Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-07-20

her treading on the skirt of her gay
tarletan dress and nearly rending it
from her, Louisa looked on with grim
satisfaction.
CHATS ruined" she said. "You'll
have that to pay for! Good enough
for you, n firter and maxim eyes at
other folks beauxF
Poor Sarah, utterly guiltless of any
such ambition, burst into tears.
81 wish I had never come" she
sobbed. II detest balls"
The woman who had rented Sarah
the pink tarlatan dress coolly demanded
$25 for it,
"And cheap at that" said she.
"Why, look at the quality of it. Look
at the real blonde trimmings"
"But," gasped Sarah Cleve, 1925!
I cannot-I cannot! have not got the
money!"
"You must raise it somehow" said
the woman, calmly, cor I'll have to
put the matter into the hands of the
law"
Poor Sarah went home, crying be-
hind her veil.
Louisa" said she, won't you lend
me the money!"
"Me, indeed" said the cook. ga
pretty ideal AS if was made of gold.
No, I won't, miss, and, what's more,
I'll up and tell Missus the whole
thing if Rachel Levy amt paid afore
twenty four hours is over, Rachel's a
friend o mine, and 1 feel sort O.
responsible like. SO now you knows
just what you've got to expect"
Sarah hurried upstairs, pale and
trembling.
cts Mrs. Hyde Delatour in?" she
asked of that lady's own maid.
"Don't yen know" said Marianne,
"shes gone away for three days, and
I'm to follow in the next train? I
only waited for her blue satin dress to
come home.
And away 1irted Marianne, with
the shallow pasteboard box under his
arm.
Sarah leaned against tho balus-
trade, her eyes dim with tears.
"What shall [ do?" she murmured
to herself. ooh, what shall do?"
just then she Glanced to glance up,
and though the half.open door of the
library she caught sight of young
man comfortably stretched out in a
reclining chair in front of the fire,
volume in his hand, a cigar between
his lips. 1t was James Perceval, Mrs.
Hyde Delatour's brother.
'I'll ask him." thought Sarah,
clasping her hand over hor throbbing
heart Gle can but refuse"
She tapped softly at the door. He
looked up, little surprised.
'Is it you, Sarah? Come in"
"NIr. Perceval, said Sarah, in the
low, refined voice that he had noticed
before, II have q favor to ask of
you"
"Of me? A favorw
"Will you lend me $25, Mr.. Perez
val?"
Twenty five dollarsl"
And Sarah told her simple story
told it all without reservation or him
drance, just rs it had occurred, max
ing no attempt to veil her own faults
and follies. Mr.. Perceval looked al
her curiously.
"Sarah," said he, edo you know
that you are a very strange girl?"
ST never died base thing before,
sir" said she, quietly; 81 never told a
lie, and, please God, 1 never will
again"
He opened his portemonnaio and
gave her the required sum.
"Here it is" he said. "And be,
lieve me, Sarah, your secret is safe
with me-"
Good bless you, SIR" she said
looking at him with eyes swimming il
liquid tears.
"She has n face like Madonna,
he said to himself, as she went softly
out of the room.
The cook was considerably surprised
when Sarah Cleve discharged her full
indebtedness to the Questioning
woman with the bold black eyes.
"Well, [ declared" she said. Where
ever did you get so much money!"
But Sarah did not think best to tel
her.
Three months afterward there wal
a quiet wedding in the back parlor o
the brown-ston house.
"Wel, L am surprised" said Mis-
Hopkinson. "Young Perceval ha
married his sisters seamstress. Blu
she has pretty face and pretty way
that [ will say for her"
Married seamstress! Every on'
was astounded, and Mrs. Hyde Della
tour most of all.
''But James was never like anyon
else" said she. piteously.
SO Sarah went away to a home o
her own, the happiest little bride il
all the world. James Perceval ha'
lent his money and III, heart at tn
same time. The money had been dul
returned; not SO the heart.
And Miss IIopkinson said twas th
only real romance in real life that sh
had ever come across!