The true northerner., 1876-09-01
A BIT OF LACE.

"It's perfectly exquisite piece of
lace, papa"
81 dare say, Flor
"But want you to look ut it.
CT shouldn't know any more about it
if did,"
"Well, then, want you to buy it,"
"Buy it What for?"
"Why, for me-"
"Pay five hundred dollars for hand
kerchief for you2"
eyes, indeed. All other girls have
them, although certainly this is little,
the least little, nicer than theirs. I don't
know why Lucy should have a hand
somer handkerchief than I, just because
she's married. Anybody else would say
it was enough to be married, and SO let
me have the handkerchief. Married
women have verything-love, and lace,
and diamonds. Now, papa, just take
out you pocket-book. twas coaxing
voice.
"Do you suppose carry $500 bills in
my pocket-book
"It makes No odds. Your check-book,
then. have set my heart on it, it'ssuch
beauty. If you only look at it-look
~ thO WICdth Va AiOWCibS all ~
shaded; here the close work in the light,
you see, there the open work in the
shade, so perfect you can quite fancy
the colors; and all done in this one
thread. See, papa, there's a dewdrop,
that round hole in the mesh."
Nonsense, Flor; can't see anything
of the kind there"
"That's because your eye isn't educa-
ted, sir. Mine is; for have studied
other peoples laces till could almost
work them. That's good man 1 knew
you would. You always do. One, two,
three !" And then there was shower
of kisses and tinkling laughter. And
that was the conversation of million
aire and his daughter that Lucian NAL
vim heard over the transom of the next
room to his in the hotel where he staid
over night year or two ago, seeing
neither people nor handkerchief, and
aghast at the thought of handkerchief
costing the awful price of $500, which
was ope-third of the mortgage on his
little place that he was trying to pay off,
heart and soul-a conversation that now
required to him in moment of real
agony, rs the housemaid stood before
him holding little limp rag in her hand
that she had Just snatched out of the
washtub. and that last night was bit of
dainty lace that Miss Rofe Mercier had
called her handkerchief, and had given
him to hold during the gallop. Good
heavens, how was he ever going to re-
store it
He was young lawyer, just entering
upon what in time would probably be
fine practice, but which was now rather
empirical. He had started in the race
for wealth and honor with good legal
ability, good name, and good morals,
and with no other impediments than
little patrimony in the shape of q modest
dwelling in the suburbs, which he had
been obliged to mortgage for the means
to get q part of his education and his
profession, which mortgage he was striv-
ing to pay off, that he might begin the
future clear of the world. He was
handsome fellow, this Lucian Malvin,
an ambitious one, too, in some degree,
and very nearly as proud as Lucifer.
He used to feel many pang in the as
sociation with those so much wealthier
than himself TO which certain circum-
stances had subjected him. He had had
an important case accidently thrown into
his hands, and had acquitted himself 80
well that the wealthy client took him up
and would not let HIM down; and when
Lucian reconstructed that it was out of
his power to keep up such association,
and was mortifyine to his pride beside,
the client had assured him it was not
pride, but vanity, that was mortified,
and that the way to be wealthy as those
he met was TO keep their company and
get their cases; and he had thought, on
the whole, that perhaps his friend was
right, and that, II he began to yield with
an ignoble motive, he had nevertheless
become very fond of the ways of people
to whom wealth had given every Cppor-
tunity of culture and grace, and who
knew how to treat life like work of art.
Moreover, it was not little that lie was
petted by various of these good people.
Certain motherly ladies made him at
home with them, and won his confidence
AID affection, notably Mrs. Barnetta.
Parents with good rent rolls of their
own, as Mrs. Barnetta used to tell him,