Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-11-03

enport, a quiet, bright eyed girl
who was called cold" among til,
Young ladies, because she dressed
simply, when her father was a mil
lionaire.
"Just hear that girl talk abou
economy! / beg your pardon
she's some relation Of yours, be
licve ?" said Belle, in a low tone.
every distant; but Pm proud
Of it, for with her economy doesn't
moan scrimping in one place tC
make a show in another. If every
one would follow the Davenports
example work women wouldn't sut.
fer or servants be such a trouble
Emma is the plainest dressed girl in
the room, next to me, yet any one
can sees he is true gentlewoman,'
said Polly, warmly.
And you are another" answer
ed Belle, who had always loved
Polly, in her scatter Drained way.
" Hush TriX has the floor"
eff they spent their wages prop.
erly, l shouldn't mind so much;-
but they think they must be as fine
as anybody, and dress so well that
it is hard to tell mistress from
maid. Why, our cook got a bon
net just like mine (the material was
cheaper, but the effect was the
same), and had the impertinence to
wear it before my face. | forbid
it, and she left, Of course, which
made papa so cross he wouldn't
give me the camel's-hair shawl he
promised this year."
"Its perfectly awful!' said Miss
Perkins, as Trix paused, out of
breath. Servants ought to be
made to dress like servants, as
they do abroad; then we should
have no more trouble" observed
Miss Perkins, who had just made
the grand tour, and had brought
home a French maid.
"Perky don't practice as she
breaches, whispered Belle to Pol
ly, as Miss p. became absorbed in
the chat Of her other neighbors.-
"She pays her chambergirl with
old fnery; and the other day,when
Betsey was out parading in missis's S
cast off purple plush suit, Mr.. Cur
tbs thought she was mademoislle,
and bowed to her. He is as blind
as a bat, but recognized the dress,
and pulled off his hat to it in the
most elegant style. Perky adores
him, and was mad enough to beat
Betsey when she told the sto-
ry and giggled over it. Betsey is
quite stylish and eyerso much pret-
tiar than PnrLy and she knows it,
which is an aggravation."
Polly couldn't help laughing, but
grew sober a minute after, as TriX
said, pottishly:
"Well, Pm sick of fearing about
beggars; believe half of them are
humbugs, and if we let them
alone they'd go to work and take
care Of themselves. There's alto
gether too much fuss made about
charity. do wish we could be left
in peace"
"There can't be too much chari-
ty," burst out Polly, forgetting her
shyne$s all at once.
"Oh, indeed! Well, l take the
liberty to differ with YOU" return
ed Trix, putting up her glass, and
bostowing upon Polly her n ost
"toploflical stare" as the girls call
it.
l regret to say that Polly never
could talk with or be near TriX
without feeling irritated or com
bative. She tried to conquer this
feeling, but she couldn't, and when
TriX put on airs, Polly felt an in
tense desire to box her ears. The
eyes glass was her especial aversion,
for TriX was no more near-sighted
than herself, but pretended to be
because it was the fashion, and at
times used the innocent glass as a
weapon with which to put down
any one who presumed to set them
selves up. The supercillious glance
which accompanied her ironically
polite speech reused Polly, who
with sudden color and the
eyes that always betrayed a per
turbed spirit.
II don't think many of us would
enjoy that selfish sort Of peace,
while little children starve, and
girls no older than us kill them
selves because their dreadful pow
erty leaves them no choice but sin
or death" d"
A sudden lull took place, for,
though Polly did not raise her
voice, it was full Of indignant emo
ton, and the most frivolous girls
there lelta little thrill Of sympathy;
for the most utterly fashionable life
does not kill the heart of woman
till years of selfish pleasure have
passed over their heads. TriX was
ashamed of herself, but she felt the
same antagonism toward Polly that
Polly did toward her; and, being
less generous, took satisfaction in
plaguing her. Polly did not know
that the secret Of this was the
fact that Tom had often held her
up as a model for his finance to fol-
low, which caused that young lady
to dislike her more than ever.
"Half the awful stories in the pa
4 1g.Va