The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-08-17

| ter?
Amy stood silent and trembling, with
] downcast eyes, and fever Pushes burning
on either cheek.
I'll tell you what, aunt, said Octa-
VIA with an aspect of mild benevoIence
Il don't want to be hard on the poor
| thing, although she has behaved so very
badly. Perhaps by taking out breadth
or something, we may manage the dress;
at all events I'll keep it.
Just like your kind heart, DEAR"
said Mrs. Symington, patting Octavia S
plump arm. ''You hear, Amy johnson,
how indulgent my dear niece is inclined
to be with YOU; and indeed you may
consider yourself let off extremely
cheap -
without any pay?'' rose huskily to
| Amy Johnson's lips.
"Of course, without any pay sharply
echoed the matron. ''Do you expect to
get paid for running young lady's we'd
ding dress, with your wretched careless
ness ?''
but, Mrs. Symington, I have worked
steadily on that for three weeks!'
Il can't help that" said Mrs. Syming-
ton indifferently. Its your own look
out. You can take the dress, or leave
it. as you pleased Octavia, just ring the
bell, will you?'
And so Amy johnson was dismissed
with the comfortable reflection that her
three weeks labor mad been in vain, THAT
there was net penny in her worn little
purse, and that she was expected to be
very grateful to Mrs. Symington and
Octavia Grey for their generosity and
forbearance toward her! Alas poor
little Amy.
The dress is just as good as ever it
was, aunt said Octayia gleefully, "and
We'll save enough by that little piece of
generalship to buy the veil -
Things are strangely dove-tailed to
gether in this apparently unacccuntable
world. and if Amy johnson had not
stood SO long at the dark corner of the
street with her head dropping desparing-
ly on her breast, she would not have been
crossing just when Colonel Lennox's
fiery bays dashed across the way, and
consequently she would not have been
knocked down and her left shoulder dis
located, and Colonel Lennox would of
course have had no excuse for taking her
home among the velvet cushions, and
sending for surgeon, and feeling
strangely pitiful over the white, beauti-
full face ! That was the beginning of the
romance. Any one with an ordinary
share eff Imagination can conjecture the
end. Little Amy was like the fairy prin
cess in the tale, who finds her fortune
without seeking it; and the glare and
glitter of Octavia Grey's wedding were
scarcely over, when Amy was married
very quietly, and went to spend her hon
eymoon. in Venice and Rome.
Mrs. LcnnoX came back in year or
so, very different person from the little
Amy johnson who had sewed so desper-
ately to keep soul and body together
IF you please, ma am, said the trim
maiden who ofhciated as Abigail to the
rich lady, if you want a real rich white
silk dress for the bridal ta0leau at the
ball, | could tell you where you could
get a real bargain. They're reduced
gentry, ma am, as hasn't no more occa-
sion for fine clothes. It's the lady's
weddin' dress, ma am, and hasn' never
been worn but the once; it cost three
hundred dollars, and they'd be glad to
let it go for third of that price
''Is is suitable, Maria - asked Mrs.
Lennox, playing with her gold chocolate
spoon In a meditative fashion.
THAT it is, ma am, trimmed with real
lace and seed-pearls. you say you'll
look at it, ma am it shall be brought here
this evening"
'Well, it will do no harm to look at
it, said Amy, With womans natural
penchdnt toward bargain, ''althoueh
Colonel Lennox does not approve of my
buying second hand Thugs in general. /"
Maria tiptoed into the room that eve
ming, where Mrs. Lennox sat reading by
the light of an alabaster shaded lamp
Ma am, they've brought the dress y
Tell them to bring it in here, then
and light the chadelier, Maria"
Two yelled women crept quietly into
the room, carrying pasteboard box be-
tween them, at Maria patronizing sum
mons.
We should not sell it, ma am said
the older and stouter of the two, e'only
my niece has met with painful revelses
of fortune, and"
That will do, aunt" said the other
hoarsely. Il do not suppose Mrs. Lennox
is interested in our family history"
With quick, def fingers she united the
box, revealing cleaning robe of white
! silk, exquisltely trimmed, and apparent
ly without specs or soil. The color rose
10 Amy Lennox's cheek, as she looked
down at the two yelled women it was quite
sufficient to betray the identity OF
| Mrs. Symington and her niece Octayia
St. John.
Amy stopped, half concealing a smile.
aud lifted the dress from its wrappings
of silver paper.
Hold it up, Maria," she said to her
maid. Stop; what IS this underline
blonde putings? A speck of blood |"
sit doesn't show. ma,am No. n /,