The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-18
ABOVE 'RUBIEs.,

Tom Luke was Disgrace to the village
and was shunned by oil except Sairey
Mott. She alone believed in his oft broken
promises, but at last she, too, was obliged
to give up all belief In him and had to tell
the young man she could keep company
with him no longer.
There's some one else a-comin after
YER" he had cried fercely. "Some one
that has more to offer, reckon. All, Sal
rey, didn't use to think ye was to be
bought along that road. Ye're like the
rest Of yer kind. AL ye women has yer
price"
"Tom" piteously--"you know those
words amt true. Al as I want is an up
right man-one who has got a COED name.
Can thee offer me that, ladf"
But the man only laughed scornfully,
saying: "Yer's is long price. Don't
ye hope ye may get its'
Poor Saireyl With the perversity so Of
ten found in the heart of good woman,
her heart was touched by the most I'M
worthy-a man one would have thought
In every way repugnant to her high, pure
nature. Still, as 1t Is SO it will be, and 1t
was bitter day to Sairey when she real
lied Toms unworthiness.
II suppose there Is but one fellow one
can fancy" she used to think. II don't
seem to have no sort Of feeling for any of
the others. There's Sam Sharman, as
steady as old Time, and Ben Dobbs, with
his house and tidy bit Of garden, but it's
the garden, not Ben, and the pigs, not
Sam, as seems to come first, and with Tom
there's no sort of background. It's jest
I'M pkp ha 7 oil
So time passed on, and Sairey had long
since stepped through the brooklet that
changed maidenhood into that of woman
hood. She was now tall, strongly built
woman, not very much past 40, but she
looked older. Her brown hair was streak
ed with gray, and her soft, brown eyes
well, they had only grown softer and more
gazellelike. Increasing years were not I'M
becoming to her, and II her smile was Il
tride sadder 1t was still more common, as
were her CHEEKY words.
Tom Luke had long since left the village
and had gone to the other side Of Dartles,
where he worked, and since the old peoples
death he had not visited his native place.
But report said he had steadied down con-
siderably, and was now prosperous and
well to do, and talked Of getting married.
"Well to do generally meant matrimony
in the villagers minds These reports
from time to time reached Saireys ears
Some one that has private MEANS" was
one story; another, that ait was an old
fancy"
"P'r'aps mon are different" Sairey
would say to herself land can shift their
fancies. Steadied down bit-thank the
Lord for that reckon he'll make tidy
husband. But wish l felt bit softer
toward Toms fancy. It's terrible hard
not to grudge her like, and Tom steadied
down"
So Sairey lived in her little white house
at the end of the road, and though there
had been many an honest man who had |
fancied to win her for his wife, they all at !
length gave it up. 1t was useless, and per-
haps, like Tom, they considered she held |
herself at high value. But each believed |
1t was against nature that Sairey Mott
should die an old maid.
And 1t became the habit to run for
Sairey If they were in trouble. If any
arose in their uneventful life,
they would say, Let's hear what Sal
rey says" 1t seemed to be her mission
10 be a sort of friend of all work to the
whole village, and she accepted her mis-
sion with all the love Of her heart and SO
willing a cheerfulness that, as the neigh
bors said, it put fresh life into body.
And to the sick her care was worth pow
Or of doctors stuff. God bless herl" And
30 he did in granting her her heart desire
ong after she had ceased to think of it,
ave In the way we think of something
7ery beautiful or rare that can never be
ours, possession we have ceased to coyet
because it seemed to be altogether out of
our reach.
Sairey sat eating her midday meal. A
lot Of tea stood stewing on the hob. She
vas one of those people who considered no
neal complete unless accompanied by the
eapot. The tablecloth, though rough in
exture was spotless. A jam pot full of
,rimroses and forgetmenots adorned the
middle of the table. The meal In itself was
cry meager-a loaf of bread, slice of
old bacon, with a potato or two-but
here was something in the way it was
pread on the table that made it very at
ractive and inviting.
A knock was heard on the door, that
TODD ajar.
"Comein!" called Sairey, without turn
ng her head She was accustomed to peo-
lie dropping in at all times "Is it you,
irs. Buswellp Hope the baby amt
7orse."
ITS me, Saireyv' 1t was mans voice,
nd at the sound of it Sairey turned with
start, almost upsetting her teacup.
"Tom" getting up.
"Yes, ills me-" answered the man.
Hast thou no word of welcome for me
fter all these yearsf' advancing into the
'om. "1've took my time, but I've come
ack with clean name to offer yer. i
hat, " he added as the other didn speak,
was the price you put on yerself. Yer not
one back from that, have yerP There's
ANY woman as will give me good
anne the other side of Dartles. Yer amt
one back, Sairey?'' a little anxiously.
Sairey was trembling. Her face seemed
} find renewed youth as she gazed upon
le man. AT length she said, speaking I
owly:
"No, amt gone back from it, but
fought as you had gone and took up with ,
me one else"
mot likely. No, Sairey. never had
} mind for any other woman. l Just
aited to bring you clear, honest name !
I'd one worthy to offer yer, and, If yer I
ont have it--well, no one else shall. {
ow, then It's for you I've earned 1t. :
~, Sairey, will yer take itP"
Aye, Ton," she answered, "a good {
me! There's nought better as man can r.
Ter woman, reckon. Its price Is above |
J. =