The suburban citizen., 1900-06-09

~ -r,N laid her h ca d
down on the table and burst into
tears.
''I knew it was of no use to write, ="
said her brother, Harry, a handsome
young man, about twenty, who had
been sitting rather moodily before the
FIRE. 'He says he has something bet
Ter to do with his money than send
you to school. But never mind
don't cry. I'll not always be q poor
clerk, and then you won't have to ask
. stingy, old uncle for favors."
II would not mind it so much,
Harry" said Katie, raising her dark
eyes full of tears; "but if L could go
one term more I should then bo able
to teach, and only think what a bur
den it would lift off you"
Don't talk of burdens, Katie. You
are not a burden to me. Indeed,
do not know what 1 should do with
out my little sister, now that mothers
gone, and his voice quivered.
Then, after a silence broken only
by Katie's sobs, Harry suddenly
jumped up, saying:
"I have an idea, Katie. Give me
my hat-there-don't question ME.
I'll only be gone an hour or so. Cheer
mp till [ come back.
''It is Just too bad!" mentally ex-
claimed Harry, as he plunged out in
to the darkness and rain. 81 think
uncle might have given her something,
but it is just like him. It is 80 hard
to be forever struggling with poverty.
IL il were not for Katie I'd rather be
dead. Poor little sisterl she ia so
reasonable in her wants it is such
shame to deny her this. But I'll ask
Mr.. Grayson to let me sweep out the
store aud do the work of boy. lean
have it all done by the time the other
clerks come, and be able to attend to
my own duties. Katie need never
know it, and it will bring enough to
enable her to go to school"
Ringing the bell he was soon ush-
cred into Mr.. Grayson's parlor, where
he found not Mr.. Grayson, but Miss
Bruce.
"Her uncle was not in just then,
bat would he not waltz"
Now Harry had heard OF this Miss
Bruce before-heard OF her as an
heiress, naughty and proud, and he
sat down to await Mr.. Grayson, feel
ing very uncomfortable But to his
surprise she talked to him, and at his
request played and sang for him, and
before the evening was oVer-Mr.
Grayson failing to come-he never
could tell how it was, but he had told
her all his troubles and been sympa ,
thized with so swestly that he found
himself wondering was there ever an
other such a woman.
But this evening, like all sthers,
had an ending, and when he arose to
go Miss Bruce held out her hand and
said:
II must say good-by, for to.mor-
row l return home shall not for
get you or your troubles. l do not
see how L eau comfort you. But be
brave and I know your life will yet be
a success"
The world seemed darker than ever
to Harry as he again went out into
the night and rain. Darker, because
he had found what life might be if he
dared to WOO and win such a woman
as Miss Bruce.
Katie looked up anxiously as her
brother returned, but, noting his sad
face, she asked no questions, but sa
down beside him, put her arms about
his neck, and rested her head on his
shoulder. 1t was a way she had OF
comforting him when he was sad.
The next day, as Harry and Katie
were taking their frugal lunch, the
landlady came up TO their front door
and left letter. He opened it, and
to his surprise there dropped out
crisp $50 bill. A hot flush mounted
on his cheek, aud for a moment he
was exceedingly angry that anyone
should make him an object Of charity.
"It must be from Miss Bruce" he
thoUght.
''Well, Katie" he said, passing
over the bill, ''you can go to school