The Portland daily press., 1865-04-28

-! have brought home your dress, Me.
Richley.n 7al6 ssa
Where is Miss Wynall?" es.4
"Very well, lay down the dress; 1t is all
right" e.eea es.s .seasa 81 i
"Miss Waynall would like the money to-
night, madam-seven dollars on the old ac-
count and three for dress" - aga asysf..sfs..3
TT is not convenient tonight
"But Mrs. Richley, Miss Waynall is i'll and
needs the money, persisted Laura. ae M q
''There Flcrian," said Mrs. Richley petu-
lantly, addressing the young man in the
Turkish dresslng-gown and elaborately ar
be.n8osa. 4 81 80 -. ~ "ou'u
What the deuce is the matter now ?p snap-
pishly asked Florian, for the first time conds.
scending to evince any interest in what was
going on. safs s55t5 Al --.s'' - -"
why, these impertinent drees-making peo-
pie are always clamoring for money, just when
you nave drained me of my last cent.
Let 'em clsmor, then, that's nv advice D
SAID Florlan, without taking the trouble to
move his head. ass "a ~ 1aaa6 $1,000
Just give me back that ten. dollar bill.
it Tonight" q q G : ao'r,SV : l-a'S 81
cody. z s--7r 7--IT'.
'You are just going to fritter it away in
some OF those gambling places, to drink
yourself stupid again." fretted Mrs, Rich
ley. "It's too bad, getting nay money away
from me justto indulge In those horrid hab-.
self?" -
EASY, Mamma, easy, y said the dntiful son.
lazily dragging himself to a sitting posture
Don't lose your temper, for it isn't worth
while. This ten-dolar bill is going to help
make my fortune. II shall take the lovely
Laura to the opera tonight isa s-a
Nonsense; this fine scheme will fash in
the pan just like all the rest of your castles in
the air. she won't have you"
"Oh yes, she will, my incredulous mamma:
wait and see. / shall bring her to the point
pretty soon, Then I'll pay you back the
mreney with interest out Of my lady's bag of
shi ners.na a~s s.ses'is 80 - s - - ,
and will you leave off your gambling
habits On, Fiorian, they will be the ruin Of
you yet" sa@4 6i8sa III 7s
n ''Perhaps, perhaps not,n returned the young
man insolently. THAT will be very much as
please" F 3..ss sot..,.r
Both the mother and her hopeful son had,
apparently entirely forgotten the presence of
the young girl who was standing in the dusky
shadows near the door, until this moment.
when Mrs. Richley, turning sharply round
saw her. 70. =
"What arr you waiting for ?n she asked irri-
tably. II have already told you that 1t was
not convenient to pay the money tonight
Why don't you go about your business ?"
Her cheeks were flushed. even beneath their
artificial bloom of rouge, aud her chill gray
eyes sparkled with rising anger, as Laura Av. 4
cry composedly advanced forward. She took
one of the wax tapers from its china shell and
lighted the gas with steady hand VIII ee.fash
OF rich rings struck Mrs. Richley with aston
ishment. fr- '.s4...,,, st
II am sorry that you can not pay your lust
debts, Madam" J" said Laura quietly looking the
amazed mother and soL in the face "but am
not sorry for any occurrence that has had the
effect OF opening my eyes to the true charae-
ter OF Mr.. Florian Richley. / will take the
tendollars, sir, to my sick friend, as you will
find it entirely unnecessary to go to the ex-
pense Of taking Miss Laura Avery to the
opera tonight" ss $50 8 ssst
Florian's handsome cheek had grown pale
his knees quvered beneath him as he mechan-
ically took the bill from his pocket book and
placed it in the hand of the imperative beau
ty, while Mrs. Richley sank back aghast into
the cushioned arm. chair. y ty4 t7- y
Florian made one desperate effort to retrieve
his lost fortune, even in the moment of sore
defeat and discontinue. a-s--.-.s-s->S><s-
i am very sorry-aWkWard miStake-hope
you will afford me an explanation" he stam-
mered,
'Irequire no explanation, sir,' was Laurass
cold reply, as she withdrew from the apart
ment, naughty and unapproachable as statue
of ice. ass9 a~ iaefa Z sis1g
She hurried homeward through the twi-
light streets, with a burning cheek and beat
ing heart, and it was nearly dark when once
more she entered Miss Waynalis room lighted
only by the faint glow Of the low fire. + 81
"Back so soon, Laurag asked Ellen, some
what surprised. u aesA ifatsae'a3
"Here is the money, Nelly, and the wine,'
she said thankful that the dim light could not
betray her telltale features. "And now you
must get well as fast as you can.pA sffoE sH3 81
@Oh, Laura, am so much obliged to you,"
said Ellen, earnestly. -9a ~ 'N.-s .s.s = y
Laura stopped TO kiss her friends pale
cheek, inwardly rejecting how much she had
10 thank Eilen's indisposition. .s-e-
Bat she never told Ellen Of the discovery
she hns. Snwlttingly made. while fnlhlling the
gentle m,ssion OF friendship, and no one even
knew the precise manner In which the con-
templated match between Florian Richley and
Laura Avery was broken OF. KS, ~ ss''h PIG = = - =
There are some things that bring their own
reward in this world--and the one act of kind
ness had saved Laura from unconsciously TAX
ing the step that would have precipitated her
into q lifetime of misery.