The Van Buren press., 1874-09-08

get liicu- NOl NO" oVhS phS iA'"oN ShN-J
with grandmamma."
"It is very strange, said Miss
Georgiette Appleton, that my dresses
haven't come home! Positively, | shall
have nothing to night'
What an awful fate'' observed her
brother carelessly. where's the ameth
yst silk ?"
oh wore it to the last reception y
"And the pink crape2
81 look like an owl in pink i was a
goose ever to buy that Grape
The nile green silk with the white
| fiouuces
Sarah Howard has one just shade
Tighter, that she'll be sure to wear; and
| believe the spiteful thing got it on pur
! pose to Kill mine No, | must have the
swiss muslin. with knots of blue corn
flowers, and Roman sash figured with
gold And you'll 90 around to the
laundross, and hurry her up little,
won't you, George ?-that's duck of a
brother and you know perfectly well
you've bcea yawning your jaws off the
lIsI tnIet quar- VI III HOui
"Where is it?'
"Only in Mendenhall street--just a
pleasant walk. And do give Mrs Barker
a scolding, and ask her if she don't know
better than to keep her customers wait
ing, although, OF course, | know you'll
do nothing Of the sort Men have no
moral courage. There's the address on
card It'll be such relief to my mind =
Major George Appleton was an army
officer, home on a furlough, and rather at
loss to know what to do With so much
extra time Rich which was another
source Of perplexity-handsome, which
wasn't SO puzzling.
And so he sauntered along. his hands
in his pockets, and a cigar balanced he
tween his lips, unconsciously advancing
to meet his fate!
Rap! rap! rap The Major played a
tattoo with his knuckles on the door
Dear me, what noise y said voice
inside Come in "a little louder.
The Major walked in, to confront, not
a wrinkled old hag of n washerwoman,
in halo of soap or steam, but beaut-
ful young lady, dark and brilliant as an
Arabian dream with jetty curls pinned
back in a slken cascade at the back Of
her head, and pair OF huting scissors in
her hand
What's your business. sir?' she
asked. with the greatest calmless.
It's-it's about my sisters gown
Miss Appleton's, you know!
"Ah!' said Annie. =" hope to have
it ready very soon. If you will wait ten
--A----.-~. s.a- - - r,r il hhns y
And she took a second pair OF ilating
scissors from the stove, testing it's heat
by holding it dangerously y near her velvet
cheek
Major Appleton, not being posted in
etiquette and general decorum, saw no
harm in carrying home basket OF new
" launched dried clothes. So he sat
down aud waited, while honest Mrs
Barker stared from the other room, where
she lay upon her bed--a captive TO rheu-
matte pans
shes in a hurry. you know, said
the Major, twirling his thumbs, and think
ing how very pretty the girl was
so am l.. sand Anna, making the
Autng scissors glide in and ont in most
marvellous manner among the clouds Of
sunny muslin.
"She wants to wear it, added the
major "But | say-you know--you re
not regular washerwoman
Anna slightly Strengthened herself up
"My father was a colonel in the Regu
lar Army. My grandfather was Hyde
Breignton, of Brighton manor. OF the
Hudson But we are reduced now, and
we need money; and ! am not ashamed
to work
"By jove, you're trump" said Ma
ior Appleton, starting up.
Much obliged to you, retorted An
ma, with sparkling eyes. "Would you
mind holding the end Of that sash for me
Just a second while finish this loop 2
And when Minnie came up to see how
her sister was getting on, she found her
aided and abctted by the major of cavaI.
ry. who was heating the alternate pairs
of nuting scissors after most scientific
fashion.
Dear me, " said Miss Appleton,when
at last her brother made his appearance,
" how long You have been y
Yes, said the major, rubbing bis
hands with an appearance of great salts
faction, "it took us quite while to fin.
ish those last thirteen nounces
Us! You don't mean to say that
You helped the washerwoman y
"Yes. | did, - said the major, " and
the frocks are down stairs, and I'm CO.
ing up for game ofbillards. And as
he went he murmured to himself, :"
thought all girls were alike, but believe
I've discovered one independent one--at
last''
Grandmamma, I'm going to be mar
ricd "
"You, Nanny Why you are but a
child. Anna Brighton was knceling
beside her grandmother's chair, and the
fairy podmother was stroking her curls
with one tremuous white hand. where
the antique jewels shone like drops OF
blood and scin,iIatng sparkles of green
fire.
"Tm eighteen, grandmamma. v
so you are! How the time dies |!
Eighteen wears old But who's the hap
nv mani We see no society worthy OF
ourselves Nanny, and
81 am sure you will like him, grand
mamma lie is coming to pay his re-
spects to you to night. His name is Ma
jor George Appleton. He is in the Cav