American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-11-14

uenIy Il pIlSnt nsplrdIlon Seeneu U stilhe
her. e.
"Let me take the dress home, Ellen !"
she exclaimed, "The walk will be just
what | need, and | can stop at Dubour's
on my way back and order the wine for
you. You will never be strong unless
you closet yourself up little. You will
let me, Nell?"
Ellen hesitated moment.
"But. Laura--"
"No butts in the matter, II. you please,
Nell, laughed Laura, gleefully beginning
to fold the rich dress into the little basket
thatstood upon the table beside it. Where
is it 20 go?"
"To Mrs. Richleys, in River street
Why, Laura, what is the natter"
Nothing, only l am folding this dress
wrong" returned Laura, in a low voice.
1t was well that Ellen did not see the
scarlet flush that rose to her friends love
" cheek, as she stood with her back to
the bed, smoothing the lustrous breadths
of pure silk. Mrs. Richley's Laura
was almost sorry that she had volunteered
to go, but it was too late to retract heg
offer now.
"What a selfish little creature 1 am"
she unused.
"Poor Nelly needs the money so much
and cannot go for it herself, and it isn't
at all likely that I shall see Florian. l
will go-there is an end of it,"
"Thank you, dear Laura; it is so kind
Of you, said Ellen, fervently, as Miss Ay-
cry came to the bedside with the basket
on her arm, aud a blue veil drawn closely
over the brown velvet bonnet "She
owes me three dollars for this dress and
there arc seven dollats on the account
which she has never yet paid me-"
"Ten dollars! III collect it, never fear," "
said Laura, gaily, as she disappeared,
while to Ellen, it seemed as if the sun
shine had all died out with the bright
presence ef her beautiful friend. 1t was
nearly dusk, when Miss Avery, summon
ing up all her resolution, ascended the
brown stone steps of the Richley mansio n
and rang the bell.
"Is Mrs. Richley at homer"
whats your business with Mrs. Rich
ley?" asked the servant, fsuspieiously
scrutinizing the little basket that she
carried. Laura bit her lips. This man
ner from servants was entirely new ex-
parience to her, yet how often must Ell
len have endured it.
81 have come to bring home a dress
that was finished for her," she said in a
tone Of quiet dignity.
"Oh-ah-yes, well, I suppose you
h best walk in"
The servant conducted her up slairs to
sort of sitting room or boudoir, where
Mrs. Richley, a portly dame of about fifty,
gorgcously dressed in crimson silk, was
sitting in her easy chair in front of
glowi ne coal fire. Laura was inwardly
grateful that the gas had not been lighted,
particularly when she observed that Mr..
Florian Richley was lounging on velvet
sofa in one of the window recesses. Mrs.
Richiey looked up as the servant ushered
in the new conner.
"Well. young woman, what do you
want?"
Laura's checks tinged at the tone of
coarse insolence in which she was ad-
dressed, but she commanded herself to
reply meekly:
'I have brought home your dress, Mrs.
Richley'"
"Where is Miss Waynall?"
''She is ill.,"
every well, lay down the dress, it is
all right"
But Laura stood her ground valiantly.
"Miss Waynal would like the money
tonight, Madame---seven dollars on the
old account, and three for this dress"
TT is not convenient tonight"
'But, Mrs. RichleS Miss Waynall is.
iland needs the money" persisted Laura