The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-09-04


The marriage Of May Hastings with
Mr. Robert Green had been postponed
for a year Such was the grief Of the
family over the unaccountable absence
of Alice that the health OF Mrs. II. be-
gan TO fail, and it was feared that she
was going rapidly into a decline. Med
ical skill, seaside resorts, mountain fast
nesses and rural retreats were resorted
to in turn, but without benefit; and
now, ii was decided that while she was
yet able to do the honors of her house,
the grand wedding should be celebrated
in style becoming the wealthiest fam
lily in Portsmouth.
The invalid mother was reclining by
her daughters side in the carriage, when
May, in doing the shopping necessary
for the preparation of the bridal trOus-
seau, ordered the driver to stop in front
Of Miss Lees Emporium.
"You're not going in there 80 said the
mother, protestingly.
"Indeed ] am ~ was the ungracious
reply. "Miss Lees milliner is the only
ulOdiste in Portsmouth that / would
trust to make my bridal millinery. You
ought to have seen Net O'Toodles' bri-
dial bonnet. You know she's going to
be married next month to 'Dolph Fitz-
foodle. I don't know but Pd be willing
TO marry him myself TO get such an out
fit. Her bonnets, especially! You'd
have thought that Alice planned them.
You know her taste was always better
than anybody else's."
May bounded from the carriage and
left her mother gazing abstractedly
through the window, as if striving to
get a glimpse Of the milliner whom her
daughter so enthusiastically eulOgized.
Annie had been compelled 10 yield to
the commands Of 4 raging headache,
brought on by overwOrk and anxiety
about her proiligate brother, and had
reluctantly yielded the sales-room to
Alice, while endeavoring to sleep of her
indisposition during the long afternoon.
Alice, who was now we'll known in
the city as Miss lie Clerq, went forward
with a nervous trepidation which the
reader may imagine, but the writer can
not describe.
1t would not have been possible for
her to avoid waiting upon the customer
had Annie been present, for May was lie
termined that none but the milliner
who was to make the hats should re-
ceive her orders.
The work Of making selections TO
please the tickle fancies OF the bride
elect was long and tedious.
'Mother,n called May, impulsively,
as she stepped to the door, "you'd better
drive home and not wait for me. can
walk"
"Don't be late getting to dinnerw
81 won't; just 60 home and rest con-
tented till l get there. I'm going tC
watch Miss lie Clerq till she gets one Of
my hats finished"
After an infinite amount of handling
flowers and laces, selecting this and re
jecting that combination, trying on,
style and then another, as is the won
Of ladies whose ideas center upon dress
the choice Of the customer fell upon tn,
very articles which Alice at first sug
gested.
"You are so much like my lost sister,
May exclaimed.
"Indeed >" answered Alice, while he
hands tremblei and she feared that sh'
might faint.
"Yes; you are much like her. YoI
have her eyes, form and face; but you
complexion isn't like hers. She hat
such beautiful complexion, blonde hai
and all. II she were only here I'd no
trouble my brain for minute about Sc
lecting material for these hats"
"Play that Pm your sister Alice
then, and see il I don't get them up {,
suit you"
"Capital! I'll do it," replied May
with a laugh. "Do you know" she rat
tied on, 'I always will believe tina
she'll come home safe and sound som
day" Then suddenly, as If a ne,
thought had struck her, she exclaimed
"Did you ever see Miss Lee carrying q
wearing expensive jewelry ,"
a think not. \ woman in her bus
ness finds enough to do to buy food an
clothes, especially if she has TO supper
such family as she maintains. VIII
dld YOU ask the question ?'
"NIr. Green-my aflianced, you kno'
says that Miss Lee once took som
very valuable jewelry like that whic
he had seen my sister wear, to the q:
saying Office to learn its value. Now,
wouldn't mind paying you handsomel
if you wonld contrive TO find her jew
elry and show it to me-"
Alice unconsciously drew herself u
haughtily.
"Nou don't mean TO insiuuate tha
you have any suspicion that Miss lie
possesses your sisters Jewels ?'
''Oh, no! not that-at least-not a
octty5 but, you know, my brother care
a great deal for her. beg your parlo
of course you don't know-but. at An
rate, my husband that is to be-, an
May blushed scarlet as she spoke-"m
husband that is to be would have be-
ter opinion of her than lie docs if L
could be positive that she knows notl
ing about my sisters whereabouls.u
"Well, Miss Hastings" and Alice a