Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-09-09
Lanra-s Mistake.

Hayden.
Thirteen dollars, that's allH' said
the tired girl, letting her pencil
drop, and breathing a sigh of relief
II hope she will pay you Tonight
moaned old Mrs. Stetson.
'sShe is well aware of our needs;
none more So" was the sad reply.
cat the same time she carries her
old habits of saving into her new
life. for she knows shall not charge
one-half the price a regular dress
maker would. She would have to
pay Madame Joline twenty-five dol
lars At the least"
SsWen, it's a shame" replied her
mother, "that you can't get the reg
ularprice when you do your work
as we'll, and better in my estima-
ton. Time was when your father
could have bought and sold Walter
Hay1en; and now you must work
your finger off for his daughter, who
has neither you education, nor-''
"0h, don't mamma" pleaded Lau-
IA, with a little laugh, that was
partly hysterical. "You only make
Il worse for me, calling up old times.
Just say it will come all right in the
Fall, as papa used to-" and with the
troubled eyes turned away, that her
mother might not see her tears.
For poor, proud Laura, earning a
scant living for her mother and her
self, had memory of the Haydens
hidden in her heart
When Bart. Hayden, the handsome
est man in New York, some said,
had gone away, only a year before,
she had thought of him for months
after, nay, even now, with quicken
ed pulses and heightened color
The Haydens were not wealthy then;
but within q short time they had
come into fortune, and it was ru-
mored that young Bart, was also
growing rich thro' lucky specula-
ton.
1t was just nine months since the
death of Laura's father. lie had
dropped down suddenly, while ap-
pearently in full health; and after
the funeral it was found that his af-
fairs were in a, very tangled condi-
ton. In fact' only a small house
was left the widow, thro' the con-
sideration of creditors, and that, far
from comfortably furnished.
-,
fashion, her fathers idol, delicate
thorough bred, elegant girl, who
had hitherto summed herself in the
warm rays OF prosperity, and hard
ly knew whether she had heart OF
not, proved herself a heroine. What
ever she could find to do, she work,
ed at with all her heart. Plain sew
ing, embroidery, dress-making, for
which she had a talent, and concern
ing which she had laughingly said,
that if she had not been rich she
might have been famous everything
was undertaken willingly, and la
bored at uncomplainingly. She ac-
cepted the situation, though not
without some struggles with pride
and many secret tears.
EWell, suppose must carry the
dress hOme," said Laura.
Mrs. Stetson thought of the time
when q carriage was at the call of
her beautiful daughter.
'Dear, can't take it p she asked,
gazing at her anxiously. "YOu look
ILL.,"
81 am ill-that is, my head aches;
but the walk will do me good" Lau-
IA responded, trying to look bright.
'It's not far to the Haydens. Do
YOU think l would let you carry
home my work? No, indeed !" and
she bent over and kissed her moth
err's forehead.
The nervous depression from
which she had suffered gradually
left her, and she became interested
in the sights and sounds about her.
In gay and beautiful dresses, some
of her former acquaintance passed
her, a few of them with a nod of re-
cOgnition, but most without motto
ing her at all-little stings they
were, but she held her bundle firm
ly, lifted her head a trifie higher,
and passed bravely on. Turning a
corner, she came full upon an unex-
pected tableau. a smartly dressed
boy, with feather in his cap, kick
ed and struggled with his nurse,
who vainly pulled the obstinate
child until her face turned purple.
''Why, Lucyi Why, Benny !" ex-
claimed Laura, for the girl was
nurse-maid at the Haydens, and
Benney the youngest hope of the
house.
"What's all this ?''
'"Deed, Miss, he is awful" said
the girl, nearly crying. "When lie
makes up his mind, It's a tiger he
is, Miss. just see him now.i
Laura spoke few words to the
boy in low tone, and he ceased
struggling for moment.
"We're all at skies and sevens, /"
said the nurse, ''and the Missis is
orfuI nervous. Mr.. Bart's just re-
turned from Californy, without nc
warning and brought a beautiful
Young lady with him. do suppose
it's his wife from what heard, and
it quite upset the missis, and made
such a time. Now, Benny, ther';
that policeman so you better come.
Laura heard, and for moment
street and houses whirled around
so that she had much to do to keeI
herself from falling. The words
rang in hsr ears-'I do suppose it,
his wife" The strange and sudder
revuIsion of feeling passed, hOwev
er, leaving her deadly pale. Ger
| tainIy, Bart, had q perfect right tC
/ get married a perfect right to for
! Get her-of course he had. Men have
| done such things ever since the flOoC
and probably will TO the end of time
! Over and over again she said that h,
never committed himself, and yet
her heart answered that he had.
Those words he had whispered
had dared to whisper, she said (,
/ herself with flaming checks.
What Is an avowal; what Gnglins
memory il was! She saw herself a
she had stood at that moment, at
tired in the exquisite fabric, tn
acknowledged queen of the .fete
and he, handsome and poor, ha'
an answer to his question on ( b,
very cheeks. in her very eyes.
The blood burnt her face now but
as she came in sight of the nObl
dwelling, it receded, leaving he
pale and almost faint.
/ She scorned herself for being ;
supremely foolish; but the tear
were very near the tired eyes, 70
/ all that.
J Huge trunks blocked up the hal
a loud, CHEEKY voice sounded, tina
struck woefully against her heart
and the first person she saw wa
stalwart, handsome Bart. Hayder
just coming forward as he issue
his orders to the men who wer
taking the boxes up stairs. Wha
right had he to look so suddenl
radiant.
| 'Laura-my dear, dear Miss Ste