The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-02-20


men and ladies for generations, no matter
what their circumstances may be. Rchec-
ca was possessed Of an education that
would have served her well enough ii it
had been her fortune Ia sit in a drawing
room and handy airy nothings. but which
counted for little in the great struggle for
existence.
Ina hose famous old DAYS the Long
straths and Gerrishes had been intimate
friends. on an equal footing IN wealth and
cultivation but the grandeur OF one had
fallen into decldence. while the other
still maintained fair show OF prosperity.
30 when Rebecca GeITish hal decided 10
learn a lrcss-nlakers wade. and 20 out by
the day 10 earn livelihood remembering
the legends of the family greatness. and
: not above a certain respect for good blood.
Mrs. Random had been among the first TO
give Eebecca patronage.
No doubt II gave Mrs.. Random pang
10 regard Rebecca with ever 80 little dis
trust-itiS always disappointment To find
our friends falling short OF our ideal; and
then. too. il showed Mrs. Random what
she was slow 10 believe. that even good
blood NAV have it, hack>li,lings; and. fur
thermore. Rebecca made the best fits in
town. AZ the lowest prices. flad a unique
fancy for trimming, which she was pleased
10 call the poetry of dres>-making and
thus il would require a great sacrifice in
her employer 10 give her up.
But Mrs. Random was not one to take the
blame OF any accident upon herself if there
was any proxy at hand besides. she was
by nature suspicious, and when her mind
had once received an idea il closed firmly
upon il. like biv;llve uponian intruding
substance: and il would have required an
49,
a prejudice. Moreover. who knows if She
had not observed the growing interest OF
Mr.. Langstrath in the little dress-maker
who spent 20 many hours beneath his roof.
under whose hand dry-goods blossomed
into such perfect toileties. which he could
not choose but admire. There was no /
earthly objection Ia Rebecca herself-ev-
ery inch a lady. and as sweet rs a new /
rose. But what would Mrs. Grundy say
should Iangstrath ally himself 10 a 4
working girl. There were new people in /
Elmford society who knew not Joseph. 4
but whose opinion was OF value 10 Mrs. 4
Random. And then there l. a class 81 4
people who dislike 10 SEE themselves sup \
planted even i'm the affections OF a brother. \
or in the management OF pleasant home. \
Mrs. Random knew By instinct that the
part Of second fiddle al Elm Place would
-
Yet not for the world nor for al the king
dOms thereof. would she have charged such
thing a. this 10 Rebecca's account if cir
cum>tanceS had not put i out Of the
question for a mind constituted like hers 10
epcl the suspicion. Ii the facts had not
seemed 70 prove il. Mrs. Random would
have been the last person 70 willfully inn
agine such a scandal. She did not discharge
Rebecca at once from her employment.
but she watched her. and was conscious that
Langstraih watched her too. with sort OF
miserable. heart-aching anxiety. But the
bill did not put in an appearance. though
they left no stone unturned. Langstrath
ordered the carpet In the sewng-rOom to be
taken up: rat had been known 10 carry
OFF valuables TO his nest. But there was
no rat-hole 10 be found. and no bill either.
Its not the money! said he. =
would give all tie money | have 10 find
that fifty-dollar bill :" Mrs. Random
hardly echoed the sentiment. Rebecc.l
had lately appeared al church in a blue
silk that would stand alone. She had not 7
been in the habit If indulging in such lux
uries: she could i'll afford them.
did you see Rebecca to-day" Mrs.
Random asked her brother.
Certainly IA little morosely. a If he
thought ii hard enough upon him 10 be
Obliged to perceive another proof of her I
without bearing evidence \
10 il.
"Strange she has never bought herself /
a silk before. She once told me that she
never should while she had to work for I
her living
"Win gold and YOU may wear it, he \
returned. putting bold face on il.
"Oh. certainly: but that blue silk must \
have cost three dollars yard. ii il cost "A
cent"
Then fifty dollars couldn't nave bought \
it," he replied. but he was Tar from easy.
What difference il would have made to
him could he have known that the silk 4
dress was present FROM a friend in dis
tant county who had Just gone into
mourning
.well. time will show said Mrs. Ram
dom. But time seemed in no hurry TO
show. When Miss Gerrish came to the
house Mrs. Random observed that Lang
strath did not find il 30 convenient a. Il
had once seemed 70 drop in 20 lunch. 10
make an errand into the sewing-rOom. 10
walk home with her 10 her lodgings az
twilight. aud spend the evening. There
had been a time when he had invited her
10 concerts and lectures. had given her lit
tie keepsakes. and consulted her taste with \
regard 10 hanging pictures. or any inn
provements in the house. a one whom
such things concerned. Now Mrs. Ram
dom saw. with some pity and more pleas
ure. that all this was at an end. Crsar'S
wife should be- above suspicion. Yet he
treated Rebccca with courtesy that tried 4
to be cordial and one day Mrs Random
found it more to her purpose 70 have her
gowns made in the city.
DO tell me why you no longer employ
Miss Gerrishg" asked Mrs. sharply. X
Weren't you satisfied with her fits"
"Oh. perfectly; but can't bear 10 do
her an injury. you see. Well. to tell the
truth. | lost confidence in her, Now prag
don't speak Of IL outside. lwouldn't have
n. -. 4 4