South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-07-25
Only A Mechanic;
OR,
PRIDE WILL HAVD IT'S FALL.

blast howled mournfully through the twi
hight streets, when the lights were begin
ning to shine out here and there, SOLITARY
oeacons OF fire, aod Grace and Myra PAYNE
were sitting before the CRATE 10 their COSY.
WelI-used sitting-room, talking.
Grace bad been darning stockines-a
piece OF domestic fingsr-craft, not particu
larly ornamental, but nevertheless, mos.
essential, aud Myra was doing the edge Of
shirt-collar with stitches like steel pearls.
But it was grown too dark TO work now.
and they sat in the rudy shine of the CRATE
IRE, enjoying the reason commonly known
as blind mans holiday
Now, Grace, I'm sure you'll think bet
ter of ~ said Myra coaxingy.
Don't think there's tho least prospect
IN life of any such thing returned Grace.
Stay, though-we have not photograph
ed our heroines for the eye of the readers
fancy. Well, they were two pretty girls
although in somewhat different STYLES.
Myra, the elder by year, was tall and
slender, with dark, lauguid eyes, an oval
face, and jet black hair, slightly rippled.
Grace was small aud sprightly, rather iu-
clired to be plump than otherwise, with
big brown eyes, full of liquid laughter, a
skin like rose colored satin, and brown
curls, which could no more have been coax
ed to Ito straight than SO many grapevine
tendrils.
You are really going to marry com.
mon mechanic 2 persisted Myra, remon-
stra'ively.
We'll, think he's rather an uncommon
one myself
But our papa is gentleman
Our papa is lawyer by profession,
Myra, but | don't think he is any more Of
a gentleman than Walter Genlis I"
Mechanics are not gentlemen
Yes, they are; if they behave them.
selves. Now, look here, Myra,' and the
big brown eyes became very resolute, Il am
very glad that you are engaged to a Wall
street broker, who lives in a brown stone
house, but don't think that gives you the
privilege of cri'icisng my lover p
'But he is poor, Grace
'He has health and strength. and his own
right arm to help him.'
And you will have to work.
well, what then? Ny goodness gra.
cious, and Grace elevated two little plump
hands, what do you suppose these were
given to me for? To wear kid gloves and
diamond rings only, and to gather roses
10, indeed. L can fnd better use for them
than that
Grace, you are perfectly incorrigible =
Yes, L am; so you may just as well
leave Oft lcc'uring me, faid Grace, saucily.
Il plead guilty to all your accusations.
am going to marry a mechanic. | shall
live 10 half house / can't 90 out 10 car
rage, nor give parties, aud | think very
likely that [ shall not unfrequently wash
dishes, sweep rooms aud iron my husbands
shirts And through it all expect to be
very happy
Myra sighed and abandoned the uselcs.
argument. What vas to be done with so
very unreasonable damsel as this +?
a bright little bearthstone-a kettle
singing on The bod the crimson carpet.
not Brussels, nor velvet, but simple io
grain and the plain, neat furniture, with
Grace smiling at the ready-spread table
this was a pleasant home for Walter Gen
lis to come to, after bis days work 10 the
great machine shop was over.
Upon my word, he said gaily, Il think
we're happier here than Myra 10 her big
house, with her parties and her visiting
list, and her swarms Of servants. Do you
know, Oracle, almost felt at one time
that | was doing wrong 10 marrying you 2
Wrong Walter 2
'Myra seemed to think that YOU were
such a victim
do l look like victim p domurely ask
ed Grace.
why, no, l cant say I think you do,
but l wish | could have brought you to
house ell your own, my pet. Never mind,
some day you shall reign in palace wor
thy Of you 2
Nonsense, Walter; could I be happier
any where than with you =
Are you happy, lover
She rose from her seat and came over
to her husbands side, looking full iuto his
face With eyes 30 eloquent that ell the die
uonar'es 10 creation could not have spoken
more plainly.
Yes, ne knew she was hsppy.
Mrs. Linley, too, thought she sss happy,
and pitied poor, dear Oracle from the
bottom Of her heart. No servants. no all.
yer napkin.rings, no double damask table.
cloths, With embroidered mOuogrsms on
them no carriage, 20 Wilton carpets nor
brocateI curtsi0s. What would life be
worth without .sese And then, too, che
lived 50 ouilandishly actually dining in
tbe middle IF the day, and baviDg-good
iates-pork add cabbage occasionally, and
fried onions. Mrs. Lioley was quite sure
that she cou d not have existed under such
fearful confederation Of circumstances.
'Of course we must continue 10 visit
them, said Myra, iobsline tho Lu5iu per-
fume from her VsIenciennes-eJgo root.,