The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-29
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Ladies World Of Fashion.
Chr BELLE of Ramk,
BY MRS. C. Z. PowNELL.

in Main street yesterday! mean the girl
in the plain, white silk bonnet, and drab dress
that looked as lift had once been on num-
my"
"Oh you mean Emily Payne, suppose,
for she does not dress as fine lady like
YOU would"
sand who is Emily Payne? Your wash
erwomen or her daughter 2" said Isabella,
with toss of her head.
"Neither," replied Alfred. with quiet
smile, looking his sister in the face, 'she is
the daughter of reduced family, and lives
with her widowed mother. They have here
tofore resided in one of the northern coun
ties-lived In log hut believe--but have
now come to Cincinnati, where they talk Of
opening a millinery shop. lean promise
them your custom, suppose" continued
the brother with a provokingly quiet smile,
as if he foresaw the horror, which his fash
ionable sister would entertain at the idea of
employing sch person for milliner.-
Nor was he disappointed.
"My custom !" replied the indignant lsa-
bella, "indeed you have odd notions ifyou
think such frig ht is capable of making my
dresses. The idea is preposterous, and |
beg you will never mention it again. She
may do to supply the wives and daughters
of day laborers But how, in the name of
common sense, did you become acquainted
with her 2 l am shocked at you for walk
ing with her in the street"
| 81 met her last year when / was travel>
ing to the lakes. You know | was thrown
from my horse, and confined three weeks
from the injuries. Through that illness
Emily Payne was my nurse, | think even
you will admit that owe her some graft
tude," and he spoke with deep feeling.
"To be sure, to be sure--no one questions
| it. You ought to get her recommend a.
bout. though don't you see how indicate
it is for you to DO it personality I'll men,
ton it to the housekeeper, and tell her to
send all the servant girls there. Now that
III do-no thanks, but, for mercy's sake
don't be seen again walking the streets with
such an antediluvian relic of woman, or
shall be forced not to recognize you" and
Isabella sailed from the room in all the dig
nifty Of a lady patti oness, imagining that her
brother was grateful of course for the Gus
toners she had promised to send to Emily
Payne.
Alfred stood looking out into the street
from the window until her retreating foot
steps had died on the hall stairs, when he
burst into hearty laugh.
"My good sis % he said, tone cannot
help smiling at her weakness. She is all
for fashion, aristocrccy, and the other jar
gon of the silly portion of her sex. Poor
Emily, you will have hard judge in her,
when we are married. But faith thought
has struck me, and I'll see what can be
done. III, out.wit Isabella yet, and make
her love her new sister.in-law past all de-
scription," and with face glowing with
his new project, he seized his hat and hur-
ried from the house.
Isabella had an excellent heart, but had
one weakness-the pride of birth and fash
ion She sought no ones acquaintance un-
less they came recommended by coat of
arms, or the fame of the ballroom. Her
brother was totally dissimilar in this respect;
regarded no distinctions except those of
merit and was as willing to shake hands
with the honest laborer as with millionaire
or the son of duke. On this subject the
brother and sister could never agree and
consequently when Alfred met with the
accident to which he alluded, and was car
ried to the-house of Mrs. Payne insensible,
where he remained until well. and where
he learned to love her daughter, charmed
by her thousand good qualities, he said
nothing on the subject to Isabella.
Alfred soon reached the humble dwelling
of Mrs. Payne, and in a moment was sit
ting by the side of his betrothed. We will
not pause 10 describe her beauty it was
striking and unrivaled though half de.
stroyed by the plain old fashioned dress
which she wore, and which certainly did
merit portion of Isabella's anathema. But
then Emily had already had to struggle
with the world, and poverty and the dis
lance which she lived from the city were
sufficient reasons, in the eyes of her lover,
for her costume. He had determined, how.
ever, that she should no longer do injustice
to herself.
81 have favor to ask of you, dear Emi-
ly," he said, taking her small hand in his,
and looking fondly into her clear blue eyes,
"you must grant it before l tell what it is,
for l will pledge you there is nothing wrong
in my request.
"On that pledge l promise" said Emily,
land now what is it, Alfred p
"There is to be ball this night week,
where all the bellies of the city will be gath
cred. My boon has relation to this ball and
is twofold-frst, that you 60 there with me
secondly, that you wear dress of which
/ will select, both tie materials and the
style of making. Mo objections now-you
needn't shake your head-mind you've
promised. It's within of mine, and for
the reasons, I'll tell them some other time"
Emily would have argued, but Alfred
playfully silenced her; and finally she gave
him her consent to his plan. The week
soon passed away. Isabella and her BROTH
er had no more conversation about the mil
liner; but the sister was anxious to know
who he intended to take to the ball, and
Alfred determined on deception which he
thought under the circumstances, innocent.
ttN-- Al ,,1ef ry1oyinus xuopap uor,