The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-11-28

my own living''-and as if in proof of this
whiz, whir, went the sewing machine
again, almost drowning Sarah's contempt
uous "Fiddlesticks I"
"It's downright selfshness," Sarah de-
clared again. which was a skillful stab in
a sore spot. Here's mother got to work
on when she ought to be giving mp all
work. The boys have good places, and
she could break up housekeeping and
come and live between US, if it wasn't for
you hanging round her. She's killing her.
selfw
Ruby had apparently very long seam,
for the buzz of thc swift sewer was all the
answer that came.
Mrs. Owen might have put in dis
claimer, II she had not been so busy string
ing empty spools for her grandchildren
that she paid no attention to her talk.
AS Sarah prepared to go, jerked her
baby's hoodstrings together and twitched
its cloak about its shoulders, she made a
last dash-saying angrily:
"Who do you care for, then? l dare say
you've set your heart on some goodfor
nothing, that can't earn his own living let
alone yours. Wen, go on; be as poor as
poverty all your life. You'll get no help
chance as this Why don't you speak? Is
there anybody else? lfthere is | s'poss I'll
have to let you alone"
| Ruby was quilting some wadding.
| Round and round, crossing and recrOssing
| in lines and curves, went the quilting.
| Ruby's cheeks had famed into scarlet, but
| that was all the sign she gavo that she had
heard a word. II she had condolences to
| give, they would never come out when
roughly demanded.
When left to herself Ruby put her head
down YEARLY and shed some little tears.
It always grieved her to have differences
with Sarah. She Wondered why it wBs
lthev came so often. She was not wise
1nongh to know the true reason, that one
nature was highly organized, made of
finest silk, and the other was of tow-cloth.
Did she care for anybody else? Not tor
lures should draw from her a syllable Of
the name of the person who for long
time had been her ideal OF all that was
true and manly and good. How Sarah
would laugh her to scOrn if she could know
that hidden away upstairs, was a poor
little withered rose, treasured because he
had given it to her, and that was the only
proof she possessed that he had ever given
her u thought. stephen Perry had given
it to her weeks ago, when he brought the
mail-a beautiful white rose. True, he
hadn't given it as if he meant to. He had
pOked the stem into one corner Of the
newspaper, and said, 81 can't take care Of
that any longer" exactly as if it mad hap
pened in his possession, and he wanted to
get rid of it, But for all that it was
precious. She kept it in life as Long as
possible, and then gathered its fragrant
leaves into box and hid it in the farther
corner of her drawer. II she could have
known that Stephen stopped at q florists
ON his way and selected the finest rose in
bloom, and conveyed it with great care to
her door, why, it might have set her heart
to 1luttering.
Ono September night, when a driz2lng
rain was falling, Ruby sat in the dusk,
shedding Silent tears. The news that she
had given John Payne a downright mo-
had sent Sarah out strai%htway-iut the
storm though it waste make one last ap-
peal to her misguided sister and induce her
if possible to retract her refusal. But
when arguments, entreaties and seedlings
produced no effect, she had departed,
leaving singing words behind. The world
looked dark to Ruby; everybody was
against her. This persecution was worse
than cold or hunger or hard work. Yet
she knew she was right, and resolved anew
that, come what would, she would never
| VOW before God to love and honor man
that she did not love and honor-not even
| to keep herself from starvation. TWAS not
| Sarah'S reprOaChes alone that Stung her.
| Even her mother was taking sides, and
saying, as she looked troubled:
| 81 don't kS9w, may be you better Econ
| slider it, child. l can't be with you always,
you know. It'll be better to have a good
husband to take care of you than to be left
| all alone"
! While she leaned her head on the win
dow seat and wiped the tears, she was at
| the same time lifting up her heart to God
for strength and comfort, and it was
| coming, so near and 50 kind. There came
a knock at the door now, and Ruby fed up
stairs. 1t was only the postman with the
| evening mail
g. l.E+. ; l., al 1o1 -, hp-
as she lighted q lamp. 81 s'pose its from
the Kansas folks" But Ruby did not stir
| till her mother said: " It's for you. Come
down quick, and let's hear the news"
What if, somehow, there should be some
| great good for her in that letter: But il
was wild thought that went through heI
head. She never had letter in her life
from anybody but relatives.
"Come, child, hurry up and read it
Let's know how they are doing" he1
mother said, after she lad waited patiently
till Ruby had opened the letter and reaC
through the first page.
at isn't from Kansas, mother" Ruby
said, with a little trerlble in her voice.
"Well, who is it from, them"
at is from Mr.. Perry"
"The postman! What in the world
exclaimed her mother. Then, glancing al
RubY's flushed cheeks, she forbore, anC
| knit on in silence.
"Weu what does Stephen Perry want"
her mother asked, after Ruby had reaC
the letter twice and sat dreaming over it
"Read it," said Ruby, putting it in hel
lap and running upstairs again.
"There is no need of waiting" pleaded
Stephen month later. 81 have waited
waited ten years for you. l want my wifi
to be all settled in her new home by
| Thanksgiving"
And so it came about that the week be
fore Thanksgiving Mr.. and Mrs. 6tephel
Perry returned from their bridal trip auC
settled down in the little brown house
which had been newly painted, paperet
carpeted, and made fresh as any nest il
June.
Ruby heaped Goals OF fire on the head o
her sister Sarah, by inviting her to roya
Thanksgiving dinner in her new home, AM
that young woman was appropriately con
trite and humble.
sit was several months afterward tina
Ruby was looking over some old papers o
her mothers that a sudden light beamed j
upon her 1t fairly stopped her breath 70
| a moment as she looked over again tn
letter received five years before from tn
| unknown friend. She ran to bring her on
love letter and compare the handwritin
with the other letter. There could be bu
one conclusion-the same hand had evi
IDENTIFY written them both. When StepheI
came home she charged it upon him, an
with stammerings and blushings he wa
obliged to plead guilty.
40, Stephen, you are--you area
angel" declared Raby, thereby provin
her childish illusion to be sober truth
Chicago Interior.