River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-03-22

Mary in the city for the cross she meant
tn buy. She had steadily put aw ay the
temptation to buy new spring hat or
one new dress, resolving 20 make over
her gray poplin once more and have
her old hat cleaned ard pressed And,
really. one must be eighteen, with
very limited, hard-earned wardrobe and
a strong desire 10 appear attractive in
the eyes of one person. TO appreciate
the sacrifice Susie was making. Ten
dollars. with her economical habits,
skill IL sewing. would go so far toward
girlish adornmenti
but I was 10 be her Easter offering:
and there lurlSed a thought of Mr..
CastletOn's words of praise or his grave
eyes looking apprOvingly upon her
tasteful gift. was she so very much TO
blame?
She had finished her work before sun
set and took it home. Mrs. Stacey was
in the sitting-roOm where Bessie was
opening the parcel containing a new
silk suit for Easter Sunday, and Susie
was called upon to admire the color,
the style. the general effect.
1T is. dark for spring" Bessie said,
fretfully.
You know very well you cannot
bear light colors," said her mother
Your eyes and hair are all you can
desire; your teeth are good, your fea-
lures regular and your figure is simply
perfect; but your complexion is thick
and sallow, and always will be until
you stop eating so much rich food.
Now. here is Susie. without one really
good feature in her face. with an insig-
nificant figure, eyes of no color in par
ticular, a sort of bluish-gray, but with
a complexion like a miniature painting.
She can wear blue and softly tinted
fabrics. but you cannot"
She might have added that Susie's
hair was the color of corn-silk and one
mass of golden waves and soft ringlets;
that Susie's mouth was like baby's in
its tender curves and sweet expression;
that Susie's eyes were full of intel
ligenee and gentle, wOmanly sweet
ness; but she forgot to mention these
points. and susie was crushed. as she
intended her to be, in spite Of her com
plexion.
But Mrs. Stacey took out her pocket
book and from ii a ten dollar gold
piece.
You can buy a new hat" she said,
in patronizing way indescribably ir-
ritating.
NO." Susie said, quietly: this is to
be my Easter offering"
''oh. And speaking of Easter, would
you mind. on your way home, taking
this linen to Mrs Byrne's to wash and
iron. Tell her | must have it on Fri
{ at the very latestr'
II was growing dark, and Susie re-
membered that so far from being Ion
her way home,' Mrs. Byrne lived at
the other end of Rosedale but she was
too shy to refuse, and rolled the linen
up again
Mrs. Byrne was a Woodworking
woman with seven children, whose
husband, alter subjecting her 10 all the
miseries Of a drunkard's wife, had re-
leased her by pitching head-first off
the bridge below ROsedale into the
river. Womanli1e, she grieved for
him. as If he had made her life bed of
roses. and turned to her wasntubs for
a living. patiently and industriously. A
very sunbeam of a woman she was. in
spite of her troubles, and Susie was
amazed to find her sitting on the door
step sobbing like child. She rose to
receive Mrs. Stacey's message, and
promised to do the work, and then, in
answer to Susie's gentle: You must be
IN trouble. I am afraid" her grief
broke out in words:
I've nc right to compl ain, miss, -"
she said. FOR the Lords been very good
70 Us since poor Tim was drOwnded,
but indeed it's a chance lost I'm fret
ting for
"A chance lost?' said Susie. her voice
still full of gentle sympathy.
Its Nora, miss. She's been delicate,
miss. liver since she was born, and the
air here is bad for her intirely. The