News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-08-13
THE CHARITY FUND.

Irene Howell, seated before the dain-
test of writing tables, was making up
accounts. Her little books of expenses
her hand was one larger than any of the
others, and marked on the cover "Char-
ity Fund"
"Two hundred dollars still of Sophle's
money" murmured Irene, as she rapidly
calculated the expenses upon the page
before her. "Shall 1 give it to the asy-
lum9 Oh, Sophie, if you would on "
come to claim your own!'
Tears were in the girls soft blue eyes
as she closed the little book, and resting
her head upon her softly cushioned
chair, gave herself up to sad reverie.
She was twenty-five on the day Just
opening, blonde of winning beauty,
an heiress, and accustomed to live lux
urious life, But in her face was faith
fully mirrored a sad heart.
Love had come to her and filled her
with its happiness, and yet the wearing
grief of her life ever overshadowed even
loves sweetness. She was musing still,
when an elderly lady, after rapping at
the door, came to her side.
clears, Irene" she said, reproachful-
how often ind you i7Ses WeaPfhg itEt '' new
"He knows why tears come so often
into my eyes," said Irene. "To-day the
sorrow of eight long years seems closer
to my heart than ever before. am sure
Sophie is suffering deeply somewhere
and am powerless to aid her"
But l want you to aid some one for
me to-day. l have found an object for
some of your lavish generosity, Irene"
"Who is it2"
GA widow with babe about a year
old. Both are i'll with typhoid fever,
and wanting the very necessaries of life,
Have you spare funds2"
1.-TWO hundred dollars unappropri-
ated,"
"Unsppropriateda Do you calculate
your gifts so nicelyl"
cit is not my gift. Shall I tell you
now, while dress to go with you, where
my charity fund comes from2n
eyes, and tell me something of the
sister whose loss you mourn SO deeply
Did she die long ago3"
81 do not even know that she is dead.
We were orphans and twins, Sophie and
myself, and when we were ten years old
we came here, to be taken into our
grandfather's family. There were only
grandfather himself and my aunt Mi
rum, and we were reasonably happy,
though the discipline was very strict. l
have said that we were twins, but al
though we looked something alike, there
wss not between us the usual strong re-
semblance of sisters so closely united.
Sophie had brown hair, was much taller
than 1 am, and much more independent
of spirit. l was always quiet in dispo-
sition, while she loved gayety. l was
willing to submit to the restraints placed
upon our every action; Sophie fretted
under them. While Aunt Miriam lived,
she softened the rigorous rules of the
household as much as she dared, stood
between us and our grandfather's anger
at any girlish faults, and allowed US
some indulgences; but after she died
grandfather's rigid discipline became in
tolerable to Sophie.
at the continual outbreaks that reused
his anger. We were required to dress
with the utmost simplicity, though our
allowance was liberal. A necktie or a
| flower in our bonnets were made the
subjects of the harshest reproof. We
were allowed no friends of our own age,
and / think grandfather looked upon
the encouragement of lover as posi-
tive crime.
"We were eighteen when Sophie ran
away. She left note for me, telling
me she had saved some money out of
her allowance, and was going to seek a
place where she could earn living l
have never seen her dear face since that
day."
'But did she not write to you9"
"Grandfather watched for the letters,
and burned them, unopened, before my
| face. He threatened to disinherit me if
1 held any communication with Sophie
but would have followed her even then,
| if had known where to find her. After
writing again and again, think she
grew discouraged, and thought l did
not care to hear from her, or would not
answer for fear of grandfather's anger.
But l could never see even one line, and
after time the letters ceased to come. ~
''She may be dead"
81 think not. | think should know
If Sophie died. But my story is not
done. Three years ago my grandfather
died and left his entire property to me.
There was no condition in his will, and
resolved to find Sophie and divide nv
wealth with her. l advertised; / set
detectives to work; but / have not
found her. In the meantime, for her
sake, devote one-half of my income
sophie's half-to charitable purposes,
hoping some blessing may come to her
from this use of her money"
The older lady, Mrs. Smithson, the
future mother-in-law of the young heir
ess, smiled indulgently, while in her
heart she thought Irene fanciful and ro
mantle.
'Wilbur must make her take more
common-sense view of these matters"
she thought.
NOW am ready Irene said fastening
her veil. 'Can you tell me anything
more of this poor widow ~
Gone of tha ladies' of tho Ranauolapt