The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-01
FOR MOTHERS SAKE.

| Aunt Dorothy sat DV. the WINDOW,
knitting. She sat up very straight,
and her needles flew with marvellous
rapidity.
IL hate to do it," sine was thinking,
''but l will. She 8 a dear girl, and l
do believe all she needs is to have her
eyes opened. Warning fingers aren' t
pleasant, l know, but Pll point them
for once. There she comes now"
There was the sound of quick steps
in the hall; the door opened, and a
young girl ran into the room. She
was very pretty, in II blonde way.
Her friends called her Dot, Fairy and
Fay, which airy nicknames suited her
wonderfully well. Her name proper
was Dorothy, SO called after the erect
lady by the window. Her blue eyes
glanced quickly about the room, then
she said:
DO you know where mother is,
auntie?"
Now for itr' thought Aunt Dorothy
resolutely. II believe" replied Aunt
Dorothy, looking steadily into the
| girls face, "that your mother is in the
Kitchen ironing one of your dresses" !"
Her voice was peculiar, and Doro-
thy looked at her. slightly surprised.
Yes" she answered, my white
muslin for this evening" Then some
thing in her aunt's face made her add:
''Pd have done it myself, you know,
only Pm SO hurried; and mother does
those things much better than l.
Aunt Dorothy folded her knitting
nervouSly together. Interfering with
the affairs of others was very foreign
to her nature, and she was at a loss
Eow to proceed. Her only brother had
been the love of her life; and. after his
death, his wife and children held the
first place in her affection. Among
them all, Dorothy was her favorite,
and the effort she was making was,
in great measure, for the girls own
sake.
'sNow's the time, if ever" she
thought; ''she's thinking little. Dor
Othy," she said, ''if you were obliged
to deny yourself for someone-to work
for and help that one-who would it
be?"
Dorothy looked at her aunt in in.
creased surprise. How stupid it was
to be kept answering nonsensical ques-
tions, when every minute was prec-
ious. ssThe one l love best, suppose"
she returned Il little impatiently.
':And who is 'that?"
She answered, unhesitatingly:
''Mother, of course.
Aunt Dorothy rose, and, taking
shawl from chair near, pinned it
over her shoulders.
81 must 60" she sad, cor 1 won't
be in time to make tea-cake; and
young Frank Russell-he's studying
law. you remember, with Mr.. Ives,
who lives next door to me-often steps
in, on his way home, to have tea with
me, and he likes my cakes. Goodbye,
my dear. So you would rather deny.
yourself, work for. and help your
mother than anyone else? L am glad
to hear it; for she needs it, if ever
woman did. You'll find her in the
kitchen, ironing your dress, or. if
that's done, getting tea, or maybe
making pies. She said she could not
find time for it on Saturday, but hoped
to this afternoon.
She paused, and taking up her bon
net, put it on and tied the strings with
careful precision. That done to her
satisfaction. she turned and looked at
Dorothy. There was bright flush on
! the girls fair little face, and her eyes
Aunt Dorothy was satisfied.
Goodbye. my DEAR" she said again,
her sharp voice grown suddenly gen
tie. Come to see me when you can;
| Pm always pleased to see you." She
kissed Dorothy hastily on the cheek,
and the next moment was gone.
| Dorothy went slowly towards the
kitchen. the door was partly open,
and she paused and looked in. Her
mother stood by the table, ironing the
last ruff1e on the white muslin dress,
which lay like heap of snow before
her. Dorothy gazed long and search
ingly into the bending face. 1t was
pale and thin; there were lines about
| the patient mouth, and shadows un-
| der the sweet eyes. She worked stead
| lily, but with IL certain Indiscribable
air of WEAKNESS. Surely, she was
more tired than usual. She did not
When did she ever rest? Aqulck pang
shot through Dorothy's heart.
The slamming of the front door and
a confused murmur of voices reused
her. The children had come home
| from school.
"Mother! mother! Where are you.
! mOtnef! SHOuteu Cnllllt.
"Mother, I've torn my coat. | want
| it mended now, cause
Gus was interrupted by Nellie:
Mamma, Gertie Forbes is gong to
have picnic, and ! want"
Mother! mother! mother! And moth
er would be ready, she knew, TO sat
isfy every demand.
The hubbub of voices came nearer,
and Dorothy escaped from the dining
room into the parlor, and closed the
door. She threw herself.on the sofa,
and hid her face in her hands. She
remained for a long time in the same
position, and when she looked up, her
cheeks were wet with tears.
That evening she went to the party.
Squire Russell's place was the hand
soonest in the village. A beautiful
garden was Dorothy's delight. She
was sitting out there now, leaning
( back on a rustic garden-bench. Frank
Russell, her partner in three dances,
was beside her. He was good-look-
ing, wide-awake young fellow, who
had no idea of spending an idle life be-
cause his father happensdto be a rich
man.
He had started several subjects OF
conversation, but Dorothy's usual read
iness seemed to have deserted her, and,
monosyllabic answers not being en-
couraging, he had been silent for some
time. Finally, he spoke in rather an
aggrieved voice:
II say, Dotty, why don't you speak
to a fellowP OF course yes and mo
are very good words in their way, but