The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-09-21
KEEPING UP APPEARANCES.
BY AN OLD CONTRIBUTION.

"Mother, Pm going back to New
York with Mrs. Wilton as nursery gov
erness to May and Ethel"
lust one moment before this spe ech
was made there had been a placid
group of four people sitting round a
very scanty fire, all sewing busily. But
one moment later three of the faces
were lifted IN angry astonishment, three
pairs of hands dropped their work and
were raised in CONSERVATION, and three
shrill voices cried "Bertha !" in tones
of expostulation.
Then, after moment of silence,
Mrs. Bryerson, the pale, careworn
mother, asked:
"May l ask the meaning of such
disgraceful speech, Bertha2'
81 am sorry you think it disgraceful,
mamma. am weary of this false lite
we are leading. Look at US !" she cried,
hotly. 1--WE are all as pale as ghosts
and ragged as beggars. In these rooms
in which we live we have not one COM
fort-no carpet, half a fire, shabby
clothing. Our food is mean and insult
hcient-and for what1 That every dol
lar of the narrow income father left US
may be spent in keeping up lie A
lie, repeat. Our house is handsome,
our show, rooms splendidly furnished,
and Our dress, in public, of the richest
materials.
We sew till we are cross and weary
upon finery we have no right to wear.
We starve that we NAV give one brilliant
party each winter. And we gain
what? A reputation we do not possess.
| tell you, mother, | am hungry and
cold, and l mean to earn sufficient to
make my life honestly comfortable"
"Have you quite finished2" inquired
Mrs. Bryerson, in tone of polite sar-
casm. eff so, let me remark that l will
not overlook 1t if you sit in defiance of
my wishes, as you propose. If you go
with Mrs. Wilton you shall not return.
Your sisters shall not be disgraced by
having a governess here. Think of a
Bryerson earning her living ~
81 admit it is not necessary" said
Bertha, quietly. "In small house,
quietly dressed, we might easily cover
our expenses with the income father
left to US"
LEFT to mel" said Mrs. Bryerson.
"Left to you," repeated Bertha. "If
could control the sum now spent
upon my street and evening dresses l
would not think of leaving home. As
it is, am positively engaged to Mrs.
Wilton, and leave on Tuesday. l shall
sell my set of opals to buy the clothing
necessary for my position, as presume
Mrs. Wilton would scarcely like me to
appear in ragged street dress, of three
years ago, or blue silk ball dress, and
| have nothing between but one walk
ing dress that will pass muster"
"Sell your opals !" Lavinia said re-
gretfully.
"rhey are mine" said Bertha quietly.
"Aunt Eliza gave them to me-"
"What do you suppose your Aunt
Eliza will say when she hears of your
dlsgraceful conduct?" asked Mrs.
Bryerson.
81 imagine she will disown and dlsn-
herlt me- said Bertha coolly. "And
as she has threatened every one of US
some fifty times with the same dire
threat, | can bear the prospect quite
philosophlcaly."
The girl rose as she spoke, and put
ting her work-an elaborate putting for
ball dress--ln Lavinia's lap, went to
her own room. She had been cool,
defiant and resolute before them all,
but she broke into bitter sobblrg when
| che lncGaH harcalf in, hor "A
was, as she said hungry and cold, miss
ing every comfort of life and only the
previous evening, with her rich dress
and her opals, she had been the belle
OF the most brilliant ball OF the season
at NJ.
There was more than that in her
tears. One little week before, Ned
Haven, the son of the best physician at
N had asked her to be his wife,
and she had said no-because she loved
him.
That was the true reason why she
| 5Shtif oNl lilo SiCdl h'fS dild
asked Mrs. Wilton to take her away.
"He thinks we are rich" she thought
bitterly, land his own fortune is 10. yet
made. Shall burden his life with all
our petty, sordld caresl Mother will
expect him to do so much for LavinIa
and Marcia. l will not have it so" But
the poor, sore heart ached bitterly, as
in the few days that followed, Bertha
made her preparations to go to New
York. She told no one her loye story,
and when Ned Haven met Lavinla soon
after Mrs. Wilton's departure, he did
not doubt her statement that Bertha