The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-07-22
Miss Fortescue the Seamstress,
Oh
FORTUNES CHANGES.
tsVXTHO is that lady, Miss Dunbar ?
wv She has very sweet face"

The interrogation was young gentleman
who had made an early evening call on the
lady mentioned. The person to whom he
referred was on the point of taking her
leave as he entered
"The young lady," said Miss Dunbar,
slightly emphasizing the noun substantive,
"has been working for me--a seamstress. -
ga seamstress Upon my word, should
not have suspected it ~ said the young
man. "That accounts, no doubt, for the
excellent taste displayed in her dress. And
yet, from the slight observation I had of
her, there was an ease in her manner, an
air Of refinement, one would not look for
in person of her calling"
Really, Mr.. Stanley, you are quite OBJ
servingp - remarked the lady, with light
laugh. Gas Miss Fortescue is generally
employed in the first circles, she may have
acquired certain degree of polish, although
l have not noticed that she differed from
the generality of girls of her class, whose
greatest ambition seems to be to ape the
manners and copy the style of dress of
those who move in the highest walks of
life."
A furtive smile flckered for moment on
the young mans face at this characteristic
remark, as he said in reply:
Your remark may apply to some, " said
the young man, :" but cannot think it
will to all This jMiss-Fo Fortescue, ] think
you said was her name-she certainly ex-
hibited none of that vulgar affectation of
which you speak = at least detected
none"
go, she may possibly be an exception.
have not observed her particularly, but l
dare say close scrutiny would discover
the usual alloy"
"And in whom of us may not alloy be
found, Miss Dunbar? Rarely, very rarely,
viii you find the the pure metal. In the
best there is always some base admixture."
"What are you discussing with such
grave earnestness ?' said young lady,
dressed in the height of fashion, as she en-
tered the room. "I heard something
about metals and alloys, which sounded
very much like one of Professor--'s
lectures"
eve were discussing the characters of
dressmakers," said young Stanley, with
mock-serious tone.
"a very recondite subject, truly p
laughed the young lady. "Do not let me
interrupt you."
We had just commenced as you enter
ed, Miss Gates" remarked Miss Dunbar.
Pray proceed, 1 beg of you. But
apropos," ratified on the young lady, "I
met my lady Fortescue just around the
corner. What grand airs she puts on, to
be sure i One would never suspect that
she belongs to the working classes. By
the by, Miss Dunbar, my errand was to
secure her after you have done with her,
but she informed me that she does not in
tend to go out hereafter, and If we want
her services we must wait upon her at her
own house-the idea p
"Insufferable p exclaimed the young
gentleman, srnothering an inclination to
laughter.
You spoke of airs put on by Miss For
tescue, said he," wishing to draw the lady
out. ~ must confess that thought her
very unassn@ing. Her manners appeared
natural, easy, and wholly free from affecta-
tion." 1 M u
swell, perhaps / should not consider
her department exceptionable in one in a
different sphere of life,'' replied Miss
Gates. ......ft. t,r4s Isai
pardon me, Miss Gates, but fail to
perceive why the department which would
be perfectly proper in--say Miss Dunbar,
or yourself for instance-should be so of
fensive in Miss Fortescue."
In the meanwhile, she who had given
rise to the discussion recorded in the last
chapter, was proceeding on her homeward
way with light step and buoyant heart
more light and more buoyant by far than
in the early days of her work life. A smil-
ing expression lighted up her features as il
some pleasant thought was nesting in her
heart lending an additional charm to her
rare beauty. Occasionally a low snatch of
song, q strain here and there Of some favor
ite melody, would ripple from her lips as if
she were surcharged with music. Her
step, her carriage, every movement be-
trayed natural grace. There was not the
slightest approach to affeotation to be dis
covered in either. The "grand airs"
spoken of by Miss Gates, existed only in
that lady's imagination, or the disparaging
remark was prompted solely from envy or
jealousy. fnlsrd