The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-07-19
BENEATH LOVES sun.

There was . statue, only common CLAW.
Which in the sunshine stood one SIMMER
day
And just through one brief, magic hour, I'm
told,
Because the sun shone 30, seemed purest
There was a hero, hero but to one,
Who had his giltled hour beneath Loves
Sun.
And then, nh mel the sunshine died awav
And left the hero bare, dull, common ciay.
Are you the hero, or are you the sun?
a word, mon ami, and my fables done:
Hyou must blame, be just, and blame the
sum-"
Erica ceased reading. She laid down
the magazine she was reading, and lean
ing back in her rattan rocker looked ND
at her sister with bright, serious eyes.
You are the sun, Bertha. In the light
Of your love he is above reproach. All,
believe me, dearp
Bertha smiled and shook her head.
1T is light which shall never die
away, a sun which shall! never set" she
answered with sweet resoluteness.
She was standing in the great bay win
dow, leaning idly against the oaken cas-.
ing, two round, firm arm, lifted angle
wise above her head, two slim clasped
hands, snow white upon the blackness
of her hair.
The folds Of the loose crimson wrap-
per she wore suggested rather than re.
vealed the curves Of a figure youthful
and exquisite. The small, shabby slip
pers covered feet arched and dainty. A
slender slip of a girl, she, with q pale.
reg"'ar-teatured face, redeemed from
mere prettiness by pair Of magnificent
midnight eyes. Undoubtedly Bertha
was the beauty of the family. And
very large family it was, TOO.
There was tall, handsome, rOllilkinp
Rick, bronze.haired and bne-eyed:
there were Dot and Dora, the twins, as
much alike us peas IL a pod there were
half \ dozen younger children, ruddy-
checked and strong. lunged, to all of
whom plain featured lovely hearted
Erica WAS father ami mother in one.
And just now she was to wilful Bertha a
most gentle monitor
will be there all the same, my pet" she
said; Bertha dropped her hands with
restless gesture.
NO" quickly, II did not admit that"
"What u child it isT' Erica laughed
leniently.
A basket of bright-hued woods Law
overturned beside her chair. She be-
gan winding up each skein with the or
derliness natural to her.
"You see we know SD little of him."
she went on with dubious and deepen
ing perplexity. "Wait! You met him
three weeks ago at the Leonards. He
has called here four-was it six times?
You have gone once with him to the
opera, and-you are engaged to him. l
can hardly realize it, uear. 1t IS all So
60 sudden it almost frghtens me-"
'Uniucky the wooing that's long
a-doing!' " gayly caroled Bertha. "Oh,
you ridiculous darling?'
A flood Of sunshine poured in at the
window. In its clear light the room re-
minded one irresistibly of an impover-
ished old aristocrat, seedy and out at
the elbows. but holding a certain sug-
gestion of former magnifcence. A ia
ded velvet carpet covered the floor,
chairs, venerable and ''thready,"
brooded 1igidly erect, and under foot
we're rugs SO worn as to become snare.
ful and Nihilistic. But to carry out the
prove his personal appearance with &
bright tie, pair of new tinted gloves. q
buttonhole bouquet; and just now the
Brs!thwoods' parlor lost much Gifts usu-
al air of barren decay-thanks to the
ruby fire in the CRATE, the delightful pro-
fusion of late magazines and periodicals
scattered everywhere, the cluster of hot
house roses on the center table.
Erica distangled the end of skein of
Berlin, and commenced to wind it be-
Tore she spoke again. Then it was in
tone Of deliberate aversion.
give a %s dtSnRi b." :e is Ser 1et End and
shifting, and restless. He never looks
up straightforwardly to speak or an.
swer. hope this dislike of mine
- unfounded prejudice; l do sincere
1T is not like you, Erica," Bertha
cried, bitterly aggrieved. II thought
you would be kind and sympathetic-if
you had ever loyed yourself" The fin
Gere guiding the rosy strand trembled q
little, but went bravely on with her
task.
1T! did, Bertha"
"You?"
Eyes. And-I gave him up"
"Bah!" the girl answered scornfully,
strong with the extravaganza of her
young passion. "You call that love!
That which falters is not love. Love is
undying!'
Her sister smiled sadly. Eyes, love
is undying. would have been his wife
had it not been that he demanded of me
sacrifice contrary to every law Of hon
or"
''There is no sacrifice" Bertha, inter-
rupted, reckless)y, II would not make
for the man love. You we're cowardly,
Ericav'
Erica looked up with quick catching
of her breath. Her bright bal. rolled
UNDECIDED to the floor.
Bertha! listen, dear, imagine a de d
mother, desolate home, group of
helpless, lonely children. Think oflove,
think of happiness, bought only at the
price of desertiOn of these little ones;
think Of that and call me-cowardlyw
'Erica!"
A sudden trimming of brilliant eyes,
the swirl OF crimson wrapper, flutter
of white hands, and Bertha was on her
knees with her arms around her sister.
"YOu did this for us-for me! For
give me-iorgive me! Oh, didn't mean
It, Erica, didn't, indeed!'
A canary swinging in his gilded cage
burst forth into great bravura.
Erica rose suddenly.
'How shrilly that bird SINGS" she ex-
claimed. lit is deafening."
She went out Of the room and Bertha
sat quite still where she had left her.
Her head lay within the hollow of her
arm, which rested on the elbow of the
racker. Louder and more piercing
came the song from the bird cage.
"S:op, Dick!' she cried, irritably.
She caught the late September rose
from her bosom and flung it at him, and
laughed at herself for being so foolish
all in one breath.
Robert Sutherland came up that eve
ming. He was q man of twenty. five or
Whereabouts, with smooth, clean shay
en- face, absolutely colorless. His nose
and chin were of u type long and pro-
nounced, his eyes were light blue, his
hair light yellow.
The Bfaithwoods were all gathered
together in tho parlor when he entered.
Rick ley full lenath on tho sofa. deep in