The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-12-18

ties, and because he loves me-" she at
length said, yet with kind of uncer-
tain manner, as if the reply did not
spring from clear mental perception.
"What do you mean by excellent
qualities ?" further inquired Mrs. War
ing.
Tears came into Fanny's sweet blue
eyes as she answered.
"A young girl like me, dear Aunt
Mary, cannot penetrate very deeply into
mans character. We have neither
the opportunity nor the experience upon
which, coldly, to base an accurate iudg-
ment. The heart is our guide. In my
own case, its instincts, am sure, have
not betrayed me into false estimate
of my lover. L know him to be good
and noble and am sure his tender
regard for the maiden he has asked to
become his bride, will lead him to seek
her happiness, as she will his. Do not
doubt him, aunt" ...
Yet, Mrs. Warning could not help
doubling him. The young man had not
impressed her favorably. No word had
fallen from his lips during the evening
unmarked by her-nor had a single act
escaped observation. In vain had she
looked, in his declaration of sentiments,
for high moral purposes-for some
thing elevated and manly in tone. In
their place, she found only exceeding
wordliness, or the fippant common
place.
"No basis there, I fear, on which to
build" said Mrs. Waring, thoughtfully,
after parting with her niece for the
night. Dear, loving, confiding child
the heart of a maiden is not always her
best guide. Like the conscience, it
needs to be instructed must be fur
nished with tests of quality"
On the day following, Mrs. Waring
went out alone. Without seeming to
have any purpose in her mind, she had
asked the number of Mr.. Aliens store,
whittier she went with the design of
making few purchases. AS she had
hoped it would be, the young man did
not recognize her as the aunt of his
betrothed. Among the articles she
wanted to obtain was a silk dress. Sew
eral pieces of goods were shown to her,
one of which suited exactly, both color
and quality.
"What is the price of this?" she
asked.
The answer was not prompt. First,
the ticket-mark was consulted then
came thoughtful pause; and then the
young storekeeper said -
"I cannot afford to sell you this piece
of goods for less than dollar thirteen. y
ga dollar thirty, did you say y
asked Mrs. Waring, examining the silk
more closely.
Si2s Ws4ias raised Rea sSes and
looked steadily, for a moment or two,
into the young mans face.
GA dollar and thirty cents" !" sine re-
peated.
eyes, ma'am. A dollar thirty" was
the now assured answer. How many
yards shall measure off for you?"
"I want about twelve yards"
"There isn't a cheaper piece of goods
in Market" said the young man, as he
put his scissors into the silk" not a
cheaper piece, do assure you. I had
a large stock of these silks at the open
ing of the season, and sold two thirds
of them at dollar and half. But as
they are nearly closed out, [ am selling
the remainder at a trifie above cost.
Can I show you anything else, ma'am p
"Not to-day, 1 believe" " replied Mrs.
Waring, as she took out her purse.
"How much does it come to ?"
"Twelve yards at one dollar and
thirty cents-just fifteen dollars and
sixty cents" said Allen.
"Shall L send it home for you? ?" lie
asked.
"No-I will take it myself" said Mrs.
Waring, coldly.
"What have you been buying, aunt p
inquired Fanny, when Mrs. Waring re-
turned home with her purchase.
ga silk dress. And 1 want to know
what you think of my bargain ?"
The silk was opened, and Fanny and
her mother examined and admired it.
"What did you pay for it, sister p
asked Mrs. Lowering, the mother of
Fanny.
ga dollar and thirty cents" was an,
swered.
"Not a dollar thirty ?" Marked sur
prise was indicated.
"Cheap ' said Fanny. "It isn't
worth over a dollar, at the outside.
Mr.. Allen has been selling the same
goods at ninety and ninety-fve."
You must certainly be in error" re-
piled Mrs. Waring.
"Not at ALL" was the positive asser-
tion. "Where did you get the silk ?"
A somewhat indefinite answer was
given, to which Fanny returned
81 only wish we had known your in
tention. Mother would have gone with
you to Edwards store. 1t is too bad
that you should have been so cheated.
The person who sold you the silk is no
better than downright swindler."
"If it is. as you say" replied Mrs.
Waring, calmly, she is not an honest
man. He saw that L was a stranger,
ignorant of current prices and he took
advantage of the fact to do me wrong.
l am more grieved for his sake than my
own. To me the loss is only few dol
lars to him, alas by what rule can
we make the estimate ?"
Much more was said, not needful
here to repeat. In the evening Edward
Allen called to see Fanny, who spoke of
the purchase made by Mrs. Waring.
Her aunt was present. The silk was
produced in evidence of the fact that
she had been most shamefully wronged
by some storekeeper.
Z" For what can you sell goods of a
similar quality?" was the direct ques-
tion of Fanny.
The moment Allen saw the piece of
silk, he recognized it as the same he
had sold in the morning. Turning
quickly, and with O flushing counte-