Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-03-06

they were effecting q revolution in
the affairs Of little mill girl in
America.
Mrs. Random took down the gold
silk and looked at it with a
prcfound sigh. 1t was utterly out
Of fashion, and it had cost so much!
But, in virtue Of it's being very
long and full, there was a pleasing
possibility that it might be worked
over into overskirt and basque, with
open sleeves. She had always de-
tested those close sleeves, they were
SO angular and made one feel all
arms and elbows; aud then she be
gan to wish that Rebccca Gerrish
was at hand to effect the chan ge:
for Miss Stitcherly was forty miles
away, up four flights Of stairs, with
the varioloid next door. Therefore
Mrs. Random was fain to take her
own scissors and the gold-colored
silk, and sit down to it, in imminent
peril of Tommy's bread-and. butter
fingers. Rip, rip, rip; how many
miserable little stitches Becky 6ad
put into it. OF what had she been
thinking during the process? Had
she been making up her mind to
keep the bill? If the stitches could
be interpreted like the telegraphic
symbols, would they tell the story
Of her struggle?
Langstrath came in to tea while
Mrs. Random was ripping the last
sleeve.
"What are you about?" he ask.
ed.
"I'm ripping up my gold-colored
by"
"I'm glad of it," he returned, with
u sigh. 81 wish it had never been
begun. 1t makes me shudder eve.
ry time look at it,"
"Thcn don't look at it," she said,
GROSSLY. "Dear me, should think
she had stitched this piping with
cast iron thread. There! Oh, Mar
tin! See here! Oh, poor Becky!
What shall do?"
"What is it?" he asked, staring
at the name; "what is it?"
"Sce! Look! It's the fifty dol
lar bill! The very one! Here, un-
der the lining of my sleeve."
True enough. 1t had doubtless
slipped in there when she dropped
them altogether and ran to pick up
Tommy; and there it had waited an
opportunity of proving Becky's in-
nocencc!
That very evening Langstrath
hunted up Becky's boarding house
and asked for a private interview,
wherein he begged her forgiveness,
and pleaded the love that he had
never been able to conquer, and end
ed by offering her the first place in
his heart and home. But he was a
little tardy.
81 don't mind owning" confess
ed Becky, tiat once I would have
given all the world to hear you
speak Ike this; but now, Mr.. Lang
strath, | cannot find any love in my
heart for man who has shown
such an utter want of faith in me.
Ten thousand angels could not have
shaken my confidence in you ut that
time"
''Yet my love has survived yours.
Which Of us do you think loved
most?"
"You may have loved most, but
surely | loved best"
"And is there no spark left of it
which | may hope to rekindlc by
years of devotion?'
"No; You extinguished it your
self, and l do not wish to complain. "
But as Mr.. Langstrath departed
Mr.. Derris entered. "What has
happened?" said he, for there were
tears in Becky's eyes. care you
i'll? Did Mr.. Langs,rath bring you
bad news?"
ale brought me the news that he
loved me-"
"And you are weepin.? When
Itold You that same story, you did
not take it SO much to heart.''
"Tell it to me again, and see,''
she answered; and suppose that
he must have obeyed her, for short
ly after, Becky became Mrs. Der
ris.
Since that time Mr.. Derris has
bought out the Warp and Woof
Mills, and Becky rides in her car
riage, as her ancestors did before
her, and fares sumptuously every
day; while Mrs. Random is more
strongly fortified than ever in her
opinion that "blood will tell" and
Mr.. Langstrath is still bachelor.