The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-08-16
Why / Pay Bills When Due.

IOOAou dI tuo paper WHICH Llo bofV0n
handed her. ''That wretched girl is il
desperate hurry to send in her bill fo1
embroidery. Twenty dollars! just wha
I had saved to pay for the bonnet anic
gloves which must have if 90 to Mrs
Lorimer's reception. I did not expect
this bill until had my next months al.
lowance. Well, she must wait, that's
ALL" 49,. :.
II would not make her wait, if we're
you, Rose" said Miss Grace Rowan,
looking up from her sewing.
why, it is only ten days" said Rose.
Papa always gives me my allowance
on the first day of the month, and to.
! day is the twenty-frst."
'Nevertheless would pay her bill to:
day." said Miss Rowan, earnestly. I'll
it will be Of any use to you I would
much rather lend you the money. u
can probably do without it better than
she cam"
"Thank you, Aunt Grace, but that
would not do at all" said Rose. "When
papa consented to give me regular al
lowance it was on condition that I should
never borrow penny of any one. But
why are you so anxious that the bill
should be paid al once? Do you
know any thing about this girl that
you are e, so sure she is in need of the
"No," said Miss Rowan, IT know
nothing about her. It is only on general
principles that | am speaking: Not ex-
actly either. Ifyou choose [ will tell
you why: L, never delay "a day in
paying a bill sent in by a poor
person, above all by poor young
girl.'
"A story" said Rose, gayly. "Oh,
that is delightful, I am as fond of stories
now as was at 10 years old. 1t just
comes at the right time, too, for mamma
wants me to finish this table cloth and
do get so tired of these conventional
borders, just the same thing over and
over, but story will.make me forget it.
Do 60 on aunty."
Rose settled herself comfortably in
her low sewing chair and dropped her
dark ]ashes over her pretty blue eyes.
Aunt Oracle smil led little at her eager
ness, then sighed family and began her
tale;
ut is story Of the days when was
an elderly young girl; living; at home
with my parents" she said. 3'And
the heroine Of the story-you reraem-
Der those flower paintings which
you have SO often admired at my home,
! Rose?" :, ~,
Remember them? Of course / do.
| Those great velvety pansies with: the
dewdrops standing upon their purple
petals. And the sweet peas, with rings
Of dainty flush over tremulous, white
looking as if breath would blow them
away. And, oh 3unty! those exquisite
| maple buds and catkins, the soft, furry
! white 'pussies,' mingled with the bright
scarlet af the bursting buds. It is like a
dream of early spring. But how do they
come into your story, aunty" asked Rose
lifting her wide eyes of interest to her
aunt's face.
;'Only because the painter of those
pictures is the heroine of ii" said Aunt
Grace. "Cara Hastings was her name.
She was much younger than [, an or
phen, fighting her way single-handed
with the world. Pretty7 Well, rather
pretty, not very. She had a slight.
graceful figure, dark wistful eyes set in
q small, pale face. flexible, tremulous
hair, which framed her broad forehead
like cloud.
Il met her first at the studio of
friend, and, in spite of the two years.
difference in our ages, we took a mutual
fancy to each other. After that l was
often at her stndio, poor little bare place
that it was! One room served for ev-
crything-kitchen, parlor, studio, bed
room, yes, and reception room for her
pupils. A broad lounge served for her
bed by night, and one corner of the
room was curtained off to conceal her
toilet apparatus. Her cooking, such as
it was, was accomplished upon small
kerosene stove, which when not in use,
she kept in her closet. A poor little
place, as said, but Cara was very happy
in it. She loved her work, and she had
one Of those bright, happy dispositions
which make their own sunshine. She
often talked to me of her pupils, but the
Maud x. { knew the name we'll, for
the father Of this Maud was one Of the
most prominent clergymen in the city
where we both lived. Every one re-
spected him, irrespective of denomina-
ton. He was not only an eloquent
preacher and profound scholar, Of fer
vid piety and blameless life, he was also
philanthropist, reformer,, prominent
in the temperance cause, in the society
for the suppression of vice, in every
thing that was good and noble. Cara
often spoke of him with enthusiasm.
'It is not only that Maud is such a
darling," she said, "but feel it an hon.
or to be associated in any wav with the
family of such man."
''All this was in the winter. Spring
fa% ~ and evety body was esyng t9 g9
OIL Ivy 7 ,1f To
is such a pleasant feeling and sense Of
solitude in a large city through July and
August that I meant to put off my out
ing" until late September. Cara did not
90 away, either, and we saw a good deal
of each other. 1t was not unalloyed Joy
to me, though, for: watching her, saw
that day by day her cheek grew paler
and thinner, her step slower, her eye
more feverishly bright.
"What is the matter with you, Cara"
I often asked, anxiously, but she only
smiled and protested that nothing allied
her, that she was only little tired with
the hot weather; when fall came she
would be herself again.
II urged her to 20 out of town, or at
least to come and stay for while with
me in our large, empty house, but no.
II must work, you know" said Cara,
"must work harder than ever now, that
my pupils have all left me for the sum-
mer. could not work with you. Ny
mind would be continually disturbed,
and-No, no, my studio is much the best
place for me"
But why work 30 hard" I said,
"Why not take holiday? Your les
sons of last winter surely brought you
in enough to enable you to rest awhile
now. There were Maud KS lessons
which alone would bring you in small
fortune, you said"
"A small fortune? Yes, but small for
tunes will not last forever" said Cara,
slowly. "How do know that I shall!
have any pupils next year? How do l
know7''
''There was short, sharp, knock at
the studio door and a letter fell trough
the slit, upon the floor. Cara sprang to
pick it up, glanced at the address which
I saw was in a masculine hand, and
faint flush tinged her pale cheeks, l
turned away to look at a picture, while
she tore open the envelope. When I
turned back the flush had faded. and
left her paler than before, her lips were
quivering little, and her eyes had a
dim, hopeless look, which moved me
sorely.
cara, yor are not well," cried.
Dear child, you must come with me.
you shall do exactly as you please: You
shall have room with a north light and
be alone when you like, and no one
shall ask you Il questian. We will make
excursions into the country, and you
shall sketch while read, and