The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-04-09
SARA'S ROMANCE.
The Reward Of Girl Who Over
came False Pride.


Dearest mamma, couldn't l have
it?"
Mrs Aubrey sat by the half-light of
the dim fire-coals were by far 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 filed with
shadows.
A pretty little room it seemed now,
although it would hardly have borne
the brilliant, uncompromising light
of MONDAY, for the carpet was darned
and mended in many place, and neatly
fashioned rag rugs had been laid skill
fully down to hide the spots which
were past all redemption. The table
cover was faded by many a washing;
the curtains were arranged in folds
which should not betray the rags, and
the very mantel ornaments were mend
ed with cement
To keep up the outw ard show and
dignity of a lady upon an income which
would have been insufficient for u serv.
ant, is trying TO the most courageous
nature; yet this had been Mrs Aubreys
task ever since her husband died, leav-
ing her with little Sara, a child of nine
| summers. She had economical in the
most painful degree; she had worn her
shabby dresses until they were ready
to drop off; she had patched her clothes
until there was scarcely a shred left of
| the original material; she had cut off
this luxury and that condiment from
her poor table until her diet became
| literally Dread and water; and even
then debts grew upon her life like
hideous fungi. Her husband had left
her a trihe, but this was carefully re-
served for the expenses of her little
Sara However she might pinch and
save and starve, Sara was always com
fortably clad, and had plenty of good,
wholesome food to eat. But there are
score of shabby -genteel 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 were
sealed in slumber to EN- broider fine
work for the stores, and even rejoiced
to get plain sewing to do, at a rate
which was pitifully rneager!
1t had been seven years of famine,
but the end of the long ordeal was ap-
preaching at last Sara was being
trained for a teacher, and the gradua-
ton day was near at hand-Sara, who
had grown into tall, lovely girl, like
a white lily; with deep violet eyes,
reddish-brown hair all interviewer
| il, e 4.
velvety pink; and Mr.. Mitchell, the
principal. had promised to use his very
best efforts to obtain a situation for
Sara when she had graduated: and al |
seemed couleur de rose,
And in the winter twilight Sara had
rushed into the room, bringing with
her a breath of frozen, pine-scented
air, and told her mother how the grad
uating class were all to be dressed in
white merino and white silk shirred
overslsirts and broad white ribbon
sashes
Not bit of color about u.s. NAM
ma" the girl breathlessly added, "ex
cept the little knots of blue violcts we
are to wear at our belts"
Mrs Aubrey looked aghast
white merino, dear! With white
silk shirred overskirts! Indeed, in
deed, Sara, as far as you are con.
cerned, it is quite out of the question:
Mammal cried out the girl.
My darling, it would cost twenty.
five dollars at the very least" urged
Mrs. Aubrey.
mo, mamma" pleaded Sara; "only
twenty. Helen Hszelton says we can
buy the material all in one piece and
get considerable reduction on it; and
you know, mamma, darling, you are
such skillful needlewoman that my
dressmaker's bill will be nothing"
but even then, dearest" said Mrs
Aubrey, where are we to get the
twenty dollars?"
Pretty Sara burst into tears.
My darling, DON'T" pleaded the
mother in whose heart every spark
ling drop was like the acute prick of a
dagger Don't break my heart, Sara!
| should like to see you as elegantly
dressed as any girl in the school, but
you know how poor we are"
And then, with her tear.wet face hid
] NNih va iNA hAObhNA onOulAltI, tDdTH
sobbed out;
Couldn't | have it, mamma? Oh,
darling mamma, c0UldHt II"
II will do up your old muslin, dear, -
sobbed the mother "And / think we
can afford some fresh blonde and the
new ribbon sash and"
"Oh, mamma" interrupted poor
Sara, must wear that old, tattered,
shrunSen thing, when all the other
girls are in merino and white shirred
sillS?"
Dearest, what else can we do?"
Mrs. Aubrey could almost have cried
with Sara had she dared to give way to
her feelings.
"llow wretched it is to be poorr'