The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-12-14
SALLY.

a very plain and neatly made cotton
dress was standing by an open window
Creepers twined all round the window,
some of them peeping into the room.
Jessamine, monthly roses, and the
deep waxy petals of the magnolia were
among the blossoms.
A light soft oreeze famed the girls
| cheeks and brought into the room
great watts of sweetness from the flow
ers which surrounded the window and
which filed the beds in the garden be-
meath.
Hello, Sally!" exclaimed a gay
voice; there you are as usual in one of
your day dreams. What are you excit-
ing yourself about this morning? 1t is
neither choir practicing day nor school
treat day. AS far as / can tell, there is
nothing going on-nothing whatever
and yet you look Stop dreaming If
you can. and let US begin breakfast. Do
come and take your place at the head
of the table,
| Sally Erskine followed her sister
without another word. She seated her
| self before the tea tray, and with a
| quick, rather impatient movement be-
4
| ing.
| Anne Erskine cut slices of bread from
| a loaf, and scolded two round faced,
rudy looking boys. Mr.. Erskine raised
his eyes from a letter he was reading
and nodded affectionately to Sally.
| Shortly afterwards Sally was heard
to exclaim excitedly, after bouncing on
a letter beside her plate: I've got the
scholarship, papa-the scholarship
| from a a
pounds a year for three years l am
| first on the scholarship list. The edi-
tor says so; this ia his letter. oh, who
would have believed it possiblei Now
l may go to Newman or Girton."
| What does Sally mean by saying she
has got a scholarship, Amer asked
Mr.. Erskine.
I'll explain it to you, papa. Sally, do
eat your breakfast, and allow me to
| speak You are scarcely responsible
at the present moment. 1t is this way,
papa. Sally and l have taken the
Minerva Magazine for the last year.
You have noticed it, 1 am sure, for I've
seen you reading it. Well, papa, the
Minerva Magazine offers a big prize
a scholarship they call it to the girl
who comes out first in a certain compe-
tition. She has to go through very
stiff training, and the person who adj
| judges the prize is real live Profess
sor''
"It is thirty pounds a year for three
years. And 600 girls competed for it.
And it isn't a prize; it is a scholarship
the Minerva Scholarship. I'm distin-
guished for life. Oh, do let me give you
another good hug"
| Mr. Erskine rose hurriedly to his feet.
I'm going out" he said. Il ought to be
in the four-acre field now. See that the
| boys go off to school in good time, Anne.
| Sally isn't quite responsible
| He nodded in a gentle, affectionate
way to his family and left the room.
Anne hurried her brothers over their
breakfast, and Sally, her cheeks
! flushed, her eyes like stars, read and
reread her precious letter.
| AS soon as the two girls found them
selves alone Sally looked fully at Anne,
and said in an emphatic voice: Then
| the matter is quite settled; l go to
| Newman in October"
MY dear Sally, you know how strong
our fathers prejudice is"
I'VE must get over it, Anne. My mind
is made up. / shall spend three years
at one of the women's colleges and then
start a career of my own
| Il don't believe our father will con-
sent" said Anne, 'and even if he did,
thirty pounds a year would not cover
your expenses"
mo- but thirty pounds a year will
| help largely toward them; and then
you must not forget 1 have my share of
mothers money. l shall be of age in a
few weeks now, and then the money is
my own absolutely. Oh, Anne, life seems
really worth living at last"
| The ErSkineS were not rich family.
Mr. Erskine had inherited a small farm
| from his father. He was supposed to
manage it entirely himself. Whether he
did manage it is an open question; he
certainly contrived to lose money over
it year after year. Sally was the ostensi-
BILE mistress of the old farmhouse, but
Anne did most of the work and took
more than her share of the trouble. Mr..
ErSkine was gentlemanly and inert. He
was fond of his children, but he did not
like them to worry him. He disliked I'M
due excitement of any sort. His break
fast hour this morning had not been
at I'll to his taste, and in his heart of
hearts he owned to a feeling of regret
that Sally should have got the scholar
ship.
These new-fangled ideas are the
ruin of women" he murmured, as he
| walked slowly to the four-acre field.
| Sally won't be herself for days after
this undue excitement. What will be the
consequences? Nothing fit to eat will
appear upon the table. Those hard
Il -
ing me Indigestion already. Oh, if
women would but recognize the fact
that they are sent into the world to be
good daughters first, and good wives
afterwards"
On his way home TO early dinner Mr.
Erskine was overtaken by pleasant
faced young man, who owned farm
adjoining his own.
How do you DO, Tom?" said Mr.. Err
skine, nodding to him Are you com
ing TO join our dinner? l warn you, you
had better not. There'll be nothing fiji
to eat" And then ne told him of the
scholarship and Sally's success. But
you seem glad at the news!"
We'll" replied Tom Ross, from my
own point of view, l suppose 1 ought to
be sorry, because she'll be less inclined
than ever to say yes to me. STILL" con-
tinued the young man, carried away
by a vision of Sally's ecstasy, I'm
honestly glad for her sake for she has
deserved this prize. III come back with
you, Mr.. Erskine, and take my chance
of a badly cooked dinner"
Tom" said Sally. rushing out tc
meet her lover and grasping him by
the hand, Il know papa has told you
so 1 need not go over the news again
Anne and l have been arranging every
thing, and we have just written tC
| Newman for particulars with regard
TO the entrance examination. If all is
well, 1 hope to enter Newman in Oc-
tober What's the matter, Tom
Aren't you delighted? Don't you con-
graduate me?'
Yes, Sally, l congratulate you"
Aren't you glad?"
For your sake l am glad, but"
"Oh, don't let us have any dismal
butts to-day. If you intend to be very
nice and cheerful, and if you mean tc
take my part during dinner, you may
stay and play tennis afterwards
Tom Ross promised vehemently; he
would uphold Sally. and look cheerful