The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-12-17
CHAPTER vi.
GETS A SITUATION.

GETS A SITUATION.
After walking from eight o'clock A
n. until after Eve P. NJ, withsut soeinf
a face she had ever before 10 kel up
on; after enduring large share OF thai
.pertness which majority Of shop-wo
men and dandies feel called upon to be-
stow on any woman whose appearance
does not indicate profitable custo.
mer; after fatigue and want of food
had quite taken away her strength, and
the great heart hunger Of homeSick-
ness gnawcd at her vitals, she came to
respectable looking establishment GU
side street, Of which the sign said:
"MRs WILLIAMS, MlLL1sER AND
DKEssMAKER."
Before tho door stood a handsome
carriage and a pair of :dappled greys.
Going in she sat on a stool and became
absorbed in watching the lady for whose
use the equipage apparently waited.
Her perfectly oval face, With its Gre
clan profile, was bordered by rich bands
of jetty hair. Her dark eyes we're soft
and lus'rous, and shaded by long, heavy
lashes. Her eyebrows were perfect
bow. Her dclicately-tintcd lips and
finely cut nos:rils were beautiful ex-
ceedingly. Her complexion waxen
white, transparent and destitute Of
bloom. She was evidently tall, and as
she sat wearily in rocking chair, Civ.
ing most liberal order for travelling
outfit, her attitude and every motion
were of the most unstudied grace
Her voice vas low and sweet, and pre-
ceding every tone and motion was an
air Of sadness which was very touch
ing: =. Her dress, Of rich, luetrous,
black silk, fell 10 heavy folds around
her, and her dropping shoulders were
:draped with rich, black lace mantle.
Her cottage bonnet, of pure white straw
was trimmed with white roses, and a
black lace veil fell over it. Her hands
were be6t,ingly sloved and her small
feet encascd in the most perfectly it,
ting CATERS. She vas by far the most
beautiful woman our simple her oine
had ever met. and realized her highest
ideal Of elegance and grace. She
watched her, spsll.bound, until her
business was closed, when she grace
fully made her adieus to Mrs Williams,
who accompanied her to the door and
stood while she entered the carriage.
How short the time since Margaret
had last gone in the carriage with her
mother to their milliner's to order
work! Now she contrasted her titua-
tion with that of this favored child Of
fortune, evidently an honored, idolizcd
wife going to her luxurious home, to
tho embraces of husband and cbi..-
dren. Yargaret's vivid imagination
flashed to that home, fitting residence
for such mistress. She too might
have such a position-as Edwards
wife: now she waited in the gathering,
curtaincd gloom Of the little shop to be
remembered and ask for work.
A great wavs Of desolation swept
over and submerged her spirit, and
she arose and gasped as though she
was literally coming up out of deep
waters.
After bowling her customer of, Mrs.
Williams took her place behind the
counter, and with quick glance of in
quiry said:
"What can ! do for you? ?"
1t Was hard to find words, and Mar
garet leaned on the counter for support
and never could remember exactly what
she said but Mrs. Williams raising
her hands, took the side combs which
held the three short curls, slightly min
gled with grey, that hung at each side
of her face, and put them further back,
while keeping her keen grey eyes fast
ened upon the face of the stranger
With that shrewdness which comes of
good practical sense and contact with
the world, she put one leading cues
ton after another to this candidate for
employment until she felt that she un-
derstood the case, when, planting her
elbows on the counter ard her chin in
the palms Of her hands, she said with
a voice full of decision and kindly in
stinct:
my dear child, 60 home to your
mother! Why, you look like baby!
What do you mean, with such a face
as that, coming out here alone to hunt
for work? Do you not know that you
are liable to be insulted at any moment
in this wicked city by men who should
know you are without protector? Go
home to your mother!' she aided
with emphasis; ''go home to your
mother! have seen too many such 20
to destruction." il:
Margaret VS. silently weeping, and
the Keen grey eyes looking at her
through heavy mist of tears, as she
said:
II never can go there"
"Others have gone, why should not
you? ?"
"Beeause-
80 He that keeps Israel,
He slumbers not nor slesps."
Our Father in heaven will never let me
90 to destruction"
This vas a new viov If tho r.eo