The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-14
RUTH'S SACRIFICE.

b NELLIE.

BIZ NELLIE.
Written for The Baltimorcan.
"Now | can get a new dress for tn,
picnic, can't,I, motherg' questions pret
ty Ruth Cleveland, as she balances OF
her finger five dollar note Just taken
from the open letter in her hand
Aunt Sarah says | am to use this as
please the girls will have new dres
ses, and my old white is SO shabby.
can easily make it myself, so do say yes
mother" coaxingly and with a con
scious blush as she knows for whose
eyes she wants to look her best, and re-
members how Mr.. Forester admires
Ada Marchmont and her becoming toll
cts. Bruce Forester has been teaching
the country school all summer, and
Ruth would scarcely like to admit, even
to herself, how deeply she feels inter
ested in him, and how sore has been her
heart since the attentions which before
were all her own, have been divided with
Miss Marchmont, who is OH visit to
some relatives in the vicinity of Briar-
wood Poor, hard worked Mrs. Cleve-
land looks up from her pan of dough
into her daughters bright, eager face
with wistfuIness in her own, for the
mothers heart would gladly give so
much more than this if she was able.
al don't know, Ruthie, you do need the
dress, but you know we had planned to
manage with the old one, and :"
"Yes, know, mother, you think the
money ought to go toward paving that
debt Of fathers, but we have pinched 50
hard for that. and Mr.. Forester being
here does make difference. We've
saved, nearly half his board by doing
without girl, aud I've worked real
hard this summer" the tears yelling up
in the brown eyes as the thought of how
the old dress will look in contrast with
Ada Marchmont's. comes over her.
"Well, my daughter, the money is
your own; YOU have worked hard as you
say and deserve it; so do as you please,
Ru HE, and perhaps We can pay
the debt before Christmas anyway.
hope so, for it worries me sick some
times. Now, make haste dear, and get
the chamber work done, for | need you
here" So Ruth folds the letter and
goes quietly upstairs to sweep and dust,
never guessing how Mir. Forester, hav
ing returned for book wanted in the
school room, has left his door ajar while
he seeks Il, and heard every word of the
conversation with feeling of pity for
the girl who has grown so dear to him
i'm these weeks that he has boarded In
her mothers house and taught the cOun-
try school, teaching Ruth Cleveland in
the dusky cleaning and quiet starlight
the old, vet ever new lesson of love. He
slips down and out of the house without
betraying his presence to its inmates,
when he has heard the door opposite
close, wandering as he walks along,
whether Ruth will be guided by her own
wish or her mothers Judgment in the
matter of the dress, for he is not so
blind as not to fully understand the
temptation bofore her. My bonny
Ruth" he whispers softly to himself,
while she, fastening with her duties,
dreams not of how his thoughts are filled
with her, and wavers, sorely pressed,
between the desire of her. heart to ap-
pear at the picnic in fresh attire that
will make her fairer in his eyes, or yield
to what she knows her mother thinks is
best, for the creditor is a b I'd man, and
the debt has been a source of much wOr*
~ and annoyance to them both.
Dinner over and the kitchen cleared,
she locks her doer and getting out the
contents of her wardrobe, turns over the
few articles it contains.
ayes, the white is the only one that
will do at ALL" she decides presently,
land it does look fearfully shabby, but
] suppose ! might get new lace Tor the
sleeye-I haye dollar yet from my
strawberry money and perhaps ! could
get enough for the overskirt, too, but,
oh dearp and the brown head goes down
on the pillow while Ruth sobs out her
pSin and disappointment, and almost
decides to spend the five dollars for the
coveted dress, and with the memory OF
how lovely the goods looked in the store
window last week, she rises hastily and
begins to make ready for a walk to the
village, but ere she dons the neat cam
brio, she recalls her mothers pale wor-
ried face, and knowing how relieved she
will feel to have the harassing debt
even five dollars less, better thoughts
come to her, and with another little
burst of tears. she lays aside the bill
with her own dollar beside il, and de-
cides to stay away altogether from the
picnic Mrs. Cleveland asks no ques-
tons, believing the matter settled, but
Bruce Forester is curious to know wilaf
she viii do, and after the early tea, asks
her to help him gather some botanical
specimens before it Is too late, and once
alone with her, leads the conversation %
the subject of the picnic. ! am going
to take holiday for once, he tells her,
may | have the pleasure of being your
escort, Miss RuthP' Her face hushes
and happy light comes into her big
brown eyes; It is not too late-her
mother believes the dress to be already
decided upon, and as vision of herself,
weil-dressed beside the man she loves
IN the midst of the gay scene, and the
long, lonely day at home rises in con-
trast before her, she wavers again, but
only Tor an instaHt-the light dies out
OF her face, and IN spite Of herself the
scarlet lips tremhle as she replies
Thank You, Mr.. Forester, but I am
not going
Not going z in pretended amazement,
while his heart whispers exultingly,
what brave little girl she Isl and
then be speaks aloud, And Why are yon
not going, If / may ask -
lamely.
But surely Mrs Cleveland can spare
you for one day, OF If not will drive
{on over q the afternoons Come. His
Aufhs say yes. on nlay grow desperate
ana see i Miss Alarchmont NiIi not Be
more kind. lsughineiy.
toa aEe very good, but indeed lean.
net So. ahe answers frmly. PLEASE q
nek inslst. but hope yon viii 81 enjoy
eafselResl and have no doubt Miz
MsrehmQnt viii accept your inv Iio1.
SiEh litlle touch of Jealous bride a
zee that does him world of good
po doubt sha 4I|I- he1
Nov, Hiss RuIh' make 81
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