Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-04-07

orolder 1t, promising her ten dollars
for work she well knew would cost her
three times that sum IN snv city store.
And Susie hal already appropriated
that sum, in her mind. She would
buy large cross o. white flowers.
such rs she had seen in her visits 10
the city, and present IT to S. Marks.
Not one penny OF those ten dollars
would she use for her own expenses;
and If Bessie STACEY lei i. be under
stood that she had embroidered the
linen her mother presented, why,
Susie could give her cross, and SO
balance natter.
For, some where III the depths OK her
heart, So far down che had never
called it to the surface. Susie knew
that there was rivalry between Bessie
Stacey and herself. She knew that
Mr.. Castleton was frequently at Mrs.
, Stacey's, to luncheon, to dinner. to
| arrange various church matters in
which Mrs. Stacey suddenly wakened
! to an interest she had never felt when
| good old Mr.. Murray presided in the
pulpit.
/ And Bessie woe the most becoming
dresses right under the minister
eyes, while Susie ) m lest dresses were
! hidden bealn1 the curtains OF the
organ loft.
As she worked in the passion -hower4
encircling her cross, Susie thought Of
the order she would send to her ,unt
Mary in the city for the cross she
meant to buy. She had steadily put
AWAY the temptation to buy new
to make over her gray poplin once
more and have her old hat cleaned
and pressed. And, really, one must
be eighteen, with a very limited,
hard earned wardrobe and strong
desire 10 appear attractive III the eyes
of one person, to appreciate the secri-
flee Susie was making. Ten dollars,
with her economical habits, her skill
in sewing, would go 50 far to ward
girlish adornment.
But it was to be her Easter Offering
and if there lurkcd q thought of Mr..
Castleton $ words of praise or his grave
eyes looking approvinSly upon her
tasteful gift. was she 50 very much
to blame?
She had finished her work before
sunset, and took it home Mrs Stacy
was In the sitting room, where Bessie
was opening the parcel containin. q
new silk suit for Easter Sunday, and
Susie WAS called upon to admire the
color, the style, the general effect.
''It is dark for spring" Bessie said,
freiully.
"You know very we'll YOU cannot
bear light colors,' said her mother.
"Your eyes and hair are all you can
desire your teeth are good, vour fea
tures regular and your figure is simply
perfect but your complexion is thich
and sallow, and always will bo until
Won stop eating such rich food. Now,
here is Susie WITHOUT one really goo(
feature in her face with an insignii
cant figure, ewes of no color in partic
nlar, a sort of blush gray. but with
complexion like miniature painting.
Sne can wear blle anil softly tlntea
fabrics, but you cannot
She might have adde. Il that Susie
HAIR was the color Of corn-sllk and on
mass Of golden waves and soft ring
lets; that Susie's mouth WAS like
baby in its tender curves and swee
expression that Susle's ewes were full
of intelligence and gentle. womaniy
sweetness but she forgot to mentlo
these points, and Susie was crushed
rs she intended her TO be. IN spite o
her complexion.
But Mrs Stacey took out her pocket
; book and from it q ten-dollar GOLD
piece.
You can buy new hat, she said
IN pntronizing way inlescrlbably II
s ritatlng.
: NO" Susie seid, quietly his
to be my Easter Offering
= "Oh, And speaking Of Easter
> would you mind, on your way home
taking this linen TO Mrs Byrne's I
c wash and iron. Tell her | must hav
i on Friday at the very latest
; 1t was growing dark. and Susie 7e
: membered tha, SO far from being 20
. her way home Mrs. Byrue lived 1
: the other end OF Rosedale, but 81
: | was TO shy too refuse. and rolled Ii