South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-05-03
Keeping Up Appearances.

York with Mrs. Wilton, as nursery
governe,s to May and Ethel
just before this speech had beer
made there had been placid grouK
of four people all sitting around .
very scanty Ere, sewing busily. Blu
one moment later three of the face:
were lifted in angry astonishment
three pairs OF bands dropped theil
work and were lifted in consterna.
ton, and three shrill voices cried
'BerthaP In tones Of eIpostulation.
Then, after q moment of silence
Mrs. Biyerson, the pale, careworr
mother, asked:
May ask the meaning of such
disSraceiul speech, b. rha p
Il am sorry you think it disgrace
fu', mamma. am weary of this false
life we a-e leading. Look at us I
she cried, hotly. we are all as pale
as ghosts and as rsgged as begg,rs
In these rooms in which we live, NC
have no comfort-no carpet, half 9
fire and shabby clothing. Our food
is mean and insufficient ard fol-
what Tha, every dollar OF the mar.
row income father left US may he spent
In ke ping up lie A lie, | repeat
Our house ia handsome, our show.
rooms splendidy furnished, and oul
dtcss in public of the richest mate
rails. We sew until We are cross and
weary, upon Emery We have no riyh,
to wear. We starve that we NAV
give one brilliant party each winter
And we gain what2 A reputation
for wealth We do not possess. tel
you, mother, am hungry and cold
and l mean TO earn enough to make
my life honestly comfortable
Have you quite flashed p i.quire
Mrs. Bry erson, in tone of polite
sarcasm. If so, let me remark that
| will not overlook it if you act iu
defiance Of my wishes, as you pro-
pose. II you go with Mrs. Wilton
YOU shall not return. Your sisters
shall not be disgraced by having O
governess here. Think Of Bryer.
son earning their living
Il admit IL is not necessary" said
Ben tina, quietly. Tn q small house
neatly dressed we might easily
cover our expenses with the in.
como father loft u.s.
Left to me- sail Mrs. Bryerson.
Left to ycu," repeated Bertha. III
could control the sum spent upon
my street and evening dresses / would
not think Of leaving home. As it is
| am positively engaged to Mrs. viii.
ton, and leave on tuesday. | shall
sell my set Of opals to buy the clothes
necessary for me position, as pre-.
sumo Mrs. Wilton will scarcely like
me to appear in ragged street dress
OF three years ago, or blue silk ball
dress, and l have nothing between
but one ball dress that will pass
muster
Sell your opals = Layinia said. re-.
gretfully.
They are mine, said Bertha, quiet.
~ Aunt Eliza gave ihem TO me-
What do you suppose Aunt Eliza
will say when she bears Of your dis.
graceful conducti' asked Mrs. Bry.
erson.'
Il imagine she will disown and dis.
inherit me- said Bertha, coolly. And
as sbe has threatened every one Of us
at least fifty times with the same dire
threat, | can bear the prospec. quite
phi'osophicslly.
The girl arose as she spoke, and
putting her work-an elaborate puC-
fling for ball dfess-in Laylnia's
lap, went to her own room. She had
been cool, defiant and resolute before
them all, but she broke out into Bit
ter sobbing when she had locked her
self In her room. She wac, az she
said, hungry and cold, missing ali the
comforts of life and only the pre-.
vious even ng, with her rich ball dress
and her opsls, she had been the belle
OF the most brilliant ball OF the sea.
son at n.
There was more than that in her
tears. One week before, Ned Haven
the son Of the best physician at -
had asked her to be his wife. and che
bad said no-becausS she loved him
That vas the reason Why she had
gently set his great love aside. and
asked Mrs. Wilton To take her asav.
lie thinks we are rich, she thought.
bitterly, and his own fortune is not
yet made. Shall burden his life
With all our petty, sordid cares ?