The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-01-24
MISCELLANY.
COR A L B r AC E L E T S
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

1t was ''the coolest day OF the season ~
'Put on more coal, Hawkins" said
Nina Pelham, querulously, as she sat in
front of the blazing sea-coal CRATE, robed
in blue cashmere morning-dress, lined
with quilted satin of the same color, and
her small feet comfortably ensconced in
blue velvet slippers, edged with snowy
swans down.
Hawkins, q solemn and somewhat con-
sequential-lookiny servant, in sober black,
obeyed his young mistresS's rather petu-
liant behest, but paused moment after
he had heaped the blazing coal upon the
redhot bars of the CRATE.
"What kind Of person, Hawkins ?
questioned Nina, languidly lifting hel
eyes from her work, with some slight ap,
pearance Of interest.
"Well, Miss" said Hawkins, hesitatin9
little, ''she's very gentcel-spoken-a
real lady you'd think, if it wasn't that sh'
is dressed so shabbily and scant."
at isn't the dressmaker p
"No, Miss Nina, certainly not"
"Ncr anybody come after the lady
maids situation p
"No. Miss, should say not-she doe;
not look like lady's maid"
"Well-show her up"
And Nina's pretty head settled bacl
among the cushions Of her chair with re
turning Incidence, But the instant he
eye fell on the sweet, though very pale
face of the slenler-looking girl who ad
vanced timdly into the room, ushcrcd b,
the stately Hawkins, she sat upright witt
genuine surprise depicted in her counte
nance.
Gamma Wharton! is it possible tina
this is you ?"
"Then you recognize me, Nina ?" sale
the stranger, family crimsoning at i
SO long since we were schoomates toseih
er at Madame Sauriats, that thought
feured-you would scarcely remembe
me-"
"Sit down." said Nina, rather nngra
ciously motioning with her heavily-ringe,
fingers towards chair. "What can
do for you?"
Miss Wharton did not sit down, how
ever-it might have been that she wa
repeiled by the extreme GOODNESS of Nina
manner-but went on speaking, in he'
itating, uncertain voice.
"Of course you have heard of our mis-
fortunes, Nina--my poor fathers failur
and death, and my mothers subsequer
decease :"
81 had not heard of it," said Nina, cor
templating her dainty slippers. "Peopl
in society have 50 many things to thin
and talk about !"
''There is no use," resumed Anna, ''i
trying to conceal the fact that am con
PEELED to earn my daily bread by the dali
labor of my hands. And" she adde,
with a slight flush on her cheeks, "her'
tofore | have experienced no difficulty
comfortably supporting both myself an
my little brother. But since he has falle
ill"
81 am sorry tina. have no fine sewin
to give you," remarked Nina, in a col
strained voice; sand really my allowanC
of pocket-money is so very small that
Anna Wharton colored scarlet.
''You entirely misunderstood me, Mn
Il did not come here to beg"
She drew little morocco box from ht
pocket as she spoke, and opened it.
81 remember that you used TO admin
the Neapolitan corals very much in OF
school days. l have been 10th to pal
with them up to this time, although
has been necessary to part with ever
relic of happier times. But my brothe
is dying for want of proper nourishmer
and the luxuries which money can onl
obtain for him. ! wish to sell the bract
lets. Nina, and / thought you might lk
to purchase them of me-
Nina leaned forward in her chair an
took the box, her eyes sparkling at tn
sight of the beautifully carved bracelet {
Neapoitan coral, all streaked and velne
with the sotlest rose-color, that lay in tn
simple casket She had been endeavorin
for the last year to obtain set of ros,
coral, and here al length il was, ready q
her hand. But Nina Pelham was
woman of the world, and understood tn
contemplate act Of making good bal