Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-08-18

1
lions that. Young Ms she was. she had
already begun 10 receive and expect
from the boyish ga.lan,s in her class
For dancing Was Sn amusement that Mrs.
Hamburger entirely approved OF, even for
her delicate daughter.
1T was graceful, fashionable and
healthlul, aud one could dress child as
pretliiy IS they pleased Without being
afraid Of it' getting rs clothes s"iied or
torn. ENciiIg? Nnstnae ! Ii was no
more exciting than a promenade On The
street, or concerts und ~ 10 thu danger
of wearing q tl.ih drcss-Guacic had Il
.oy"ly opera cape, and ,hc had Told lrpr
u always throw it over her shoulders as
,o"n us she WAS done dancIng
S. Gracic, fragile. delicate Oracle.
went to The dancing schoo'. sometimes III
weather so cold that her lhinJ cad
frame shook with tho sharp chiils that
even the warm air OF the dancing hall
could not entirely drive away. and when
she came home with cold that confined
her 10 her bed for weeks, her mother
scoldcd her Tor forgetting 10 wear her
opera cape. and as soon is she was nbIc
10 90 out-sent her again.
And the years tlippod by with their
IL. Al Ia, ttyltt a
boluc burdens. and their lightly esteemed
duties. and Grace llambargh was a woman
in aye and slaturc-a perfect lady" her
admirers called her. on the strength al
her coldly sell possessed manner, her
various polite accomplishments, and her
elegant. tasteful dress; "a perfect fuss, "
was the private verdict oi miliincr, dress
maker and sewing girl. who welc obliged
to endure the capricious oXacti)ns and III
temper tina, diSordered nerves and Il sys
TEN weakened by years Of hurtiul expos
ure and equally hugiul confinement had
inevitably soured.
"Sbe is ut her best now" coolly
reasoned her mo. ler. IN secret conf
dence with herself. She will begin TO
.row Sallow and lean IN II few ycars-
girls OF her style always do-and She
must secure a settlement in life Tor herself
while she can"
So Mis- Grace llambu:gh's namc was
prominent among the guests at every
fashionable party oI tho season. her lair.
cold lace grew familiar 10 The h"bi,ua!
frequentcrs Of opera and concerts, aud
her rich and tasteful dress was never
worn out subject loi The pen OF the local
jenkins 10 IuA wild gpnn.
What matlercd that The poor GiIl spent
most OF her home hours IN dWkcncd
chamber. suffering from ihe tortures Of =
nervous headache?
Nothing but bi.iousness aud nerves,
her mother declared. sni Ly faithfully
alternating between cAAuomiic aud coffee
he would manage To "Sgi her up Is she
called it, in iimc ior the neat party.
Nor Wc.c her mo'hcry lebo.s to so
uur~w aided ior, before Inc close ol her
,cecnl sea,ro. q tich. elderly wilowcr,
attracted by the drilca,c bcaap ani
graceful accomplishments of The Young
.irl, pro. o.cd, MAS accepted. aad The day
MAS sct ior tic marriage.
Now cont, the ,us OF Wai remarked
Mrs. Ilamours, one morning.. with a
pllylal nod AT her daughter, who. rcciin.
ilg id.y ia her easy chair, looked up with
some wonder and more disgust at her
mothers coar.ciy enismMical expression.
Il Iou'I understand you." she said, 'ist
less but with y qlcruIous sharpness in
her tone that was seldom absent II ON her
home talk. What do You refer 10 ~
"Why, to getting your wedding outfit
ready" was the quick, outSpOkcn reply /;
''auJ let me tell you. you'll have TO bestir
Yourself for the next three months, if you
don't mean 10 get married like your
cousin Joan, who had only three ull suits
TO her back when she married John Wy.
lie. by the way. | noticed a beautiful
piece OF linen ut Lyon Il Lcwis's yes,cr.
day. | believe Iii get it, and we can 60
right To work now. The machine is in
beautiful order, and We might rs well
begin first rs last"
(Which machine do you mean. your.
sell or the Singer p" aud Grace smiled
with a weak attempt nj jocularity.
"Whal DO YOU mean?'
"Why, you have been literally and
truly 4 sewing machine ever since | can
remember. You ruilled and tucked. and
braided, aud stitched with your fingers
before sewing machines of wood and
iron came into fashion. and now you oulY
rufile, and tuck, and braid, ani stitch all
the mnle. If you weren't n machine, /
should think you would need rest now
and then. for it can be no rest 10 you with
your aching bones and tired hands TO
dress up and 90 into crowd in some.
body's parlor 10 stand round till after
midnight watching the dancers. and com
pairing notes with somebody clsc's MAN
ma OH the beauty, cost and bccomingneSs
of The girls dresses. and their owners
probable prospects in the matrimonial
market"
Mrs. lamburgh stared. 1t was not
bit like Grace, this long, and, it struck
-. ,o,Io. ,,anuli,r cnoach bnt .tTirlS