The state herald., 1892-05-27
SARAH'S ROMANCE.
,Deurest mamma couldn,t / have

.he uim Hre-conl8 wero BY lar too
dear for reckless blaze TO be permit
ted-with the curtain yet undrawn, SO
that the tender yellow light OF the
February sunset shone In, and the
angles OF the room were filled with
shadowa
A pretty little room IL seemed now,
although 1t would hardly have borne
the brilliant uncompromisins light
OF MONDAY for the carpet was darned
and mended In many place. and neatly
fashioned rag rugs had been laid skill
iully down to hide the spots which
were past all redemption. The table.
covor was faded by many washing;
the curtains were arranged In folds
which should not betray tho rags and
the very mantel ornaments wero men
ded with cement
10 keep up the outward show and
dignity Of q lady upon an income
which would have been insufficient for
servant Is trying to the most cour-
ageous nature; yet this had been Mrs.
Auorey's task ever since her husband
died, leaving her with littlo Sara u
littla child Of nine summera She
mad economical In tho most painful
degree; she had worn her shabby
dresses until they were ready 10 drop
Oh; che had patched her clothes until
there was scarcely shred left Of the
original materiali she had cut of this
luxury and that condiment from her
poor table until her diet becams liter
ally bread and water; and even then
debts grew Upon her iifo like hideous
fungi Her husband had left her u
triiie. but this was carefully reserved
Tor tho expenses OF her littlo Sara
However she might pinch and save
ana starve. Sara was always comfort
ably clad. and had plenty OF good.
wholesome food to cat. But there arc
ascore OF shabby.gentool devices by
which reduced ladies can earn u few
dollars and Mrs Aubrey solicited
copying from the village lawyer, sat
up long after Sara's pretty eyes wore
sealed in slumber to cmbroider tino
work for tho stores and oven rejoiced
TO get plain sewing 10 do ut rate
which was pitifully meager!
1t had been seven years OF famine
out tho end OF the long ordeal was OPP
proaching at last Sara was being
trained for a teacher. and the gradu-
alton day was near nj hand-Surn
who had grown into tall lovely girl.
like white lily; with deep violet
eyes reddish. brown hair. all inter.
woven with threads Of gold. and
checks OF velvety pink; and Mr.
Mitchell. the principal. had promised
to use his worry bost efforts to obtain n
situation for Sarah when she had
graduatedi and all seemed couleur dc
rose
And in the winter twilight Sara
had rushed into tho room. bringing
with her breath OF frozen pine
scented air. and told hcr mother how
the graduating class wore all to be
dressed in white mcrino and whito
silk shirred ovorskirts and broad
white ribbon sashea
Not bit OF color about us. man.
ma " the girl broathlessly added. .cx.
cept the little knots OF blue violets VIC
nre to wcnr at our belts"
Mrs Aubrey looked aphast
'Whito mcrino. dear! With wbite
silk shirrcd overskirts! Indeed, In.
deed, Sara rs far us you arc con-
cerned. 1t Is quite out Of tho question:"
Mammal cried out tho girl.
My darling. II would cost twenty.
hyo dollars at tho very least" urged
Mrs. Aubrey.
no mamma "pleaded Sara; .only
twenty. Helen Hazleton says we can
buy the material all in ono piece ana
get a considerable reduction on 1t;
and you know. mamma darling. that
you arc such skillful nccdlewomnn
that my dressmakcrs bill will DO
nothing"
''But even then. dearest" said Mrs.
Aubrey. "whero arc We to got the
twenty dollnrs2"
Pretty Sara burst into tears.
My darling. don'tr pleaded tho
mother In whose heart every sparkling
drop fell like tho acute prick Of
dagger. Don't break my heart
Sara! Ishould like to SEQ you rs cle.
gantly dressed n any girl In tho
school. but you know how poor wo
are"
And then with hor tear. wet face hid
den on her mothers shoulder Sara
sobbod out; 'Couldn't I have H.
mammaP Oh. darling mamma couldn't
II"
Il will do up your old muslin.
dear" sobped tho mother. 'And
think we can afford some fresh blonde
and the new ribbon snsh and"
'Oh. mamma interrupted poor
Sara. must ! wear that old. tattercd
shrunkcn thing. when all tho other
girls nro In merino and white shlrrcd
silkP"
Dearest whnt olse can wo dop"
Mrs Aubrey could almost have cried
with Sara had sho dared TO givo way
TO her feelings.
How wrctchod II Is 10 bc poorl'
sobbed Sara sitting down on the
hearth rug. with her faco In hor moth.
cr's lap. Mamma, what have wo
dono that wo should DO so crampcd
md ground down, 90 fcttcrcd with
poycriyPr
1T will not be so always dcar ~
encouraged her mother
NO" said Snrn sadly; Il shall bo
n teacher soon. And then. mamma
you shall hnvc n wino-colorcd cash
mere dross and sot OF furs, and I
will wear what ] ploasc. But mamma.
II l could only hnyo tho whito mcrino
dress this oncoT'
My daughterl my dauph,erl" Sara
could feel tho warm drops from her
mothers eyes upon her check.
"ainmmn' she cried out, cnrossing.
iy. don't cry, That's n darling; III
wear tho old whito musllnl I'll wcar
nnyihing' You have boon heroine
quietly and patiently. NIL these years
and hero am that can't endure n
single privntionl Mamma I'll bo n
heroine, too" And tho pnlc mother
nnd blooming daughter clnspcd each