be of any assistanco2,, asked
someone behind her.
Ruby started and looked around, to
encounter the amused smile on the
young curate's face.
~ hardly think anyone can remedy
this disaster" stammered Ruby, dis.
mally viewing the mass at their feet.
"Eggsactly," laughed Mr.. Howard.
"Don't laughr' said Ruby, suddenly
bursting into tears.
Don't cry, beg. 1 will try not to
laugh" he said, anxiously.'
"How foolish L am,' said Ruby,
bravely trying to smile; ''but I have
lost my Easter hat.''
"Your Easter hat2" he asked, a little
n0n;PtasSea' @2sa
"Wlth those eggs I should have
bought itl'' sighed Ruby.
"l1elnl Well, is it absolutely neces-
sary to have Easter hats, Miss Brown2''
''Oh, mol"
Still, everyone does, you know"
said Ruby, gravely.
"No. l did not know it before. DO
you not think you could enjoy Easter
without u new hat, Miss Brown?" he
asked. looking into the sweet face
searchlngly.
'Oh, yes, l could" replied Ruby,
blushing rosily. | think l have been a
little vain, and l am punished in this
way"
And Buby laughed quite merrily.
MOT one left to tell the tale," he
answered, joining III her laughter.
only on my dress and mantel, -
laughingly said Ruby; "that will tell
ALL"
ALLOW me to remove few Hecks
from your hair"
And he bent forward with a dainty
cambria handkerchief, removing the
golden spots from the soft, curling
brown hair; both faces had taken on an
added hue Of pink.
MAY l walk back with you?n he
asked Il little eagerly, as she turned to
go home, after their united efforts to
clean the basket which they partially
succeeded in doing.
Permission was shyly given, and soon
they were chatting like old friends,
and Ruth was surprised that she felt
no greater disappointment in the loss
OF her ''Easter hat"
Ruby went to church on Caster
Sunday" with her winters hat, and
the Rev. Clinton Howard thought the
face SO sweet and good beneath IT, that
all the new "ItaSLer hats' sank into
insignilicance in contrast; but Ruby
looked around at the pretty sprays Of
rose-buds, mig,lonette, violets, and pan
sizes, and could not help but feel u little
pang OF envy. How could she know
that the young curate was not admiring
the pretty faces 50 sweetly adorned2
And how could she know that while
the organ sent forth its grandest music,
the thought had come to him that an
other Easter Ruby Brown should wear
an "Easter hat" and it should be bri-
dial white.
THE sting Of the bee is only ono thirty
second of an lnoh long. It is only your
imagination that makes 1t eeem as long