The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-03-12
THE SISTERS.

brought up III the little cottage NJ inc
fool of the hill-pretty fair-haired girls.
rs unlike the dark, wrinkled. gnome-
like father rs possible.
lie was good man, but it was from
their mother they got their pretty looks
their mother, who was dead.
Hilda was the eldest: she was twenty.
Fleda was scarcely fifteen. Yet il was
the Youngest who got the old mans
meals for him. made the beds. washed
the small diamond panes of the queer
old windows. Redeemed the brick floor,
and braided the hempen MATS that kept
the cold from their feet, while Hilda
sewed principally upon iinery for her.
| self.
Sometimes she did u little work for
| the factories. but not often. Her father
often spoke To her of his age. and the
| fact that she ought To earn her bread.
The child tends on <mc," he used TO
say. ''She does the Iyefk.the washing
all there is: but You never ITO aught
| for Your keep.
iilda was never ill-tempered. ~
IN marry well, father" she used to
answer. That's the hest for all. And
then I'll do for YOU. Id wear my looks
away in faetory!'
The father grumbled, but put of the
dav when he should command the girl
| TO seek work. lie knew that there We're
many young men of bad life and lawless
manners about the factories, and he
knew a beauty like 1ilda would run
risks of insult in such 4 place.
Domestic service seemed better to him,
but Hilda would never hear of that.
He let the years pass. saying, rs he
toiled home on Saturday night, with
! his week wages: AT least my lasses
are safe. Its well. it's well"
But the father. who was away all
dav, did not know all. and Fleda, who
knew. was too young to see any danger
in yomg men with handsome faces and
winning speech.
The chief manufacturer of Ely. Brian
! Gwynn. who was reputed to be as rich
as all the rest Of his townsmen together,
| had Il son. Robin And Robin was fond
of fishing in the Ouse near the little
stone cottage: and if Hilda, in her cheap
tincry, pretty as any picture, stood At
her door, and they spoke. or if she wan
dercd into the woods with him, il
seemed very fitting thing to Fleda.
And Hlda. had limited that there
| might be wedding some day, and that
everyone might see She could do better
| than To work in II factory.
Fleda secured her bricks. and white
washed her walls, and sewed her
fathers smock-irocks. and learned to
read ont of horn-book. and now and
then caught glimpse OF ililda and
Robin, and smiled until the dimples
came. And iIilda tossed her head and
boosted vaguely.
One day. however, there came Il
change. Hilda returned from long
absence white as ashes. and >hivered
by the lir '',,ithout speaking.
/ Robin Gwynn did not come 10 fish in
the Ou,e next day. The nci%hbors told
each other in the shop. where Fleda
went with her little basket to buy tea
add sugar. that the great manufacturer =
son was away 10 London 10 marry q
lady with title. who had matched that
against his money.
And he came no more Ia the stone
cottage at the hills foot. Nor did th,
color come back to lIilda's cheeks.
Fleda begged her TO be cheerful; die
her best FOR her. All in vain. Little
Flcda guessed that il was for the lickl,
lover that she wept: but what could sh,
do?
The sister grew literally ill-ant
never stirred from the fire. where Sh,
sat wrapped in Il shawl. shivering. shiv
cring.
, Tile old man was troubled. and want
cd 10 have doctor; but Hilda refuse,
,N1 ,l<
and autumn came. and il was near tn
end OF October. when -. Audrey s-Fail
used. nj that day, to be held at Ely
the Ely Fair. some folks called il. bu
the great sales of the fair Were st. Au
drcy ribbons.
z. The st. Audrey ribbons were length
of ribbons of all bright colors whic
{ had been laid on ST. Audrcy,s tomb TO
while. They had the power, il wa
: believed, of curing any disorder whic
' afflicted an unmarried woman. In tn
case of wife they We're useless. rs i
the case of anyone whose life was no
q blameless.
On the day of the fair girls bougi
these ribbons for themselves and friends
parents for their daughters. The TIME,
maids who could walk trotted abol
with ST. Audrey ribbons about thu,
waists.
Flrda felt that here, at least, was oil
2 thing she could do. She could gel
l ST. Audrey ribbon for her sister. III
Young creature had great faith. Sh
!, never doubted il would cure llilda, an
) she determined to have the price of on
by the first day of the fair.
4
Girl saved She sold her string OF bit
beads to ncighbor who liked them.
n complete the SUN, and when the mori
= ing dawned she was up and dressed
y her best. and she went To Hilda. lyil
still in her bed. and whispered:
"Hilda, if thou could st but get faith
his porri2gc at noon. should feel SAT
10 90. Ii stands I'LL ready. and l W
bring thee St. Audreys ribbon.
have the price. and thou wilt be we
again; for il is remedy for any i'll
maid can have. wise folks say. Hid
cheer up. and smile ut me-.
n Hilda did more than smile. 81
laughed loudly.
Of ''Sparp thy shoes, Flcda," she erie
st Audrey's ribbons can do me !
good" -
NJ But this she said of everything. Fle'
Il, was off and away, for her walk vi
D. long. and she must be back befo
- night.
iii Fleda was young and could not he
- staring at the pretty things. She spe
- an hour wandering about, and thin
ing if pink or blue would suit Hil'
best. AT last she decided.
She paused at a stall and felt in h
pocket Her purse was gone. Someo'
had stolen it.
Fleda burst into tears and sobb
+; aloud. little crowd gathered. At
, thickest, Il carriage drove up. A gent
man alighted and assisted lady, 81
gantly dressed.
, What has happened?' he asked.
, "A thief has stolen girls mon
that she was to buy ST. Audrey ribbo
for her sick sister WITH someo
answered.