Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-12-23

It was New Years Day, and the hou
when fashionable saloons we're fllins wit
guests, but there was DO sign ofpreparatio
for callers in MIS- Barclays sitting room
The widow herself was stitching on a heav
silk dress, aud Louie, at her feet, was rip
ping up an old garment for alteration. /
commonplace group, merely middle-ase'
lady and little girl sewing, but looking il
the window seat different impression wa
given. At first glance. ono might easil..
have fancied the winter sunshine falling
upon an angel, rising from the clouds, ST
exquisite was the fair face seen above ;
creamy froth soft white lace. It was Glare
Barclay; finishing bridal dress oftulle anc
lace. Her small figure was completely los
in the mass of snowy material, for the bride
elect was very tall, and the dress was care
fully gathered into the invalid's great arm
chair to preserve it from contact with the
floor. The face delicately lovely, with short
golden curls, violet eyes, and exquis' tely
moulded features; the small white hands
and above all the expression Of patience and
sweetness, all seemed removed from the
mere everyday atmosphere of dressmaking ;
but, after all, poetry aside, it was merely
lame girl sewing for her daily bread.
New Years Day." said uie, tugging
at a refractory thread in her ripping. Il
wonder if Mrs. James il wearing that pearl
silk she was in such hurry for :"
Probably Mrs. james will have full
drawing roem by this time, no doubt" said
Mrs. Barclay. a vision of her own we'll,
filed saloons of former years fitting for a
moment before her eyes.
'sIt won't take long to count our callers, Z"
said Louie, ''and our presents consist Of one
Dutch cake, left by the baker, as my 're
ward of merit book from school,
"Some one is ringing, Louie, " said Clara.
"Ifit is Miss Lewis girl for the dress, tell
her it will be finished in about an hour"
Both Mrs Barclay and Clara looked up
in surprise. however, when Louie returned,
followed by gentleman, whose face was
strange to them.
Il trust I am not intruding,' he said,
courteously II called up,n business, and
time being limited must be my excuse for
selecting holiday"
pray be seated We hardly recognize
holidays here,'' said Mrs. Barclay.
II am travelling in the interest of Wells
& Co.," said the gentleman s'and am in
search of lady who will undertake quite
responsible position for them Our ready
made dress. cloak, and suit department is
but just opened, and we need a competent
practical dressmaker to take charge Of it =
The duties are not very heavy, but there is
responsibility. What We need is super
intendens, who will order and control the
work, select patterns, give out material, and
keep the operators in order. She will have
no actual work to perform, only the ar
rangement Of work for others. In Offering
the position to you, Mrs. Barclay, I can
also undertake to have a suitable residence
in readiness for you upon your arrival in
San Francisco"
Offering it to me Y. ssid Mrs Barclay.
Of course you will require time to coz
slider the proposal and some credentials. l
can refer you to the legal advisers of our
firm in New York, who will tell you that |
am authorized TO make all these arrange
ments as my own judgment suggests. AL
low me to .ay that the situation will be
guaranteed for one year; and, if at that time
you wish to leave us, you will command far
better prices for private dress making in San
Francisco than you can here.
''May inquire the salary?''
The salary Mrs. Barclay could scarcely
believe her ears whom her visitor named
sum more than treble the amount of her
present bard-earned income, and Louie could
not restrain a shout.
20 mamma What a lot of money =
And Clara could have the sea-voyags the
doctor says will do her so much good.'
CIars's glad eyes, turned fondly to her
mothers face were as loquent as her sisters
words, and Mrs Barclay at once accepted
the offer, conditional upon the answer to her
letter to the lawyers mentioned. A long
conversation followed, of strictly business
character at first, but gradually becoming
more personal.
You will''haye to see mo very often when
| return to California, said the gentleman.
Il stall be detained here until May or
June but will write at once about your
house, and hope 10 find you comfortably at
home when call upon you in San Francis
CO. must say good morning now, but !
will call for your final decision on this day
week. My card will DO sufficient introduce
ton to tho lawyer spoke of" and courte~
Gus bow finished the leave taking.
"What is his name. mother 7" said Clara,
as the door closed upon the visitor.
Maxwell Allen
| uAlIen ~ cried Clara.
at is very common name said Mrs.
Barclay "This is a young man, you see.
and clerk, too. HIS sons do not need to
work for living, if he has family
Don't you know, mother
III never saw Godfrey Allen in my life,
although he was your fathers partner.
After he abscouded with the money raised
in the name of the firm, aud left US ruined
We heard once that be was in Europe. once
that he had gone to Australia Either may
be true. He was man elder than your
father, wldower but l do not know if he
had children Wherever he is. he is proba
bly, wealthy, as he turned everything he
could control in the business into money
and escaped with a large sum. So thi
cannot be his SON."
But it wassno other than the sou of the mar
who had robbed his partner, who was trying
to atone for the sin SO committed Max
we'll Allen was man of nearly thirty year
of age when he learned how HE father
wealth had been acquired. A studious boy
youth at college, young man sent abroa'
to finish his education in Germany, he haG
no knowledge Of business, and accepted
without questioning, the plans his father offer
ed him. He had been travelling in Norwa,
, when his father joined him and accompani
ed him on an extended "trip into Russia
from there to the Holy Land, restlessl