Daily Republican., 1884-05-22
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ELLIE'H BERRY MONEY.
BY ALFRED YOUNGE.

such luxuriance as on the barren, me-
elected farm of the Widow Paine.
On the rugged uplands and in the
Ilowland pastures ripened In lavish abun
ldance the luscious fruit which the hanG
of man takes no care to cultivate. Yet
as they ripeneG in their seasons tn,
berries were carefully garnered by the
busy little hands OF thrifty Ellice, the
widows younger daughter.
There were three in the Paine family
the mother, Maude, and Ellice, Oh
"Ellie" as they called her.
They had seen better days; in fact
had been wealthy once upon a time
and oven now, when fortune, tickle
dame, had turned her back upon them,
Mrs. Paine and proud Maude could moi
seem to bow their heads before the de
cree of fate. They fretted and fumed
and in a desperate sort OF fway managed
to keep up Appearances. while gentle
Ellie slaved for them, gave up all tc
them, and was happy in her sacrifice.
From early june, when the timid
strawberry Redeemed upon the warm
hillside, until late September, Ellie
had bent over the vines and tramped
into the village with her baskets; and
when the frost settled upon the land
she coun ted twenty dollars as the pro
ceeds of her summers labor.
Twenty dollars seemed veritable
fortune to the poor girl who never had
Anything new to wear, and she told
herself that she would now have o sim.
pie gown of cashmere and perhaps a
feather with which to disguise Maude't
last winters hat.
She was happy in the anticipation,
and in leisure moments would count
over her little hoard and congratulate
herself that she need not call upon her
mother for funds and 80 cramp her
naughty sisters prospects.
| She toiled hard for the pittance, but
she considered herself amply well COM
pensated.
One lovely day in the early Indian
summer, Ellie canght up her hat and
ran out for short stroll upon the breezy
uplaDds.
AS she returned, AZ happy as a bird,
he was startled 10 hear sob3 emAnating
from the sitting-room
She paused in the hall and listened.
Presently voice spoke, voice
choked with sObs.
Maude's voice
"This poverty ia killing me p cried
the girl, az had set my life upon going
to the reception. a null dress with
satin ribbons would not cost over
twenty dollars and might win for
tune by IT,"
81 am very sorry, my dear child, !"
returned the widow in woe-begone
tone "a month later l might have
been able to raise the amount, but at
present it is impossible. l AIN quite
sure that Herbert Gale would be pleased
with you, and it breaks my heart to
think that you must miss this chance
of winning him, but Heaven knows |
cannot help it.
"IIe is only to be at home two days,
and then he and his mother 60 abroad
for years; he may never see me, y
sighed Maudr.
81 know it, dear but what can l
do?"
RAISE the twenty dollars in some
way, mother, and let me go to Mrs.
Gales reception"
81 cannot"
"Then l must give up this great
chance for the sake of twenty miserable
dollars"
"No!'
1t was Ellie who spoke.
She stepped quickly into the room
and stood before them.
They failed to notice that she was
very pale, that her voice was unsteady.
They only wondered what Ellie could
do to secure Mallae the coveted plea
sure.
She soon explained.
81 have twenty dollars laid by from
the sale of my berries," she said, you
shall have It all, Maude, and go to the
reception"
"Why didn't you say 80 before?'
snapped Maude, "and save me all this
misery?"
" was not aware that MIR. Gale had
returned, nor that we had received In
vitations TO the reception"
swell we have, and now mother and
will CO."
And when Maude was attired for her
proposed triumph and certainly looked
very lovely in her null and satin rib
bons, 1t is safe to affirm that not one
sentiment of gratitude TO the noble sis
ter, who had sacrificed her all entered
her sordid bosom.
When at last they were off in all their
fnery, Ellie sat down upon the door
step in the warm, mellow moonlight to
think. She thought of Herbert Gale,
how he had becn her secret hero and
how she had dreamed of him waking
and sleeping, during the five long years
that lie had been abroad serving post
of honor in a foreign legation.
And now he had returned Tor
few days to get his lady mother and
return.
Probably she should not see him.
No! Hark There is a step upon
the garden path, and stately form
stands before her. 1t is Herbert Gale,
as handsome as a young god, In his
full evening dress.
She is too startled to rise, but she
gives him her hand in eloquent silence.
$50 you did not care to welcome me
home," he says, reproachfully. /
eyes" she replies, shyly, but
could not go with my mother and SIS
ter tonight"
"I understand, Ellie, but you are
glad to see me?'
dyes"
He sits down beside her in the moon
light. ,,,,
:" DO you know why returned p he
asks.
For your mother, did you not ?"
Not wholly"
For what, then ?"
For you"
For me !"
eyes. You were my little sweet
heart before went away want you
for nv wife now. Don't say no, Ellie