The Republican journal., 1874-01-08
The Doye-Colored Silk.

meSttr III inc HOUSE, vi toll oollil i'a' 'Vi'
baronet and banker, received his OF hcr
salary one week before Christmas Day.
Very bright and tempting looked the
TINY pile of Sovereigns that Lottie Wardc,
Miss Davton's own maid, carried away 10
her own chamber, and sat medilatiny over,
with i cloud ON her pretty face such a1 II
seldom Wore. Last Christmas the spend
mo Of her money had cost her no trouble,
except 4 quickly stilled regret that She
could not do more with il for those dear
ones, whose kisses and joyful thanks had
been such pleasant requiial of her cen
erositV
Although she WAS n dutiIul and loving
Il daughter and as kind 4 sister ;s OF yurc.
there had been IN event in Lottle'9 HE
since the wear began that WAS closely con
nected with the impatient sigh she gave,
as she sat gazing at her gold and alb
Stractlv turning it over and oyer in her
palm. She had met. III the house Of an
uld friend OF her late father. 4 Young man
81 well connected that many wondered
he should think of wedding Il girl who
WAS lin service" Mr.. Charlie, Morrison.
they argued. with his good prospects and
excellent situation in the office OF Smith
SON Brothers, ought to loole higher for II
wil, than Lottie Warde. whose father had
died bankrupt, and whose mothers Sole
dependence was the annuity some OF Mr..
War,leS compassionate creditors had ptr-
chased for her But ii Charlie Morrison
heard these things limited, he laughed and
forgot them. He loved Lottic for herself
her sweet temper. her good principles,
and the pretty face and figure. that We're
ALWAYS SET off hN the perfect ncatMcSS and
propretv with which She dressed.
Lottic, however. had taken 10 heart
many of the remarks made in her presence
or told by ill-naturrd friends. and had
rather hastily decided in her own mind
that the relatives of her allianced husband
looked down upon her because of her
position This tancy-tor il was nothing
more-hal made her shy of meeting them,
and unwilling To accept the invitations 50
kindly sent to her. But Charlie had made
a point of her accedmg to his parents
wish that She should JOIN the family party
they always gathered around them Al their
handsome house at Clapham on the eve OF
| the great festival; and Il, Mis- Dayton
had cheertully consented 10 spare her, She
had not been able TO excuse herself
Naturally timid and shrinking from
strangers, Lottic looked forward to this
visit as an ordeal rather than a pleasure.
| She was to be introduced to Charlie
| married sister from Manchester and to the
| wealthy uncle from whom he had eNpec-
| tationS; and her anxiety that they should
| think well of her eliminated the inquiry.
| ''What shall wear?"
| 1t was no use discussing this question
with her bethrothed. She knew he Woulo
say that nothing could be in better taste
| than the well-httng dark merino that had
been her best dress since the commence
| ment of autumn. But Lottie had hen
| share OF girlish vanity and as She raised
her eyes to her looking glass 4 vision
| rose before her Of a certain dove-coloreC
| silk in a merccr'S window near ST Paul
that would become her admirably II
| was true that such an expensive purcha Sc
would absorb every tarthin@ in her pos
| session, but She chose to ignore this. Sc
strong grew the temptation that Wher
| Lottie went that night to visit her mother
She fingered long al the mercer'S window
| and decided That on the morrow the dove
| colored silk should be her own.
| The children threw down their book,
~. 4 - ,-I.e., 1-,ttf, ..c,.ryt 4ui one, IoNr,
her dearly, and Mrs Warde, though shC
had been wearing a very anxious face, rs
she stitched buisiiy at some childish gar
ment. contrivcd to smile At her eldest
daughter. who. however. was moi easily
| deceived.
Something has gone wrong. mother.
| am sure of il hy your looks What j.
| it,"
| "Nothing You can alter, dear; nothing
| in fact. that ! ought TO dwell upon
heard by chance, that the man through
| whose roguery your father tailed has rr
| turned TO England, and is in prosperous
| circumstances; and it worried me for :
| little while to think that my excellent
! upright husband went 10 his grave in sor-
| row and poverty, while this dishonest
| man holds up his head and grows rich
| but it was only for Il minute, child :
| and Mrs. Warde smiled now with less effort
| Il know to whom | have committed my
| cause, and will not murmnr at anything
| He wills
| Lottie kissed the placid speaker at-
| tectionately, but She was not as sympa-
| thetic as usual. Her little sisters hung
| about her, wondering whether they Wonlt
| have 4 Christmas pudding, and one o
| them blurted out a fact hitherto concealed
! that mother did not 90 to church on sun
! days till evening service because her shaw
was so shabby. Lottie slid her hand into
the pocket where lay her little purse, bur
drew it back again, telling herself tina
| she could not possibly 90 to visit Charlie
friends meanly dressed; and when the
Youngest child climbed on her knee anC
| frankly asked what she was going to bring
him for q Christmas present. he was SCI
l Il - 4,,1l
tease that Mrs. Warle's mild eyes wer,
raised in surprise
81 beg pardon, mother, said tn,
daughter, coloring under the reproof tn,
look conveyed. II am afraid am rather
stupid this evening. What were YOU say
ing about Robert he is elected pupi
teacher at his school. OF course he is
knew he would be. he has worked st
hard tor it, dear, good boyr' and she ral
across the room to kiss the studious lad
who warmly returned her caresses.
''Then you're glad of it, Lottie? $,
am |, only think mothers bothered a hi
about the books | shall want
''Will they cost much ?" asked his sister
''Well, dear, ii seems much to person
of our limited income" Mrs Warde re
piled And he must have Il new suit o
clothes. But | hope to manage it wthou
running into debt il YOU can help me
little
Lottie did not speak, and her mothe
thoughtfully added, 'The girls will hav,
to do without the new hats | promised
them; and baby pelisse must last anothc
| winter; and--h
But here her daughter stopped her b,
pettishly saying, "Oh, mother. pray don
tell us OF any more wants; they seen
endless. How miserable it is to be SC
poor; how sick of contrivances and make
shifts you must he. | know / am An,
somehow the children always seem t.
need most when one has least to spare
81 did not know you were in that pre-
dicament dear, OF | would not have
spoken so plainly Mrs Warde replied
but don't let it worry you," she added
with cheerful air that covered multi
tude OF anxious thoughts; eve will man
age very well, dare say
Lottie went away with her money still
in her pocket, but with load at her hear
half chama half calfich Ill b,,,,e,,