The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-08
THE DOVR-COLORED SILK.
AChraktmas aforx


By kind of thoughtful Arrangement
on the part of their employers, every
domestic in the house of Sir John Day
ton, baronet and bankerr received his or
her salary one week before Christmas
Day.
Very bright and tempting looked the
tiny pile of sovereigns that Lottie
Warde, Miss Dayton's own maid, car
ried away to her chamber, and sat med
itating over, with cloud on her pretty
face such as it seldom wore. Last
Christmas the spending of her money
had cost her no trouble, except quick
" stifed regret that she could not do
more with it for those dear ones, whose
kisses and joyful thanks had been such
pleasant requital of her generosity.
Although she was as dutiful and low
ing daughter and as kind sister as
of yore, there had been an event in
Lottie's life since the year began that
was closely connected with the impa-
tient sigh she gave, as she sat gazing at
her gold, and abstractedly turning it
over and over in her palm. She had
met, at the house of an old friend of
her late father, a young man SO well
connected that many wondered he
should think of wedding a girl who was
IS in service" Mr.. Charles Morrison.
they argued, with his good prospects
and excellent situation in the Office of
Smithson Brothers, ought to look
higher for a wife than Lottie Warde.
whose father had died bankrupt, and
whose mothers sole dependence was
the annuity some of Mr.. Warde's COM
passionate creditors had purchased for
her, But if Charlie Morrison heard
these things hinted, he laughed and
forgot them. He loved Lottie for her
self-her sweet temper, her good pfin-
ciples, and the pretty face and figure.
that were always set off by the perfect
neatness and propriety with which she
dressed.
Iottie, however, had taken to heart
many of the remarks made in her pres
ence or told by Il-natured friends, and
had rather hastily decided in her own
mind that the relatives cf her afianced
husband looked down upon her because
mo- more-had made her shy of meeting
them, and unwilling to accept the it1vi-
tations SO kindly sent to her. But
Charlie had made point of her acced-
ing to his parents' wish that she should
Join the family party they always gath
erred round them at their handsome
house at Glapham on the eve OF the
oreat festival and 40 Miss Dayton had
cheerfuIiy consented TO spare her, she
had not been able TO excuse herself,
Naturally tin1id and shrinking from
strangers, Lottie looked dorWard TO- this
visit a an ordeal rather than q pleas
ure. She was to be introduced to
Charlie's married sister from Manches-
ter and to the wealthy uncle from whom
he had expectations and her anxiety
that they should think well of her cul-
minated in the inquiry, "What shall I
wear T.
With her betrOtned. She knew he
would say that nothing could be in bet
ter taste than the well-htting dark
merino that had been her best dress
since the commencement Of the autumn.
But Lottie had her share OF girlish van
itv. and as abe raised her eyes to her
1c.okin0-oIasa vision rose before her of
q certain dove-colored silk in a MERGERS
window near st. Paul's that would be-
come her admirably 4s was true that
such an expensive purchase would ab-
gorb every farthing in her possession,
hy,A she chose TO ignore this. 30 strong
crew the temptation that when Lotsie
Ter,k EIaak evening TO visit her mother
she fingered long at the MERGERS win
dow. and decided that on the morrow
the dove-coIored silk should be her own.
lhe children threw down thesr books
and toys when Lottie entered, ZOE tney
loved her dearly, and Mrs. Warde,
though she had been wearing avery an1.
ious face, as ene stitched buslly al
some cbiidiela garment, contriyed TO
smile at her eldest daughter, who, now
ever, was not eaaily deceived !,
Something has gone wrong, m0sn.
er, I am sure of it by your looks. Hnal
is itG''