The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-08-16

Her aim in life, or after death rather was to
I'd even some of the big. boys in the neighborhood
expense She was just then airing her grievances
disagree with her and suggested that hospital
racticaL
color save in the girls red lips. A GER
tain dreaminess of poetic young girlhood
seemed to hang about her, and she was
usually quiet and undemonstrative. But
the moment she opened the door, though
her back was turned, Hannah knew
something had gone wrong with Sybil.
But there was no remark maue, Juouss a
Hannah watched with her mothers eye
that nothing ever escaped
Dick came in whistling to his supper
and enjoyed the chicken with boys
healthy appetite. He told some jokes
the hands had got off at the chemical
works, and how he had 'sstumped" the
foreman with problem, but Sybi1 was
too listless and languid to listen and
only pretended to eat. Hannah remem-
bered what Ruby had said about the
pretty typewriters. and heavy stone
seemed weighing on her heart as she
stealthily watched Sybil, who excused
herself before supper was half over and
went to her little room up stairs on the
pretext of bad headache. There was
still an hour of daylight, and the sun lay
dreanlily on the budding trees in Miss
Ruby's garden and across the misty
pale green fields of which she caught
glimpse from her one small window. 1t
touched, too, the coarse pfastered wall
and the little girlish belongings of the
Ia 49, ~ cd olo
en- purity. But Sybil closed the shutters
and pulled down the shade and put her
self on the narrow bed with her head
covered with an old shawl. Convulsive
sobs soon shook the girls slight frame,
but she held her breath and shut her
teeth tightly to suppress all sound. for
the partitions were very thin
Hannah, however, had not waited to
clear away the supper dishes. She left
Dick still engaged on his second plate of
chicken, and mounting the stair opened
the chamber door and CROPPED her way to
the bed. Sybil knew her mother was
lowering over her, but she only clutched
tho old shawl the more tightly and
buried her face in the pillow.
"What is it, Sybil, my girl?" Hannah
asked. trying to steady her voice and
putting her work worn hand down on
the girls silky hair.
"Oh, nothing at all, mother, only spring
fever and low spirits, guess. The
light hurts me. l can't bear it, and
and | was thinking how hard it is to be
always poor and pinched and kept down
in the world. But when | think of you,
mother" she went on in choked voice.
$50 brave and cheerful with all you do
for us, am ashamed Of myself"
"'Taint that" said Hannah sitting
down on the side of the bed and gather
ing her girl in her arms, and rocking
her with her head on her bosom as
when Sybil was little thing ''Some-
thing has gone wrong at the Office.
had presentiment or warning like it
would be SO. Now | must know the
truth. Don't tell me story. never
caught you in one in all my life"
q won't, mother" said Sybil, just
parting her white lips in whisper.
'tMr. Dinsmore is angry with me, and
guess he's more angry with Ned He's
a hard man, and proud and passionate
and unreasonable when once aroused.
and perhaps he thought Ned, his son,
had been paying me too much attention.
And now he threatens to send Ned to
California; and oh, mother, / can't go
back there any more to work, and i
know you need the money earn" and
the girl buried her face on her mothers
breast and burst into passion of tears.
"Ned's been foolin' with you," said
Hannah sharply, 'and You let him
Haven't always KEEP a-tellin' you to re-
spect yourself and not to allow young
men Of his class to come anywhere
nearg"
"Oh, mother" she cried, c1inging to
her, ''don't scold. / didn't mean it, on
my honor didn't. 1t all came about
before was aware, and it was the same
with him. You know, mother, he's been
to college and is such a gentleman; and
if never see him again L shall always
believe he was true in what he said to
me-
II was afraid it would turn out just
so" moaned Hannah, still holding the
SlIi III 1ltE dEllS, WHSu you LOOA ttlclu
prizes IN the high school and was so
much above us in appearing genteel
as any girl in this town if do say it.
don't say you're blameless, but I'd give
my hearts blood to save you from suf-
fering. would in minute If it would
do any good But we must all carry our
own load I've had trouble and so had
your father, and there never was a harder
working man, yet see how he was trick
ed and cheated. And Mr. Rand, just
look at him and see how he bears his
losses, mebbe it will help you to bear
yours. You are young, dear, and viii get
over it in time"
Il must, mother sobbed Sybil; Il
would drown myself before | injured
him"
"HushI' said Hannah sharply. That's
clear iEnpiety and rebellion, and God
will punish such thoughts lshall write
to Mr. Dinsmore tonight and tell him
you amt a-comin any more to the Office.
He won't have the privilege Of dischagin'
you, Sybil"
II guess you had better, mother, said
Sybil who had ceased sobbing, but
looked piteouslY white and wan. May