Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-11-22

doing more than her share toward the
support of the family, was again at his
books; that .enterprising young lady
having succeeded in convincing him that |
his education would in the end be of more
value to the family than his small earnings
as errand boy. They had all worked hard
and uncomplainingly, but this gradual
tightening of the burden was chiefly due
to Letty's success: and now that there
was so fair promise of still better things
TO come she peremptorily ordered Dell
home from the factory where her poor
little hands had grown callous at basket
making, and forbade the tired mother to |
take in another stitch of sewing.
SO ten months passed, with Madam
Mapes growing steadily worse; aud then
the end came, leaving Wallace heir to the
millinery establishment. 1t was an odd
legacy for a young student to manage, and
very naturally he turned TO Lefty for adj
vice. A millinery establishment without
a millner would be dead weight on his
hands, and straightway he proposed TO the
young lady. The proposition. however.
in spite of the hesitation with which he
made it, was of a purely business nature,
being substantially that, in addition TO
renting the shop and buying the stock, she
should have the family give up the house
they then occupied and take possession of
his mothers deserted rooms. He could
not bear the thought. he said, Of having
| them stand empty and forlorn, nor yet OF
their passing into the hands of strangers.
! Ii was an old house-one which in former
times had lifted up its aristocratic front
with the best in the city, and had been in
the family for generations. Changes and
losses had come, but Madam Mapcs,
through all reverses, had clung to the old
place with almost morbid tenacity. In
fact, the fear OF seeing it sold and her de-
motives for going into business and con-
verting the grand old parlor into a mil
linery shop. The whole undertaking had
been sadly at war with the high-bred prcju-
| dices of her youth, but she had made it a
success nevertheless, and had paid off
every mortgage and carried her boy to his
last term i'm college. No wonder the
young man felt kindly disposed toward
both millinery shops and milliners. And
now her mantle had fallen upon Lefty, he
said. but the young girl shook her shoul-
ders and lifted her head {; she wanted no
cast-off mantles, at least none so narrow
as Madam Mapes's; she would make one
for herself. warmer and wider, that should
wrap itself about all who came near her /:
but she did not put the thought into
|
mother, hard and unlovable as she had
seemed.
/" lois a heavy burden for one so young"
he said sympathizingly, and perhaps a
close observer might have detected wish
to ask her to let him him share the burden
with her. but Lefty was too much absorbed
with the business in hand to heed the sud-
den tenderness in his voice. She was
practical enough to see the proposed
change would be of great advantage both
to herself and the family. The only ques-
ton was could she meet the increased eX-
pense; but on tlIat point Wallace settled
her doubts with the assurance that for the
house the rent was to be no more than
they were now paying. So the bargain
was closed at once, and the next day the
young doctor went back to his studies.
And now Lefty set herself to work with
fresh energy. In the new responsibilities
which she had assumed the part that
pressed most heavily upon her was the
care of those in her employ. With her
loving, sympathetic nature IL was ippossi-
{ bic for her not to feel personal interest in
every one of them, especially in those
who had no. homes, and a plan for their
comfort had been one of the chief induce
ments to take the roomy old house. Here
she would make a home for all her home
less girls. Her mother should be their
mother, while she herself would be sister
, to them. TO make bonnet well must OF
course during business hours be their first
thought, but out of the work-room they
! had needs the same as other young
, girls, needs which must be met and
satisfied if She would keep them from evil
( SO she enticed them to give up hops
and third-rate theaters for concerts and lee
/ hnr
, Raw for an escort. while ut home she es-
! tablislrd reading circle and a musical so
! ciety with Dell for leader. As an expert
, ment it was somewhat expensive, but i
had its own reward, and many youne
: girl blessed the day that brought her int
I Letty's employ.
, Thus while She carried her artistic taste
! into every departments of her work, creating
+ such maryeis of loveliness that connois
seurs in bonnets soon became to know he
i touch, she carried with it the earnestncs
4 of soul intent on doing good, ant
' wrought beauty which should be "a jo.
; forever"
+ n knew she could do it.'' said Uncl
n Job enthusiastically; faint every girl tha
) could, that's certain, but theresa goo'
: many that could, if they'd only try"
h And now that her work had become sys
i teildifLtu rilt DtStii 70 ifiu fcirtut toi hc
old pursuits. She read and studied. an
i even indulged herself in drawing an
j painting lessons, and when two years late
Z Mr.. Mapes came home, ostensibly for tn
= purpose of experimenting some necessar
! repairs, he found in place Of the bashfu
= Uniformed girl whom he had known at hi
If mothers bedside, quiet, cultured woman
r. from whose calm eyes sincere I0yin
If soul shone out and made the whole ia,
~ beautiful.
h He staid a month, Inspected the hotii
e from cellar to attic, and had it put in tho
Y, ough repair; Went over the books Wit
IS her, was astonished at the rapid growth
1r the business, and praised her executi,
re ability without stint; and then, actuals,
al he had the audacity to ask her to abandc
b. the whole enterprise and become his WI
DO lit is a way men have Of turning woInt
~ from their chosen paths-but Lefty, thong
he She blushed, as became the occasion, ~
ly was happier for the moment than she Ia
at ever been in all hcr life. was too praetie
to accept. There was no one else in 4
re world whose wife she would like to be. b
| n n .. -. Il a