The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-02-16

"""Ss epSaSeu IN tue execution o
your commissions. Ruth Lee, you know
never leaves her home to fit dresses"
You can have the carriage this after
noon, Bertha,' said Mrs. WinsIow. who
her proud heart loved anything, it was
her naughty, beautiful Bertha.
"Much as | dislike that sanctimon;ous
patient little Ruth Lee, she must make
my dress; for no one else can give it such
graceful fit as She"
You have never tried Miss Pinchem.n "
observed Caroline.
- II have no need Of padding" rctorted
"You would be glad to employ Ruth
Lee yourself, only that she processes to
De loo honest to interfere with nature"
Il fear this Ruth Lee has very little
custom then," remarked a lady visitor.
she makes all my dresses. and also
those Of many of my friends" replied Ber-
tha.
"Dear mamma, let me 90 with Bertha
this afternoon" implored Clarice. "Th;s
once let cousin Ruth make my"
Not till you have done with that fool
,sh habit of calling her COUSIN" replied
Mrs. Winslow, in a stern voice.
The lady friend soon found occasion ~
depart, anxious to tighten her heart of
the news, with which, until then, she was
unacquainted, that the Winslows had low
connections, of whom they were asham-
ed.
Ruth and her mother had retired 80
quietly from the circle in which thew had
moved, that but comparatively few either
knew OF, or cared for, their whereabouts.
a stately carriage had just driven from
the humble home of Ruth Lee.
Standing beside the table in the sams
attitude which she had assumed some mo.
ments before, after she had closed the
door upon her naughty cousin, Ruth Lee
seemed struggling with herself to restrain
some powerful emotion that was working
within her. At the sound of her mothers
step within, Ruth gathered up the folds
OF the costly fabric that was piled upon
the table, and throwing it over her arm.
she held it up as though admirinr its
beautiful texture, but really to conceal the
heaviness Of her own heart.
In moment or two after, her mother
entered the room, and Ruth tried to smile
as she showed her the material for her
cousins dress: but it was dim smile. and
Mrs. Lee saw that it was more full of tears
'""Hfd'J"u mt uei tiia liI.s "rrr, mvDu, uoaI-
Ruth I"
Il have her patterns, dear mother, and
she is 10 call tomorrow afternoon to try
on her dress"
"But what it is, my child, that has
gone wrong with you 1t is something
more than usual, ] know. DO not CON
ceal anything that comes near YOU"
With that, as though she could no lon
ger restrain her feelings, Ruth sank into
IN arm chair near by, and gave away to
a resistless passion Of tears. Checking
herself, after few minutes, she exclaim-
ed
"FOrgive me, dearest mother; am vc-
ry wrong to distress you so cruelty. But
she was so proud, and cold, and distant,
and imperative; she, who used to be my
schoolmatc she who used to he my cous-
in! And then it was more remark she
made"
"What was it, my childi Don't hesi-
tate. Tell me what she said"
ut was only that she did not see how
l found time to read such books. l had
been reading Jane Eyre 1t was more
the tones than the words. But dear moth
er, it is nothing"
"Nothing that you should be so hurt
YOU, who are all goodness 7"
"But, dear mother, her heart has never
been softened by griet Her life has been
one Of uninterrupted pleasure. Nothing
dear mother, like suffering seftens the
hearts to Others misfortunes."
my poor Ruth"
"Poor dear mother! Am not rich in
your love!"
"You have It all, my child. But did
not tell you that Lincoln Raymond had
retumedl Lieutenant Raymond how
He used to be favorite with you, re-
member"
That FUSED to be"-that, or some reco!-
lection Of the by gone, set Ruth off again,
and she sobbed as though her heart would
break.
"Dearest mother, am very foolish and
nervous this afternoon. There! will
command myself before l spoil this half
finished dress. Now, tell me when he
returned, and how you heard it"
II read the announcement Of the arri.
val Of the ship in which he sailed, in this
mornings paper. His name was very
fatteringly mentioned among the list Of
ofiicers."
Ruth suppressed sigh that arose to
her lips aud the tears that would come To
her eyes, and went on quietly stitching
at the dress on which she had been al
work all day.
Welcome home, Lieutenant Raymond
said Bertha Winslow, advancing, in her
most graceful manner, and with hel
brightest smile, to meet that gentleman
as he was ushered into the drawing
room.
| Clarice stopped in the midst OF walt
just now from Germany, and ran forwarC
to shake hands with Raymond, withoa
stopping to think whether she did 81
gracefully OF no. Her smile was yer,
bright sor il came from her heart. Lin