Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-02-11

Not a tear, not a kiss, not word of ten
dcrness or appreciation either for us or fol
the memory of the dead. We went up to
our room, and looked in each others faces
for full five minutes before either spoke
Then said. interrogatively:
"Well?"
II, for one, do not go to Wilton," said
Agnes, her fine face flushing. 81 will never
be an unwelcome pensioner upon Mrs. Pcy-
tons bounty"
"But, Agnes" responded timidly, "what
will you do? We cannot stay here and
starve."
''By no means but we can stay here and
work. Oh, Marion, all this might have been
spared lis had the world but held that girls
as well as young men should be so trained
as to be self-dcpendent! If we had been
sons, instead of daughters, we should have
been in our fathers counting-room, or some
where else, long ere this, in training for our
life-work. But now"
| crept closer to her, nesting at her feet
"Let us go to Wilton, Agness," whis-
pered. "It is so dreadful to think of work
ing for wagesl"
| 'sIt is more dreadful to work without
them" she answered, with the least possible
smile "and that is what we shall do if we
go to Wilton. l know Mrs. Peyton thor
oughly. She gives nothing for which she
does not expect TO receive full equivalent" I"
| am ashamed to tell you what l said in
return. But l was young, and the way
looked very dark before me. Pity me, ye
stronger souls, who never say foolish thing
| or do weak one!
'But we should not lose caste so utterly,
living with Mrs. Peyton, even as dependents.
could not endure it. Agnes To be looked
down upon by those who were once our as
sociates to be shut out from society to
be frowned upon, or, what is worse, to be
grandly patronized by those who once held
our acquaintance to be an honor. 1t would
kill me, Agnes!'
81 can not view the matter as you do, y
she answered, folding me in her arms. "If
we were young ncn the world would say
we were pusillanimous towards five refused
to earn our own living-if we allowed our
selves to be dependent upon one on whom
VIC have no absolute claims, How does the
fact that we are women alter the dase?
confess that am unable to see.'
| did not reply, and presently she went
on:
81 will not presume TO decide for you,
Il 4
yourself As for me, do not go to Wilton
that is settled"
Great was Mrs. Peyton's astonishment
when this decision was made known to her.
But she made no remonstrance. A few
words respecting Agncs's ingratitudc, with
the latter quietly but respectfully disclaimed
ended the matter, AS for me, wavered for
while between love for my sister and my
dread Of facing the unknown. But at last
the latter conquered, and yielded. 1t was
settled that | was TO accompany Mrs. Pey-
ton. / had not courage to remain and meet
my former friends in my changed position.
Besides-there was Gordon Hastings.
We were not exactly lovers. Perhaps we
never should have been under any circum-
stances. But there had been spcing of
sentiment in our friendship that made me
feel 1t was quite Impossible for me TO stay in
Belmont-to pass him in the street, to se,.
him across the church, TO watch him from
afar it may be-his bearing as proud,a self
contained,a fastidiously elegant as of old
and feel that was out of the pale Of his
ss'nP'n'o'' VI Nv 'o"o' '"". ""s ou. one vi
that great army OF working girls whose
hard fate 1t had been the fashion in our cir
Gle feelinrlv TO bewail.
81 Won, 10 Iy;to,,
"A mohth alterwara received the follow
ing letter FROM Agnes:
at is all settled at last. Marion darling
I am doing my daily work and earning my
daily bread with a brave heart. if not ALWAYS
with n glad one. do moi saw that il il
easy; | am fearfully tired very often. But
I am HAMMER Than exnected 10 he Does
that content voup Rnt von will want tn
hear ,be whole storv Tic dav Won ier, I
went to the Jewellers IN tbe corner nf Tentb
and Cedar streets and solJ INV cat of mosoics
nv cold necklace and some o,bnr trinl, ets
Goy Sloo-not n third of their valne nrcha'
hlv Int the nancy was ahsolntelv need
FIJI for Tho corrving out of NV nl.ns iThan
/ went to Nurse Barker's and told her she
must take me as a boarder. Poor old soull
Rememhering nil the mast and .ntirelv wi, io.
porinp ali he present. She cried and denre-
Gated and protested until She nearly drove
me frantic But made her listen to reason
at m last. and She showed me % a neat front
chamber, plainly furnished but yery COM
fortoble which l. NV home sat this nresnnt
sneakinpr' Moved that night
"Do Won remember Gordon Uastirgs'
uncle MI. Carrinrlon-the white hatred ol1
gentleman who used to occupv the new inst
across The aisle from ours J I had never
smoke, 10 him half n dozen times. think
nv rood genius must have rone ont with
me he next morning. and led me to him he
fore hnd zone n dozen blocks I was ant
in nnrsmjt Of work. Won knowwbad n vague
idca of obtaining naners to conv mr. n siina-
tion in n shon. ar--s,meihinp Ind
thought of the nnbl,o schools i,nt knew
| was not competent parsna and .defini.
tons were too much for me a,wavs Wal
as was saving. met Mr.. Carrineton rigbi
by the new Bank. He was passing by With
courteous bow. when he stopped, looked
searchingly in nv face for moment. and
| 7,