Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-04-18
Her Reward.

Said.e! Saidee 4! Where are you
Why dou't you answer me when
call?'
Yes. aunt Leah-I am coming in a
minute
In a minute y sarcastically repeated
the old lady. 'I'S always in minute
with you, Saidee But 1 suppose, be-
cause l am old and helpless, my COM
fort IS a matter Of no consequence,
whatever
Dear aunt Leah, you must never
think that answered bright, cherry
voice; and Sadee Lynn came into the
room, with a little tray, where was ar
ranged, on a snowy napkin, some tea
biscuits, halS-a-dozcn pink radlshes,
few thin-cut shavings of smoked beet.
aud little pot of tea, with a cup and
saucer of old china that would have
been invaluable to a collector. You
see 1 had you in my mind all the time
aunt Leah she said merrily. 4 gath
cred the radishes from our own garden.
Don't they look nice"
Aunt Leah, withered, little, old
lady, in a dress of worn black silk, and
sharp, grey eyes, pearing through gold
bound spectacles, tasted the tea, and
shook her head.
IT'S too weak said she. 1T isn't
fit TO drink y
L put IN all the tea there was in the
canister, auat Leah said Saidee with
a distressed countenance.
Aunt Leah pushed away the cup, with
an expression of dlstasts.
1T is as 1 might have expected,
SAID she. MY nieces have too little
thought for my comfort to study my
poor and few necessities. Never mind
the tea; can drink cold water, dare
say
Saidee wrung her hands in dispair,
How could she tell this weak, feeble
old lady, above whose declining years
hung the threating Damocles sword
of heart disease, Of their narrowing
clrcumstances-of the empty exche-
quer, the clamorlng creditors, the
pitiful straits 10 which they were re-
duced
What shall do p she asked herself,
as she went slowly back 10 the little
kitchen of the ruinous Gothic cottage,
which they had obtained for a rdicu-
lously low rent because it was ruinous.
Tve borrowed of the rector's wife
twice, and Pm ashamed TO go there
again, and I've sold everything l car
lay my hands on. But glancing up a
picture which hung in the hall beyond
there's the Velasquez still. A Velas
| ouez is always worth money. Belle
will scUld about parting with it, ant
aunt Leah will mourn but we CAM
live on air and dew, like the fairies. III
take It down to MIR. Burner, the artist,
| this afternoon, and ask him to get US
purchaser. Poor people, such as we
, are. can't afford to retain old famil,
relics
And so, when aunt Leah was indulg-
ing in her afternoon nap, and Belle, tn
beauty of the family, was ironing ou
the flounces of her white muslin dress
for the morrow's picnic, valiant Saide
: climbed on a chair, took the unframed
: picture down Git was the head OF som
old Spanard grandee, with stiff poin
ted ruff, and an evil leer in the eyes)
wrapped it up, and crept across the
meadows with it TO the village.
Mr.. Burner was III his studlo-a grlz
lzle-headed, blunt old gentleman, in
belted linen blouse and faded velve
cap.
He nodded kindly at Siadee, who ha
once taken few lessons from him, bu
when she displayed the canvass b
shook his head.
tt How much do you think 1t is worth
u asked Sadee wistfully.
Nothing y said Mr.. Burner.
But CRED the girl. 1t is q Vela
lquezv
That a Velasquez p SAID Mr.. Bur
lner contemptuously. MY dear, Their
}, isn't picture dealer in the countr
who would give FIVE dollars for it. IL
an imitation, and a wretched one
that.
D.. So Saidee tied up the poor rictur
and went home again, shedding fe'
tears as she walked under the whispe
70 ing trees.
: MY last hope gone y she though
nj sBnt III not tell aunt Leah or Bel
. that IT is an imposture. They have
ways taken such innocent pride in Il
Velasquez.'
AS she came past the old brick hou
at the foot OF the Locus Lane, lo'
of furniture was being carried in, Tor
was the second week In May.
Wicker chairs, twined with blue ri
bon, a cottage piano, cases OF booi
|. engravirgs, blrd.cages, plants-all Dol
:, OF pretty things.
AZ AZ Saidee paused and looked at the'
n, not without interest.
nd i wonder who our new neighbc
"a are TO be p she thought.
wn just then out trot;ed stout, cher
'ge checked old lady, with her cap all
one side, and worsted shawl tied Of