The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-06-29

"But it's shame, isn't it," resumed
Sara, after brief silence, "that wealth
should be so unevenly divided in this
world? Look at Helen Hazleton, at
the Court, with her greenhouse full of
flowers, and her pony phaeton, and the
diamonds she is to have when she
leaves school. It's surprise for her
mamma, quite a surprise. Colonel
Hazleton himself showed them to me
"a cross and a pair of solitaire ear
drops like sparkles of white fire."
Showed them to you, dear"
"Yes, mamma" answered the girl
"But how came he to do that?"
"Oh, he often talks to me when
am at the Court" said unconscious
Sara.
"About what, Sara?"
"Oh, about Helen, and about the
ferns and orchids in the Conservatives
and the new birds in the aviary-and
about the foreign countries he has
travelled in. Oh, l wish you could
hear him, mamma" cried the girl, en-
Enthusiastically,
"What sort of man is he, Sara?"
asked the mother, becoming vaguely
conscious, at this late day, that her
pretty treasure was no longer child,
but a budding maiden, with all
maiden's sweet possibilities before her.
Hes very handsome, mamma. Dark
and tall, with straight, military way
of carrying himself, and the pleasant
est voice you ever heard"
"Does he talk to you much?"
"Oh, often, mamma" declared Sara.
Mrs. Aubrey was silent for a few
minutes. A vague fear was entering
into her heart.
Sara" said she, at last, 81 do not
think it is best for you to be too much
at Hazleton Court.
"Why not mammal" Sara opened
her big blue eyes in innocent surprise.
"It's SO pleasant there, and like them
all SO much"
not answer, because Colonel Hazel
ton is widower, and people will talk
and gossip"
So she equivocated little and made
reply:
'They live so differently from what
we do, darling. 1t is scarcely a good
or wise preparation for your new life"
Sara pondered the matter over.
| Il don't see what difference it makes,
mamma" she said, "but of course
| when l get situation I shall have no
time for visiting, and Helen is going
to Paris with her father in the spring,
so there will be an end of all nv init
macy there"
Brave little Sara! She was hero
inc, for she wore the old washed-over
muslin dress, standing among the fair
young girls in soft merino and lustrous
dead-white silk.
mamma can not afford it," she an
swered quietly to all the criticism that
was uttered.
Helen Hazelton brought her home
that evening in the sleigh, with box
of cut rosebuds and East India ferns,
and left her with her mother.
Mrs. Aubrey looked up from her
sewing.
"My darling" said she, your cheeks
are like carnations"
'It's the winter air, / suppose" said
Sara finging down her bonnet. mann
ma, put aside that hateful needle! You
are never to sew any more! I've made
up my mind not to teach in the New
York public schools
"Sara!"
"Tm going to Hazleton Court"
Mrs. Aubrey's jaded eyes sparkled.
'To be Helen's governess?" cried
she.
"Helen's governess, indeed~ said
Sara. "Helen knows as much as l do,
mamma; you have guessed wrong this
time"
She knelt down on the floor and
laid her cheek on her mothers knee.
"Mamma, Colonel Hazelton has ask
ed me to marry him." said she, "and l
have said yes"
asked you to marry him, SaraP But
you are such child" cried Mrs. Au-
brey.
"That's the reason he likes me, he
says" confessed blushing Sara.
"And you, dearest you love
him?"
mamma, he's the one man in all
the world to me-" whispered the girl.
And child and mother wept together
shower of happy tears.
But, sweetest" whispered Mrs. Au-
brey, "you seem such a child to be
married"
Eyes, mamma, I know" said Sara
gravely. "But if 1 am to be happy,
the sooner l begin the BETTER"
Which was an uncontrovertible
piece of logic -EGchapage.