The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-04-14

apartment.
f" Well, what's wanted ?"
Jane was awakened from a dream ot
vanity and triumph. She was, already
in imagination, wearing the sables. and
eclipslng certain young ladies whose pride
she wished to humble They had only
mink, or martin at best, and she would
hurt their ewes with sabies.
Jane, | wish you would 90 up to the
large closet in the third story passage,
and bring me small bundle, tied with a
piece of red cord, which lies on the top
shelf
"I'll ring for Ellen, if you desire it p
answered Jane without moving.
When | ask you to ring for servant,
you can do so,' said Mrs. Dunlap, with
unconcealed displeasure
Il don't know what you have servants
for, if you don't make them wait on you, .
retorted Jane sharply.
Mr.. Dunlap turned his ear and listened.
Il wish you to get me the bundle, y
said Mrs. Dunlap She spoke firmly.
"If there were no servants in the house.
it would be fair enough to call on me to
run up and down stairs" replied Jane, in
increasing ill-nature. " But, as it is, YOU
ask more than is reasonable; I'm not a
waiter %
This was more than Mr. Dunlap could
bear For weeks he had felt the storms
of adverse circumstances bearing upon
him with a steadily Increasing violence
and with all the ccolness of brave COM
mander, he kept his eyes at the point of
danger, and striven with unwearied skill
to pass the reefs and currents amidst which
his bark was struggling But the events
of that day had shown him that skill,
courage and toll were of no avail. The
keel of his goodly vessel was already jar
ring among the breakers, and there was no
human power that could save her from
destruction. Our merchant was no cow
ard In his way up, he had striven hard,
but gained mental stamina in the Strue-
giles after fortune. And now, when for
tune was ebbing away like a swiftly re-
ceding tide, he did not shudder like a
weakling. What if his ship were among
the breakers? Life was yet safe. And
something might be recovered after the
hull went to pieces in the storm. And
so, he was already nerying himself for the
worst.
The last remark of his daughter was
more, we have said, than Mr. Dunlap
could bear. 1t had not been his intention
to make known to his family, for day or
two yet, the painful trials that too surely
awaited them But this little scene ex-
cited new train of thought and he de-
termined to speak out with plainness
that would leave no room for misappre-
hension. And SO he rose from the sofa,
ana passed slowly towards the centre of
the room. Both Mrs. Dunlap and Jane
looked up IN his face. and both half-start-
ed with surprise at its paleness and ex-
preston.
"Sables Did I hear Alright, Jane ?"
Mr.. Dunlap looked at his daughter in a
wild kind of way. There was something
in his voice that sent shiyer along her
nerves.
Yes, sabIes," she answered. trying to
speak in a firm and decided tone.
"You shall have them; and they shall
be dark as midnight i"
O, with what startling tone Of bitter
ness We're the words uttered.
The face of Jane grew pale, and the
busy hands of her mother fell motionless
in her lap.
eyes, you shall have sables but of
another kind than those about which you
have been so vainly dreaming. SabIes
for the heart-not for the idle hands and
dainty shoulders"
Mr. Dunlap paused in his speech. AL
ready he was conscious Of having betray
ed himself too far-of having commenced
the announcement of approaching misfor-
tune in a wrong and unmanly way.
80, Edwin! What does this mean?"
And the faithful, loving, strong hearted
wife, who had walked ever erect by his
side, whether the sun shone or the rain
fell, sprung forward from her chair, aid
grasping his arms, looked eagerly in his
disturbed face.
Mr.. Dunlap was man of quick self
control. Only a moment or two of reso-
lutte repression was required to calm the
turbulence of feeling which had been
awakened.
"Sit down again." he said, in an even
tone and, as he spoke, he drew his wife
towards the sofa, from which he had a
few moments before arisen. "Iane," he
added, turning towards his bewildered
daughter, over whose white cheeks the
tears were already deginning to fall, "sit
down by yonr mother; | have something
to say that deeply concerns you both"
Then Mr.. Dunlap took a chair, and
drawing it in front of the sofa, sat down
There was brief struggle for entire self