The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-08-21
From the Sunday Magazine.
LAURA RICHMOND.
BY JEAN INeELow.
CHAPTER V.

seemed TO go so Well Win lneA- tudt
they almost forgot the diminutIoa of
income-no real comfort had been
taken away. Laura was very happy In
learning and prae tising her new duties
in fact, there is natural pleasure in
the exercise of everything which can
be called handicraft All children
know this, and many growu-up people.
The possession Of hammer and nails
is delightful, as every one knows who
has ever gone so far in the use of them
as to cover box with chintz, or plan
an ornamental curtain for looking
glass. Laura fitted up her little room
with all sorts of hooks and nails and
brackets; and there she sat enjoying
herself over her polishing operations,
in arrangement OF her china, and the
getting. up of frills and lace, She had
expected that at first many remarks
would have been made about her pro-
ceedings. She had also thought it
likely that when they found how easy
and pleasant the said occupations
were, her sisters would. from time. to
time, have come in, to help her with
them. Nothing of the kind occurred.
1t is astonishing how soon people
reconcile themselves to convenient
change, when once 1t comes into opera
ton. The mother was reconciled at
once; she respected and delighted ins
the feeling which had prompted
Laura TO move into the gap, and fill it
up so pleasantly; she would not dis
courage her, nor rob her of the great
good which she believed her to be de-
irving from her conscientious labor.
She saw her looking well and happy;
she knew Laura was not fond of
society, and had often. even before
there was any need for 1T, eontrlved
excuses for keeping out Of 1t. She
therefore used no more pressure to
make her go out than she mad been
accustomed to do. Il am not amused
at parties Laura would sometimes
often in the way q II gu will not
cure shyness by keeping out of society
altogether the mother would answer,
and | think it is but right that you
should accept one invitation in three. =,
One invitation in three or four
Laura accepted still, but Instead of
looking. her best in society," talking
herJbest, singing her best, as was the
case with her sisters, the exact com
trary came. to pass. She was much
the IN st Important tthe sisters when
at home, il her brothers house, or
amorg intimate friendsybuti "A society
she was of 10 Importance at all. As
for j josephine. she had intended to
help Laura when first she entered on
her new duties, but q change in the
prospects of George Philpott enabled
him to marry sooner than had been
expected. and Josephine was looking
forward to be wife, in three months.
She had, therefore, more than usual to
do; and not only that, she now wished
to think of Laara's conduct as, little
better than a freak, the indulgence of
a peculiar fancy. w hen [ am gone,
she argued, mamma will be better off
by all [ cost her; she can tlen afford
TO have another servant, no doubt. and
though my tFousseau has to be pro-
vided at a particularly Involvement
time, it would be just as easy to hor-
row money to have a servant during
these three months, as for it; and but
for Laura herself, and her queer de-
termination. it must have been Done,
and then | should never have had the
annoyance of thinking that. perhaps
Georges sisters would find her out,
and express their surprise and Vexa-
ton"
Harriet, of course, could do nothing
to help Laura: there were twice as
many parties as usual, and she went to
them all she was an ornament where
ever she appeared Harriet accord
ingly found at first nothing to say;
Laura dressed her bair for her. and
did it most beeomingly; it would never
do to set her against so convenient an
accomplishment nor TO let her think
she ought not to stay at home and do
what had to be done, for in that case
some one else must undertake to do it.
That was how Harriet argued Just at
first, aud then she forgot all about it /;
took the whole matter for granted, and
rang her bell for Laura TO come to her
aud fasten up her hair just as she had
formerly rung for Moxon. Laura on
the other hand was extremely anxious
that her sisters should rot perceive in
her any repentance or regret. She
knew from various hints let fall by
Grace. that Gilbert by no means
thought well of bis mothers affairs,
and only hoped that she might have
no further GIN mutton of income be-
fore Josephine marriage,
After that. thought Laura, mann
ma might again lose fifty or sixty
pounds a year and We could go on ex-
actly the same and without any strug-
gliug,s because that is just what To-
sephine cost her.
lSeveralparties We're now given by
Mrs. Gilbert Richmond and other
ladies' Laura seldom appeared at
them, and Richard Vernon, though he
took not the least interest in her,
noticed the circumstance.