The Era-leader., 1921-04-28
SABRA'S VACATION,
BY SUSANNA MAC MAGklN.


ing up from the seam she was stitch
ing on the machine when her daugh-
ter entered the room.
Sabra Stewart, slim girl with
glossy brown hair brushed back from
q smooth brow, stood beside the
whirring machine and watched the
pretty roile ruftle slip beneath her
mothers slender fingers.
''No mother, l haven't; you know
the other two girls can't quite agree
about Just where they want to go. But
really they must decide before a week
from next Monday, July the 9th, Or
Or I'll go off alone"
1t was Saturday-the last Satur-
dav in June-and the big Office where
"the other two girls" and Sabra were
employed closed on Saturdays during
the summer.
81 need another yard of this voile,
Sabra." Mrs. Stewart had finished the
rufile and had begun hastily to baste
il to the skirt; "and I wish, Sabra,
that YOU would eat your breakfast and
then 90 down town and get the volle.
You'll be back by II o'clock and III
have your dress all ready to try on.
| do want to finish today, so you can
wear it to church tomorrow"
at is q beautiful dress, mother, and
I think that you are a dear to make
so many little ruftles" Sabra kissed
her mother and FASTENED to the kitch-
en-. where her breakfast was nice and
hot on the back of the stove.
"Wel, I'm glad that she Is going
TO have a real vacation for once IN
her life" Mrs. Stewart s0liloQuized
when her daughter had left the room;
"she has been in that office almost
five years and this is her first vaca-
ton"
Her breakfast finished, Sabra went
up to her room to dress for her trip
down town. But first she must count
her money. for never before In all her
| % wears had Sabra Stewart owned
so much money.
From beneath the lavender-scented
pad of muslin that covered the bottom
of her bureau drawer where she kept
her handkerchiefs and laces she drew
number of bills and spread them out
mon the table-S53 in all. 1t
was her vacation money and ever since
January she had been putting it away
a few dollars at time out OF hef
allowance" for Sabra had an allow
ance of IS q week for clothes ano
ear fares out of her SIS a week sal
ary.
While she was gathering up hel
wealth from the table the telephone
bell rang, and she heard her mothers
Voice answering. She listened ant
seen she was aware that her mothel
Vss tniking with Aunt Nancy. For
| NV minutes she stood listening, ant
| Into her frank, brown eyes there came
| a troubled look. She started to &
| down stairs, then, suddenly changed
her mind and put on her hat and coa
and went out while her mother wat
still talking with Aunt Nancy.
It was almost I o'clock when sht
returned. She came laden with box
q bag, and couple Of bundles.
| Her mother who had been anx
iously watching for her since ].
o'clock, let her III.
Now, don't scold me, mother" tn
almost breathless girl cautioned tn
little woman, whose brown eyes wer
wide with astonishment, "for hav
had the-A-the most thrilling tim
| shedding that money-eome up stair
IL you see"
Deity the box and bundles wer
opened and their contents spread on
upon the bed; a trim suit of Oxfor
gray, q blouse of georgette, q whit
muslin blouse and smart toque t
match the lovely gray suit.
"That suit is real bargain, moth
or, and it's just your size, a 9S, bu
you have the privilege Of changing
IT,"
"But, Sabra," Mrs. Stewart ha
found her voice again. "Sabra-I-
your-your vacation"
"Oh, vacation" Sabra shrugged he
shoulders I'm going to stay at HON
and enjoy solid comfort while you
yeu are going with Aunt Nancy t
swelter and swat sand feas and mos
guitoes around her new cottage
But, Sabra," Mrs. Stewart bega
] to protest, IL"
81 heard you whispering to Aur
Nancy on the telephone this morning,
Sabra interrupted, 'and you told he
that you would love to 60, but that 70
, had nothing to wear and you hadn'
mother, not thing fit to wear, ah
all because you insist on my havin
everything, and, now, please, mothe
60 and tell her, before she make
other arrangements, that you are g
| Ing"
And, smiling through her tears, tn
| llttla u,nmnn nlufnhad hnr dnllnhtdr