The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-01-25
An Helress's Repentance.
BY cARoLINE CONRAD.

My head ached, my side panied me,
my very fingers felt cramped, | had
sewed so long and steadily. | laid
down the work at last, with n long,
deep sigh-4lso deep, JUDGED, that my
mother, Who sxat ENTHUSIASTICALLY
her inyalids chair lpoised HnI iRaais-
~ Il am j fiida afA al's I Sic, WiEh
burst Of irrepiessibib impistieiice-
u am sick as death of such ~ hfeh 1t
Is too much trouble to live.
Il know it, my mother replied, sad
~, st does seem so: if | could only
get well enough to help you"
| was ashamed of myself that mo-
ment, to worry her with my discomfort,
and she sick
All WE'LL l said, as cheerfully as l
could, don't fret [ don't mean to;
but I'm tired tonight. I've hurried
so to finish this dress
"And there the carriage is now, with
Mildred Vesey coming after it now;
you have only got it done in time, my
mother said leaning forward to watch
the Nesey carriage, as it rolled slowly
past our humble dwelling.
no, she added, Il was mistaken.
They have gone by
"She will call for it as she returns, -
! said, shaking out the rich silk had
been engaged upon the greater portion
of the past week, and almost envying
Miss Nesey its possession. As | stood
admiring its crimson flow and lustre,
my mother lifted herself Il little eager
ly
Put it on Louise, do; you are SO
near Mildred Vesey's size. am sure
it will fit you, and l should SO like to
see YOU in such a dress"
Miss Vesey would scarcely fancy me
trying on her dress, said, with un-
conscious bitterness.
ut will be half an hour before she is
back, and you can run away into the
other room, if we see her coming. Do,
Louise, Just to amuse me" urged my
mother; and partly for her gratihca-
ton, and partly from vain desire OF
my own, to see how ] would look III
anything so beautiful exchanged my
sombre delaine for the rich silk.
! was what most pc fs'e would call
iaadsonts; as l turned from the glass
to my mother, she drew "A deep inspir-
alton.
IF Miss Vesey could look half Sc
! well in that orange dress, she would
soon secure that Captain Burns, they
say has huttered about her SO long
without being able to make up his
8 mind"
Miss Yesey is called a great beauty
mother | said, arching my neck, anc
admiiing myself in the glass again.
But She is not nearly SO handsome
as YOU are Louise, if do say it. AnC
5 I'm sure | shant make you vain tell
D ing you of your beauty | wish tina
was your lress, and that you had I
wardrobe full of such dresses, and tina
YOU were going 10 marry some MAJ
more likely to be able to furnish then
, to you than Max Hurlburt
l l dropped the bunch of glowing Der
j ries | was fastening in my hair ant
began to undo my borrowed finery
Max Hurlburt was a yexed question
. between my mother and me, and
S loved him, and would not hear wore
t against him or his prospects if | coul'
/. help it.
There now, have hurt YOU IN,
mother said in "A remolseful tone
> Don't take the dress off yet Yol
know we'll enough I've nothing agaius
y Max only his poverty, though some
r how | can't feel just right about you
n having a mechanic. It's the way
was brought up, Louise, and can
help my prejudices. "
|, "Don'l / se,0 for living? What
t, the difference ?" said, hotly.
re was quick, and my temper was az
to rise when my mother called Max
mechanic; perhaps because | was my
self secretly sensitive on the same sub
ject.
n ooh hurry, Louise; here's Mis-
If Vesey almost at the door" exclaime
4 my mother, in sudden dismay.
i seized my own dress, and was hui
rying from the room, when my foe
II caught amid the trailing folds of th
d silk, and fell at length upon the foo
II Just as Miss Vesey, with the licens
J., she probably thought her station Ell
titled her to, opened the door withol
i kaockiag, and walked majestically In
$ if | had not been so ready to CT
Sc with modification, l should hay
y laughed at Miss Vesey's look OF no
row when she saw me.
> l struggled up as well as | was alb
II for the ENHANCEMENT of my borrowe
'e plumage, and placing her chat
passed my mother the hartshorn, for
d. saw she was just ready to faint"
a "Of course that is not my dress
~ which you are performing such extr
Fl" ordinary gymnastie exercises" sa
SO Miss Yesey. haughtiIy, but It resen
N bles it wonderfully. Really, ! shou
" like to see mine now
y With an inclination Of the head ful
: as naughty as her own. (for Capita
D Burns had followed her into tho hous
is and my cheeks were tinglng und
n, his bold glance of admiration NJ
al curiosity / left the room, and hayiI
\ resumed my own dress, returned wi
=" Miss Vesey's hanging over my All
Va Without a word, | presented 1t for o
~ animation.