American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-28
JOS SECOND COURTSHIP.

III Soou Oiu-iO2y
JOS SECOND COURTSHIP.
BY BIRCH ARNOLD.
Four heads were bowed over a news
paper, while four pairs of eyes were fast
cned upon an item of such importance a.
10 cause four voices to cxclaim simulta
neously:
"Oh, dear, Isn't it terribles"
"What is it, girls?" asked a gray-haire6
"Oh. mamma! Hershfeld & Drake have
failedr'
There was a moments pallor, and then
Mrs. Stillman looked up into Adelaide's
anxious face to ask if she was quite sure
:" 1t is too true" said Adelaide, taking
the paper from her sisters hand. "Shall
/ read it, Are you quite sure you can
bear it?'
Yes"
And Adelaide read as follows:
Hershfield 4 Drake Of the Peoples savings Bank
have suspended. and one of the worst features of
the Is that there is probability OF a
sumption Of business. This il specially hard upon
The iaboring classes who had depended upon their
winter. In common with the public we had always
believed that the bank had solId basis, but in
these days of economical earthquakes il Is hard to
tell who will stand and who will not.
There was silence for moment as AIDE
1aide ceased, but Laura broke it presently
by sobbing out, "Whatever shall we do 81
"And is ecerything gomez" asked An
ME.
".Yes, except the house." answered the
mother, drearily. "How much was in the
bank?"
"Only thousand dollars of my own
Adelaide had three hundred dollars in her
name.''
Yes, mamma and l had fifty dollars
that received from Mr.. Sherman for the
painting l sold. l was keeping it to buy
that lovely travelling dress at Burton's.
Oh, deari and there, my trousseaui and
can't even be married." exclaimed Laura
between her sobs.
This brought wan smile to the four
other dreary faces, and from Adelaide an
interrogatiye I" Why"
AT this Laura turned Indignantly upon
her sister.
"Who ever heard of bride without
trousseau, and where's the money to buy
one I'd like TO know? And here 1'vc
been denying myself all summer, and
wearing old clothes and pinching and
turning in order to save money to get a
comfortable outfit, so that Ralph wouldn't
be ashamed of me. Oh, dear! It's such
a dreary world" A moments silence
don't suppose Ralph will refuse to marry
me now, do you, Adder"
There was real alarm upon the dimpled
face, and Adelaide answered her gravely:
You don't suppose he would take a
bride without rousseau, do your"
Nonsense! Yes, if l was a beggar
he'd take me-"
Laura's indignant response served
somehow as partial clearing up" and
To he.
girls attention to their breakfast, which
was rapidly getting cold.
swell, it is a consolation to know that
if banks do fail we have wafffes for
breakfast" exclaimed the volatile Laura,
as she helped herself to three at a time
How much longer do you suppose this
state of things will continue? Whatever
else happened, let us stick to the watfies.
They are such consolation in times like
this" and she smiled roguishly over the
top of the sirup cup.
This little sally of Laura's helped mat
tiers amazingly, and they were soon dis
cussing the future in quite hopeful tones
They were a hopeful and a helpful family
this of mine. 1t was hard-earned and
harder-saved money which they had lost
in the general ruin, and it really made
times fearfully close with them. Here il
was, the last of October, Laura to be mar
ried in December, and all the household
expenses to be met, to say nothing of the
new dresses the girls had been saving
their money for-and no money to do it
with. On the whole it was rather a dubi-
Gus outlook, but they met it bravely. The
widowed mother was just up from long
sickness, brought on by over work in the
schOOlroom; for she had been teacher
in the city schools; and Adelaide 10 and
Laura had been clerking in one of the
retail stores, while Annie, with the help
OF lialleluJah Morris, the black cook.
had managed the household Laura
had just thrown up her situation, intent
upon the trousseau which she and her
mother were to make, all by them
Selves as she had informed the waiting
Ralph. Laura's money had gone with
her mothers, and this was how they were
situated when the crash came.
WELL" said Laura, pushing back her
plate, when she had devoured all the
waffles within reach, 'has the trousscau
vanished into the air, ma chere Dterer'
No, dear, | think not; there is little
of it still in palpable shape, but you will
have 10 do without SO many dresses. That
dress at Burton's, L am afraid, will have
to be as a tale that is told,' said the
mother, with half smile.
Laura made up a face and exclaimed
tragically:
Impossible. You know not what
you ask. The wedding would not be
legal without that dress"
"A good way out of the dilemma would
be for Ralph To marry the dress instead.
Ii would be a uuieter and much less ex-
pensivc bride"
Adelaide lodged just in time TO escape
the box which Laura purposed administer
ing, and then the mother arraigned them
ali before her with a ''Hush, girls, we must
be serious now. There is so much to
arrange"
" We are all attention, ma'am," said
Laura, standing with denIure face and
folded arms.
How much money is there in the
houses" asked the mother.
Instantly four hands went into four
pockets, and four heads were busy count
ing the contents of four purses:
Presently all answered but Laura, who
counted and recountei, and at last looked
up with puzzled air.
a. I had fifteen dollars yesterday, but J
can't fad it. ] wonder il I've lost ten