River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-08-16

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Cara smiled her own bright, cheerful
smile.
~ have had very hard summer"
/ she said, "but / shall soon be strong
| again. Now that it is all over can tell
YOU about it, but at one time | really
| thought that should nver live to do So
stIt was not romantic story, for there
was no love in it, and no tragedy, save
as plainly foresaw, looking IN my poor
| Cara's face.
| 81 suppose l was rather extravagant
in the spring." said Cara, for l need a
good many things, and / knew that the
money of Maud KS lessons would keep
me ali summer. Maud and her mother
left town rather suddenly in June and
| did not know where they had gone.
sent my bill to the house, however, not
| doubling that it would be paid at once.
waited month, and in the meantime
my funds ran very low, and | found
| that the strictest economy was necessary.
! Do what | would, however. the money
melted away like water and at last in
| despair, / resolved to write to, DIR. 4.
| 1t was hard thing to do, but did it,
merely telling him that had sent in my
| bill to Mrs y. at such a date and having
heard nothing from her feared that 1t
had not been forwarded. 1t seemed to
me that life and death hung upon the
answer, get did not really doubt that
he would send the money at once. His
answer came one day while you were
with me-"
81 remember" / said, briefly.
There was no money enclosed, as |
had expected, continued Cara. " mere
| ly 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 settle it promptly
upon her return in September. And
had Just sixty cents in the world?"
my poor Cara?' / cried, "What did
you dor
dor What was there to do2" said
Cara. Fortunately my rent was paid
for three months in advance, SO that
was sure of shelter, at least. For the
rest, lived for month upon that sixty
cents. OF course | could not afford to
buy fuel, so bread and water constituted
my entire diet. Two rolls day not very
satisfactory, but it was all | could afford,
| Two cents day will not Sc very lux
urious table. Hungry? | think | was
| not so much hungry as weak. The
worst of all was that | could not paint.
had not the strength to stand before
the easel, and my hand shook so that
| could not manage the brushes, and
sometimes it really seemed that my
mind wandered. Dear, you must not
feel so badly aboutit. 1t is all over now"
''For | was crying silently at the
| thought of all she had suffered through
that horrible summer, and still more at
the thought it was not all over. that, alasl
it had just began.
"Oh Cara! why would you not come
TO me when | begged YOUR | sobbed at
last
"Dear, / could not" said Cara gently
Il should have felt like beggar. |
could not tell you of INV straits, and |
could not 90 and live upon you, know
ing that [ was actually a pauper, |
should have felt ashamed even before
your servants. If you will ask me for a
visit now that l have money enough to
make me Independent, will come; but
at that time could mott tried, but, in
deed / could not"
"Ask her? of course / asked her,
knowing we'll it was the last thing
should ever do for her. That months
starvation had done its work, and the
weakened system fell an easy victim to
the hereditary foe which might else
have been baffled. 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 pallid lips"
Aunt Grace's lips were qulvering and
her eyes dim with teaas as she finished
her story. Rose had dropped her work
and sat with her eyes fixed upon her
aunt's face.
GLOW did DIR. X. feel when he heard
of it?" she asked, at last.
"He never knew it," said Aunt Grace.
"When l take up the religious or Sec
ular papers and read the burning and
eloquent words in which he ple ded the
| cause of some benevolent object, ! won
der what be would say if he knew the
true story of little Cara Hastings"
"But he ought to know ii" said Rose,
Indignantly.
at was hardly his fault, after all.
said Aunt Grace, gently. "He could
never imagine of what consequence a
sum of money, which seemed trifling to
him, might be to poor girl. But that
is the reason why | always pay my bills
promptly, Rose"
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 buttoDed her
glove. 81 am going down now 20 pay that
bill, and as for Mrs. Lorimer's reception
well, can wear my old bonnet or
stay at home" New York Observer