The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-08-25
A A Woman oman Halter.

An advertisement appeared in daily pa
per for milliner and shop girl, at Madame
Layalle's, No. ,121, Pesrl street. y9nti Toy
A pair OF slender hands turned the paper
over, o pair Of brown eyes wandered up and
down the long column of wants" until
they rested upon this. sl5iili.t %
p 'The very place, mama," said Viola Bur-
net. And forthwith the little hat and neat
mantle were, donned, and soon she was
walking in the direction of Pearl street.
b 81 dare say that there have been many be-
+ fore me, she thought HBut surely, there IS j
no harm in trying, when mama and need
money so much, and its coming al depends /
upon me.'a ,lstseils.} s1G slssoii4l08G I'd
1T did not takelong TO bring her to No. 121
Pearl street, and she paused before the glass
door to collect herself There was but one
lady within, and she .felt-mueh relieved for
she expected to see a crowd OF eager appli-
cants, among whom her chance would be but
slight; and to find it all quiet, and no one
to face except the aforesaid lady engaged in
looking over some boxes in the rear was
pleasure unexpected. 'lIJi,2lg .
She entered, and the lady came forward,
She was not very young, perhaps thirty,
with pretty, kindly face; and when Viola
made known her errend, she gave a little
laugh, and said, "Dear me- am delighted ;,
Such string of applicants as / have had,
and all of them souri, looking old maids. We
should not have five customers in week,
Are you experienced 2''isigrs bgr yl.7 749-
'fYes; / have worked for year in the es-;
tablshment of Mrs. Latouche.n sd ,...,.lr..
nAhl her name is well known and her
work much admired, / am sure you will;
SUIT me- When will you begin Talf slsl,a,f;
"Now, if you wish.ro! I am anxious to be-
gin as soon as you can find work for me"
sDo begin at once. And to give US
specimen Of your work, take this hat and
trim 1t. You must know, my dear Miss"
'Burnett." COZ h3a9lt qIEi 1sgii9e 7,i'N
"Ah, yes Miss Burnett, that have bro
ther, who is, in fact, the owner of this estab-
lishment, and it is 10 him that you must
look for directions, for, to tell the truth,
| am soon to be married ~ H u sd .5iJH
Viola nodded, and allowed the French
woman to 60 on. q - II alii.ls1
~ am widow, but have lived two long
| wears in state of single wretchedness, and
have now resolved to marry again. This
| fact, you must understand, brings you direct
| Nv uuUeT IlG ulICCllOA VI dul IdNdliC,
who, by the way, must inform you, is
thorough woman hater." ii
'sIs he old 2" asked Viola. q e 4al5allf
"No, he is young; but he so utterly de-
spises woman that verify believe he would
discharge you were you to -ask=a question
beyond your business. He is polite, for all
that, and may offer you the attention due to
lady; but 1 beg you to refuse every offer,
for if you do not you will not long remain
here" .... .-.t. -........
The request was strange one, but never
theless easily granted; and she readily pro-
missed to do all in her power to retain her
| situation. l Eglr .574t 1.f.- a...!sI-
It was late in the afternoon before the
| gentleman arrived, and Viola only caught a
| glimpse Of tall, handsome man then bent
her eyes resolutely upon her work.
my brother, Miss Burnettn
Miss Burnett raised her Beautiful eyes for
a moment, and went on with her work.
''Do you fancy this work, Miss Burnett 2"
"Yes, sir"
| az am glad, for Adele is hard to please.
Do you think that you will be content to
remain ~
"Yes, sir"
The gentleman turned away, evidently
thinking it useless to try to engage her in
conversation, and she went soberly on with
her work. .4.e. -....f.ni.t L .s..t Z.
| 1t rained when the hour came tor Viola's
| return home, and she stood moment at
the door, looking out into the dark, wet
streets. -.-.. .r.-..l -.-.. .:1s.t.J gr-
miss Burnett said Mr.. Lavalle, "allow
me to sec you home under my umbrella"
| al nf 1v
be was a rich man and she poor miliner,
and she wondered at this offer.
mo, sir, thank you," she replied, az can
go alone ..-.,--.... ........'-... .......-.
He had not time to repeat the offer be-
fore she was out and half way down the
street.
twas darker than she had supposed, and
the rain fell in torrents; but she drew hel
mantle tightly around her, and with bowed
head walked swiftly along. Before she had
reached the end of the street there came a
sound of sharp, quick steps upon the pave
ment, and Paul Laville came up beside her
"Ot course you think me very bold, but
prefer to run the risk of mourning your
displeasure rather than see you cndangel
your health by exposing yourself on such &
night as this.n
He drew her hand within his arm, and to-
gether they went to Mrs. Burnetts door
Viola allowed him to carry on the CONVEX
sation, answering only when directly ques
toned, and then in monosyllables She
could not help thinking, however, what :
pleasant, agreeable gentleman he was, and
half repented her promise TO Madame; but
she managed to keep it, and babe him 3
| formal good night, with q cool little speech
of thanks for his kindness. ae Gy'n4
She had no desire to lose her situation
but she was almost inclined to disbelievt
Madame's story. Well it might be true.
and if so, woman haters were certainly
agreeable creatures.
This work became pleasure since the es-
Enlistment was frightened with the own
er's presence; but Viola never forgot Mad
ames warning. 1t was all in vain that he
brought fruits and flowers and praised hel
work. She never lifted her dark eyes at hi:
pleasantries and once when he CHANGED tc
clasp her white hands in the midst of a con
fused tangle of ribbons, she never spoke o.
smiled-and he would not have known thai
she observed the action, but for the dash
= of blood which swept across her round
cheeks. s.g -r.7ag las --s..r
There were many more rainy nights, and
many times the umbrella was brought forth
and under its cover Viola trudged home be
side Lavelle. She thought him, strange
man, and felt that Madame had never clear
ly understood him. He seemed very unlik,
her notion Of a woman hater BIB
One day he dropped note into her lap
saying: Here's letter for you, Miss Bur
nett. You will send reply before com,
again, and went away leaving her to star,
wonderfully at the little note.
After awhile she opened it and read:
VIOLA: You are a strange being-I can
not understand you-but l understand M,
own heart, and it bids me say l love you
Will you give me the blessed right to cal
you my own, my wife, told you l mus
know your reply before I again come. Ant
so it must be. Viola, my darling, 1 await
your answer. PAUL LAvALLE."
A joyous light broke over her face, ant
with food of happy tears, Viola wrote be
meath, Il will be your wife. nam ( Z11r1
"Why are you SO bright, Viola9" asked
s. Madame, who had entered.
4 ''Your brother, Madame, has asked me t.
be his wife"
"And you told him"
::Yes." 4 ........... W. -... -.i5
my sweet Viola, knew my plan woult
succeed. had worked for months to brins
the change in Paul's fortunes, but had beef
thus tar unsuccessful. He declared that al
women were husband hunters, and that hi
would never marry one of them. l knew il
an instant that you would please him, ant
so trumped up the whole story You will
| of ~, 3