Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-05-22
ONLY A MECHANIC.

and there, solitary beacons OF fire, and Grace and
Myra Payne were sitting before the crate in
their cosy well-used Sitting-rOom, talking.
Grace had been darning stockngs--a piece of
domestic fnger-craft not particularly ornamental;
and MyTa was dottlng the edge Of shirt collar
with stitches like seed pearls. But It was grown
too dark to work now, and they sat in the ruddy
shine OF great fire, enjoying the season com
monty known as "blind mans holiday"
snow, Grace, I'm sure you'll think better of /
it," said Myra, coaxingly.
"Dont think there's the least prospect in life /
OF any such thing" returned Grace.
Stay, though-wc have not photographed our |
hcrones for the eye of the readers fancy. Well,
they were pretty girls, although in somewhat |
different styles. MyTa, the elder by year, was |
tall and slender, with dark, languid eyes, an
oval face, and Jet black hair, slightly rippled.-
Grace was small and sprightly, rather inclined to
he plump than otherwise, with big brown eyes, |
full OF liquid laughter, skin like rosecolored
satin, and brown curls, which could no more have |
been coaxed to lie straight than many grape
vine tendrils.
"YOu are really going to marry u common me-
chanlc y persisted Myr remonstratlyely.
"Wel, think he's rather an uncommon one,
myself"
"BuL our papa is a gentlcman."i
"Our papa is lawyer by profession, Myra, but
! don't think he is any moro of a gentleman than
Walter Genlis r.
mechanics are not gentlemen -
eyes they are, If they behave themselves
Now, look here, Myra," and the big brown eyes
became very rceoluto, 81 am very glad you are
engaged to a Wall street broker, who lives in Il
brown stone house, but don't think that gives
you the privilege of criticising my lover!"
"But ho is poor, Grace"
ale has health and strength, and his own right
arm to help him"
And YOU will have 10 work."
"Well what then My goodness gracious,
aud Grace elevated two little plump hands, "what
do you suppose these were given to mo for? To
wear Kid gloves and diamond rings only, and to
gather roses No, indeed | can find n better
use for them than that"
"Gnce, You are perfectly incOrrigiblep ~
"Yes, am ; SO you may just as well leave off
lecturing me" said Grace sancily. 81 plead guilty
to all your accusations. l am going to marry
nothing but mechanic. shall live in half
house can't go out in q carriage nor give par
tics, and think very likely that shall not un-
frequently wash dishes, sweep rooms and iron
my husbands shirts. And through it all expect
to be very happy"
Myra sighed and abandoned the useless argu-
ment. What was to be done with So very unrea-
sonable damsel as this!
bright little hsartastOne "a kettle singing on
the hob; the crimson carpet, not Brussels, nor
velvet, but simple inSrain and the plan neat
furniture with Grace smiling at the Teady-spre ad
table-this was a pleasant home for Walter Cen
lis to come to after his days work iu the great
machine shop was over.
upon my word, J" he said gaily IL think we're
happier here than Myra in her big house, with
her parties and visiting lists, aud her swarm OF
servants. Do you know, Oracle, / almost felt at
one time that was doing wrong IN marrying
youp"
"Wrong, Walter"
"Myra seemed to think you wore such vic
tim"
"DO look like vicsim2" demu~ley as ked
Grace.
.'WhY no, can't think YOU do, but | wish
could have brought you to 4 house all your own,
my pet Never mind, some day you will reign i'll
palace worthy Of you"
''NOnsense, Walter, could be happier any
where than with you p
"Are you happy, love-
She rose TO her feet and came over to her hus
bands side, looking full into his face with eyes
eloquent that all the dictOnare5 in creation cor ;,
not have spoken moro plainly.
Yes, he knew that she was happy.
Mrs Liuley, too, thought that she was happy
and pitied 'poor dear Oracle" from the very bot
tom Of her heart. No servants, no silver napkin
rings, no double damask table-clOths, 18th EN-
broidered monos Eams on them, no carriage, N
Wilton cal )ets nor bracatel curtains. What Woul
life be without these Aud then, too, she live
so Outland'Shly; dining in the middle of tho day
and having-good fates pork and cabbage oC
oasionally, and fled onions Mrs LinleY wa
quite sure that she could not have existed unde
such fearful eOneatenatiOn OF circumstances.
'sOt course We must continue to visit them,
said Myra, inhaling the Lubin perfume from lie
Valencien1es-edged pooekt-handkerchief, "but re
ally am quite ashamed 10 have ou- carriage see
IN such a commonplace street.
"Shes your sister" SAID Mr.. 'ey, "and del
Is is good fellow, after all"
IL know it-but common mechap'cp An
Myra took out her pearl tablets to look over he
visiting list.
Grace Gents knew very we'll that Mrs. Gust;
vus Linley despised her and her low estate, bl
Grace cared not two pins for that-why shoul
ahe2 Was she not happy as Queen Victoria he
self in her snug little house, with love to brlghte
the low ceilings and beautify the maple wood fu
Diture2
''Grace is pearl of pee" thought the YOU
husband, as no watched her thrifty houseWter
ttand some day she shall shine in proper settiI
as veil a. dnstaxus Linley's ooncetsd doll Of
wifs. Bhe shall, or my name is not Walter Gel
Mrs LInley did not find herself entirely inco
sOlable when Genlis accepted an offer from Ca
fornia firm to come out rs head machinist, all
her sister went away.
"It's Just as well" thought Myra, "fOr want
to give q series Of Germans this winter, and
couldn't have invited them, and Of course tn
would have been morta"y offended. Now RS
And the wears passed by, and MyIA Linlsy fC
get to answer her sisters letters so often that,
length, Grace left off writing, and Mrs Llnley I
Oano bright star in the world OF fashion, al
0nioyed the false, artificial life es one enjoys
fevared excitement of any kind. 20
One evening Mr. Linley came in late, but
often did that. Myra glanced languidly up fro
the book ahs was skimmlng over, not because >
enioVed reading but because it was tashional
work end abe wanted % say that she hAa Eseo
and noticed that his face was perturbed.
"What is the matter 2" she inquired, lit
startled by his look.
lSThs matter" retained 0astdyus, seating hl
self dsslberatsly bsfOre her, 'is, that we are Fu
adj