Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-06-20
HlistelIanp.


" -Four o'clock snd no Ellen yet What car
detaIn her so-she is usually more punclu4l thlc
the clock itself?
il vas sclrceya room in which Laura Avery
was slu1lng-ntner a magnificent bay window
with draperies Il embroidered lace.
Poor Elem che murmured, how different
our lois have been ordered 10 this world Her
parents dead-their wealth irretfievabIy lost, and
She TOO proud TO accept cent that she has MOI
labouou,y Earned. On, dear and Laura sighed
sgaIn, just as the clocks liquid yo.ce ehimed the
hall-nouL
"S1e doesn't come" ,oIloquzed the puzzled
little damsel. "IhtreI something The matter
Perhaps she is sIck-oh, dear, she must be sick
VI send James TO inqulre--no, ii 20 myself
Beiole the words we're out OF her lips she was
up in her own room adjusting a soft grey shaw
er her black silk dress, and tying the strings OF
qu'et little brown velvet bonnet, whose own
crimson rose among rs trimmings OF enameed
moss vas not unlike the bloom Of her own cheek
don't think It is going to snow" she p1n.
dered, looking out st the grey threa eung Ky.
as sue 1reW on her perfectly fitting glove, al
any rate, shall walk very iast.'
As she came through the softly y.crpeted vesti-
bu servant approached her
q" 4 note, Mss Laura IL came five minutes
ago
All! The rose was srveral shades N the back
ground now, IS she broke the scented sea-, sna
glanced over the delicate, cream-c1ored sheet
with bright, haf-suppressed smile dmplng the
corners OF her mouth Yet the note was a YER,
simple one after ALL
Mr. DRAG Mss AvIsr Nay promise myself The
pleasure ot accompany ~ sou q ear b. Leu opera 10
M q "A nlVNan q f1f IN "A
call Tor you ~ half past seven.
You, devoted ,l.ye AMI subject,
ftuSiN kioalIY.f
Laura n"incti'ey slipped the note into her
bosom, As # fearful lest the very picture on the
wall should catch anght OF the elegan, chiro-
graphy, an pur.ued her way down the gloomy
street, With eyes that saw the murky atmosphere
through the radenI glow Of oouieur ce roe
Meantime, the grey light Of October was fading
away from dreary room on the tn I'd story Of
house sltualed on one Of those streets where de
cent respec,abihly slrNes hand to hand. With the
grim asaalldnt want
SinguIarly out Of keeping With the shabby ani
poverty stricken aspect Of the apartment was a
newly finished dress of l1strou. purple silk, bright
as The dyes Of Tyre, that lay folded on the table
beside The window in such a manner that Won
could see The costly IrImmng-l vide border OF
purple velvet, edged on either side With nuins
Of white point lace. For poor Ellen Wa,naiI
was nothing more important than hArd-worklpp
aud poorly paid dressmaker.
Sue lay on the little white bed ia the corner
win her flushed cheek pressed close against The
plIow, anu Ter slender figure partially covered by
a coarse palued scarlet shaw while the OCCASION
al involuntary contraction OF her forehead bore
Nl'ness 10 TIE pain she was metkly suffering.
As one OF Two qulet tears escaped from her
closed eyeDds, and erept softly down her cheek,
light step sounded on the landi outside, and
knock came gently to the panels OF the door.
Come ~" said Ellen, hurridly dashiug away
the tears. "Laura, is it possible that this /, you,
dears"
Yes, it is myself and none other. Nell, II
could not imagine why you did not come and fl.
that dress, as you had appointed but know The
reason now. Nelly, you are sick. WY did you
not send for me ,"
Ellen tried to smile, hintly
am not very sick, Laura at least, have
not suffered much PAN until tonight, and the
doctor says that if only had little wine-no
Laura, do not draw your purse, she added wrh /
slightly peiceptlble tparkle in her eyes, and
proud qlysr on her lips. 81 am not quite 40
+N" ~ 10 w oNNNpk ION lOuk 50 NuTi /
and grew d, dearest You know how sensitive | |
cannot help renl on some points. 1t is only iol
a little whlic When | am we'll enough 10 TAKE
that dress home, aud receive the money for il, / /
shall then be enabled to purchase whatever may
require"
L.ura Avery kneh down at her friends bedside
WIN soft, pleading Eyes
Dear Ellen, you will not refuse To accept
tempoary loan IRON me Pr
Ellen shook her head with grave smle.
can wait, Laura"
Laura oktd from the dress to Ellen with
lace OF lalotd ptrpexity. Suddenly brigh,
inspiration seemed to sIiike her.
Let me take the dress home, + lien - she
exclaimed. "rhe walk will be Just wha. need,
aud can stop at Dabour's on the way back and
order the wine Tor YOU You will never be STONY
unless you coss,t yourself up little. You viii
let me, Nell9"
Ellen hessled moment.
But, Ltuta-"
NO pa" IN the matter, il you please, Nel,n
! l1luSasa Laura gteiuIiy, begnns to fold the rlch
a'es' ,, into the little basket that stood upon the
liable beside IT,