The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1901-12-20

ulo UEeo>t Wituuut eveu RiduCIuH AZ
the proud, handsome Gertrude, who
sat Oear with blushing cheeks and
flaming eyes.
Aunt Priscilla died two months be-
fore Beryls eldest child was born.
Her will was in favor OF Gertrude.
Beryl had married man who would
always make . good living; Gertrude
was like her, hard to suit and would
most probably do as she had done, re-.
main single; 1t was her duty to pro-
vide for her.
Two years after this q little girl
was born to Beryl; ere it could lisp a
single word the father died and the
mother and two children we're left
penniless.
"Do not look to me for support"
Gertrude had coldly told her, in the
early days Of her grief, II never ad.
yised you to marry, you know; it ia
not my fault you have come to this.
Aunt Priscilla always said that you
would do something foolish"
Beryl made no reply, but the cruel
words aroused her sufficiently to
enable her TO understand her position
and only short week after her hus.
bands death, she turned bravely to
the support Of her children.
Grasping at the tirst opportunity
that afforded her work, she accepted
some sewing offered her by wealthy
relation of her husbands; and so it
chanced that ever since she had
struggled with the needle.
II trust you will not disgrace me,
Beryl, by beiog q seamstress all your
li!e." Gertrude said, when she saw
her sister cutting out numerous pima.
fores and jackets.
Beryl looked up at her proudly; aye,
defantly as she replied:
II shall do anything. anything In
the world, Gertrude, but beg"
But that was 6ve years ago and this
was Christmas Eve. Beryl's boy was
shivering at her side and her little
girl lay Ill of fever. She had been
unable to sew lately, for her sick
child required all her care. 1t was
hard; hard to see her children suffer
90 on Christmas Eve. There were
sounds OF mirth and laughter In the
streets; other children were happy,
could she sit still and see hers In
such cruel want? No, she would
send to Gertrude. Surely for the
sake OF the morrow her sister would
open her heart to her at last. They
themselves had been children once;
Gertrude must remember all the hap.
py Christmas days they had spent
together; yes, she would humble her.
self for the sake of her children. She
would send to Gertrude.
"COme, Sam, you must 20 to your
Aunt's for mother, darling" And
wrapping him up as well as she could
in the thread bare jacket that was
much TOO small for the beautiful boy,
she bent aud kissed him aud bade
him tenderly to hurry home as the
darkness came SO soon these wintry
evenings. Thrusting lovely little
note into the baby hands, she watch.
ed him hurry down the street tn the
great stone house just two short
blocks away from all her poverty and
grief.
| How could she remember In her
cruel anxiety that Gertrude had
cautioned her once, never to come
herself or send her children to see her
after i've o'clock in the evening, for
they would seldom, II ever find ller
at home, as that was the hour she
frequently went for q drive with a
friend-a wealthy doct0r-who was,
we'll, to say the least, very atten tivt
to her OF late, and OF whom abe ex
pected great things 10 the future.
"And men are such strange crea
lures, Beryl, 90 easily frightened
you know, and there is nothing OF
earth that they have greater hOrr0
|, OF than poor relation"
So 1t happened that when Sam ran
the gong Of the great stone houst
. Gertrude thought that she recognize
the doctors ring and made elaborat
! preparations to receive him.
y Her anger and disappointment CO
4 better be iuagined than described
when no one but slivering littl
Sam entered the room.
a Merely alancing At the note, will
: out reaping q single word Of 10 con
: tents, she tore 10 into hundre
!. tpleces, which she threw IN the glow
q Iiug coals:
: III your mother wishes food" sh
4 said coldly, turning aneryly on tn
: |child. ''tsll her 70 send for u tomoI
4 Irow morning at market time and a
4 sseyants vii eive 10 to her; they hsv
9 Inv instructloss never 70 send begges
! 6laway without bread. !"