The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-04-16
Stlstt Story,
BEHIND THE SCENES.

ROar O'Clock sud no Ellen vet
Whst eau drisiu her soy She u asu.
ally more pasctaal than the clock itself =
ltwas scarcely room Ia which I.aara
Avery was si,si,'g-AA rather a tila snfieeiit
bay wihdow with draperics Of crnbsvid.
cred lace.
(. .'l'oar E'lcn,' sfic musmufed ishow
diifcrcUt our lo,s have bced ordered II,
this world. Her parents dead ---thsIr
scalth irretrieyably lost, and she too
prund 20 hccerta cent that siic has not
labori0usly emdcd Oh, dear - and
Laura sighed again, just as the clock 4
liquid voice chincd the half hour.
"Shc doesn't eosne soliloquixcd the
puzzsed little damsei. "There's soaio.
thing the matter. Perhsps she is siet
---oh, dear, sllo must BE- sick. I'm send
james TO inquirc--no, III 60 myself
Before the words were out Of her lips
Slls was up 10 her own room adjusiins
a soft groy shawl over ber black silk
dress, aad tying the. NtTiag Of quiet
iitile brown velvet bonnpt. whose owp
crimson rose among - trimmings u
cnancled NOES was not unlike the bloom
of her own cheek
n don't think its going 70 snow .
she pon1cred, looking out az tie grey,
threatening SKY, as she drew % her
Pericc.ly fitting gloves, At any rats,
| shall walk very fast"
AS she came through tho softly ear
ported sesiibulc servant approached
her
"a note, sIiss Laur,, il came Eve
minutes ago" q
Ahs The rose was several shades
in the back ground now, as shd broke
the scented seal, and glanced over the
delicate, rrcaui.sonred sheet, with a
bright suppressed smile dimpling the
corners OF her mouth. Yet the note
was very simple ono after ail S
"MY DEAn MISS AyKHY Mar I promise
,myseli the pleasure. af accompanying you q
hear the new opera to.nightY nnfeps | receive
a message 10 forbid me, will call for yau al
halfpast seven. fonr most devoted dayc and
subject, FLoRIxH kICnlkx.p
Laura instibctivcly slipped the note
into her bosom, us IL fearful lest the
very picture on the wall should catch .
sight Of the elegant chirography, aud
pursued her way down the gloomy street
with eyes that saw the murky atmos
pherc through the radiant glow OF con
hur ne rpae, Meantime the gray light
of October was fading away from the
dreary room on the third story Of q
house situated on one Of those streets
where decent responsibility strives baud
to hand with the grim assailapi, want
Singularly out Of keeping With the
shabby aud poverty .strickel. inspect ol
the apartment, was a newly finished
dress Of lpstrous purple silk, bright as
ths dyes Of Tyre, that lay folded on the
table beside the window in such a man.
ncr that you could see tho costly trim
ming-ya wide border OF purple velvet
edged on either side WITH h 'iluting Of
white point lace, For poor Ellen Way.
nall was nothing more important than
a hard working and poorly paid dress.
maker.
She lay on little white. bed 10 the
corner, with her flushed face pressed
close against the pillow, aud her slender
figure partially covered by coarse
plaided scarlet shawl while the inyol
untary contraction of her teFehead bore
witness to the pain she was meekly
suffering.
As one or two silent tears escaped
from her closed eyclids, aud crept softly
down her check, a light step sounded