The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-02-16
Srltttth Gults.
The DRESS MAKER AND THE
DRESS WEARER.
NJ MARY SPENCER PEAsE.

HALF buried i'm the velvet cushions G
one Of the luxurious arm-chairs of An 4
Partment, furnished with a magnificenc
an Eastern sultana might envy, sat an cid
erly lady, habited in costly and mos
elaborate undress. Her face had bee,
fair to look upon; but, by long practice il
the fashionable art of concealinp all ex
pressions, she succeeded in wiping out from
her features everything Of the kind. say,
one, cat-like distrust and naughty self
conceit.
Listlessly reclining upon a yielding
lounge was a young lady Of seventeen o.
eighteen, with n set Of features most rare
" and wonderfully beautiful. Still with
iace and form Of perfect symmetry, the lone
lashes OF those usual down cast ewes could
not conceal, in their occasional over briob,
flashes, the pride and discomfort of n hear,
warning with itself; also in the petisb cur
OF her fruitIess lip, and in the archinp o.
her e1quisitely pencil brows, could You
read the same.
Beautiful as had been the mother. and
as was Bertha, her favorite daughter, nc
one for an instant could accuse the eldest
daughter, Caroline, of being even good
looking. Hopelessly ho,nely, her face cx.
pressed most plainly that She had neve,
forgiven father or mother for her IN looks,
uvf neg ssrer Ior UcIIig ,a,o.Ss..
Like a stray sunbeam in scowling pic
ture vas the presence, in that family group,
@ Claricc, the youngest daughter. II
she was pretty, she did not know it. HeS
delight lay, not in herself, but in her tame
birds and squirrels; in Strauss and Labits.
ky's waltzs-which she was forever play
ing; in dancing fancy dances; and diffus.
ing the warmth and JOY Of her own sunny
temper among the ever contending mem.
bers Of her family.
"Claricc, do stop that intolerable drum.
ming on the piano! wish to read some.
thing to mother"
'Certainly, il you wish it, sister Caro-.
line; for my fingers fairly ache with the
last grand attempt" replied Clarice, waltz.
ing, with the ligh.ncss Of fairy, acros.
the spacious room, her voice softly echoinp
the air she had just been playing.
"You might as well DO humming top
and done with it, such whirling and
ouIAiB 40 lou AStP
"What were you going to read to me
Carolinei" said Mrs. Winslow.
8, "An announcement Of the death ant
failure Of Mr.. Walter Lee"
a0f Walter Lee! Caroline, did you SAY
of Walter Lee"
II think spoke sufficiently plain fo
you to understand the name"
"Walter Lee! How shocking! Wher
did he diet"
"Very suddenly, last evening: and tn,
paragraph states that his death was mos
probably occasioned by the startling an
houncement Of the failure Of the house il
which al hi. property was invested"
II suppose his widow and daughter vii
look 10 us now for their support" said Is
hitherto silent Bertha.
ado tell me, Bertha Winslow, IL yo,
have aroused yourself sufficiently to max
such wise iemaFkl" sneered Caroline
III thought you had l'cen fast sleep eve
since breakfast. All ! can say IL, if yo
suppose that l suppose Walter Lees wid
ow and daughter will be 40 weak as I
imagine they have claim upon US, mere
ly because Mrs. Lee happens 70 be tn
sister Of my father"
Ruth Lee has many accomplishment
she will doubtless conclude to maintai
sherseK and her mother by her own il
dpstry," said Mrs. Winslow.
II do not recognise any claim the
have upon us," persisted Caroline. I"
people are careless in business, il is No rel
son they should expect 10 depend on tho
who are more prudent"
AT the first word that announced h
uncie's death had Clarice left the roor
and, with her school-bonnet and shawl
her hand, was hurrying through the stsee
10 her uncle's dwelling.
The closed shutters and the crape
the door told plainly the sad tale within
Il knew you would como 10 us In o.
affection dear Ciarce," said Ruth Ioe,
tho warm hearted girl stole into the roo
where the nourners were sitting ~
threw hersek weeping on Ruth's boso,
@oh, Clarice, may such bitter grief ~
now bseaking my heart-stfings never con
upon yoai-
Rath paused. fcr ths vision Of her u
Gle Winsiow, her coasin Glasics's fsth
her own dear mothers brothes. passed |
fore her--a vision of stern, cold, en-
hearted man, who noiihes askcd iot 4
accepted love fson those nearest him: 4
she felk Il ha were 70 die, Clarca's !,
could not conipasewIsh her. And IN