Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-10-31
MISCELLANEOUS.
MAo0IE's SECOND LOVE.

upon their small bank deposits to carry them
through the winter"
There was silence for moment as Augusta
ceased, but Alice broke it presently, by sobbing
out, "What ever shall we 2"
"And is everything gomez asked Emma.
eyes, except the house," answered the mother,
drcarily.
"How much was in tho bank ?"
mOnly a thousand dollars of my own Augusta
had three hundred in her name.n
Eyes, mamma, and had fifty dollars that 1
received from Mr.. Kari, for the painting sold.
was keeping 1t to buy that lovely travelling
dress at Shilito'e oh, dear and there. my
trousseau and l can't even be married !" ex-
claimed Alice between her sobs.
NWho ever heard of bride without trous-
seau, and where's the money to buy one, I'd like
to know And here I've been denying myself
all summer, and wearing old Clothes and pinch
ing and turning in order to have money to get
comfortable outfit, so that Edgar would not he
ashamed of mo-"
moments silence and then Alice broke out
again ''You don't suppose Edgar will refuse to
marry me now, do you, Gussie Y
There was real alarm upon the dimpled face,
and Augusta answered her grayely:
'You don't suppose he would take bride
without trouEseau, do your
Nonsense Yes, il was . begger he'd take
me-"
of mine II was hard-earned and hard-sayed
money which they had lost in tue general panic
and it really made times fearfnlly close with
them. Here it was the first of October Alice
to be married in December, and all the house,
hold expenses to be met, to say nothing Of the
new dresses the girls had been saving their mo-
ney for-and no money to do it with. On the
whole it was rather a dubious outlook, but they
met 1t brayely. The widowed mother was just
up from a long sickness, brought on by over
xvnrlf in the aplOOl-rOOm for she hal been n
teacher in the city schools, aud Augusta, Mag
and Alice had been clerking i'll one Of the stores,
while Emma, with the help OF Dinah, the black
cook had managed the household. Alice had
Just thrown up her situation intent upon the
trousseau which she and her mother were to
make ssall by themselves" as she had informed
tho waiting Edgar.
"That dress at Shilito's, am afraid, will have
to be "as tale that Ia told" said the mother,
with half smile.
Alice made up face, and exclaimed, tragcal-
ly;
'Impossible You know not what you ask
The wedding would not be legal without that
dress"
"How much money is there in the house ~
asked the mother.
Instantly four hands went into four pockets,
and four heads were busy counting the contents
of four purses.
Upon adding the different sums together the
five people were found to be possessed of even
Hixty dollars.
"I suppose you have some back wages. Gusie
and Mag'?"
The girls nodded assent, and then the mother
proceeded
ave shall have to live very close this winter,
but with economy we may be comfortable. j
shall have to ask Gussie and Mag to pay into tho
expense purse six dollars week instead of five,
and if can get any sewing to do, / may be able
to do the same. We shall have to discharge Di-
nah and work little harder ourselves"
II really don't see how we are going to man
age" said Alice. az she burst into fit OF weep
ing.
Alices tears were a signal for the weary moth
er who soon gave way to her feeling, eaving
Agusta and Emma to follow in fearful shower.
But Mag didn't propose to give way to such
Weakness although her eyes were a little misty
az she exclaimed
'Nonsense girls would not be babies any
longer. You ought to be ashamed of your
selves, too, infringing upon mothers rights
"Good gracious, Laura your eyes arc red
your nose more 80. What il Edgar should hap
pom to drop in y
A ring at the bell, as if in corroboration OF
AIag's words, made Alice jump to the mirror. to
find Mag guilty of extreme exaggeration, AZ she
quickly informed her.
But 1T was only the postman with note for
Mag, which she quickly transferred to her pocls
ct. while the other girls asked in breath
"Why don't you read it
With very red cheeks Mag made answer
"Because do not want to-"
augusta" SAID the mother, at last, when the.
had all finished their breakfast and the two girl
still loitered 'wont.you and Mag be late 1t l
quarter past eight now"
'Yes, said Agusta, putting on her hat with
sigh. It's time we were OF. Come Mag"
''You may tell Mr.. Leonard to put me dow
for an hours lost time am not coming n
present. said Mag
A moment later, and the mother and Magwer
alone. The door was hardly closed, when Mag
arms were around her mothers neck.
Mother, she began falteringly ''you know 20
have often asked me what have done with m
money, and now I'm going to tell you. I've onl
hundred and fifty dollars, bu1 it's IN Unite
States bonds and gold. ] want you to take it I
help Alice and yourself, but don't say wor
about it. Now don't shake your head sadly 70
can pay me back when better times come. Kee
it for a reserve fund, you know. I'm going
hrlng Alice the Dress but you mustn't tell, al
then there'll be hundred dollars for you. ~
only about 800 back wages, and must fix myse
up little. II we are economical, think we ci
get along. And there's one other thing, don
want you to take in sowing this winter, for
dOnt't think you are strong enough. We thr
girls ought to be able to take care of you for OIL
winter, and when Alice is married you know th
will be so much less, for somehow it costs go
deal to keep a lot of hearty girls, and Mag ii
ished with feeble smile.
''Yes, but what would do without my hear
girls, aud my heroic Mag
Nov don't mother am not a bit heroic, ~
If You call me that l shall bolt the course.
not bit like the 'goody girls OF story books,
| do kemoney and nice things, and 1t wash Q {
trely easy to resolve to buy Alice that drese,
il she hadn't been such spendthrft, she mig
have had as much money aa l have.
But Mag was one not long given to replnll
A passing regret, little bitter outcry agail
the hard necessities Of life and she was ready
take up her burden again, and so cheetiully
her way.
'Well," she exclaimed, after inomei
thoughtful silence, 'times mp, and must be
my way to the store. I'm pretty sure that we {
get through the winter, mother. and it we do
are all right Aud she kissed her mother go
bye.
An instant later, and Mag was in the sire
Putting her hand into her pocket for her GLOW
she encountered the note which she had pla
there sometime before.
"Blesa me AS true as you live, Mag Malla
you had forgotten all about it."
Had any inquisitive passer by looked close
the plainly dressed young lady who was read
mote in the shadow Of McClures awning,
might have seen in that irradated face pr
lem not at all difficult of solution.
With one hand clasping the precious miss
Mag walked as one in dream. Her thoue
ran something in this wise;
"0h Mag Wallace, amt You II happy 4
Who would ever have thought that, plain al
are. you would have won the love OF such l
as Henry Wilmot? That is what he me
when we parted at Glendale He said he she
write me and tell about ibis : pl
and soft seems / was ono of them. l di
dream Of such thing then, and how he
hearted WAS because thought he was