The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-12-30

was already half-full Of women when Net
tic entered it, and Cecil Graham, standing
behind large table, with two women as
assistants, was opening bundle after bun
die of sewing, and checking the amount
due for each in large book AS he did
so, the women stepped aside to wait till
oil the work was examined, when each
would be paid, to wait till all received
their money, and work for the next week
was given out in the same routine. What
mattered it if a whole afternoon of pre-
cious time was thus consumed? -? II was
the system Of the establishment
Nettie watched the proceedings from
under her thick veil with keen interest,
not taking her place in the line, but sit
ting down, as she had no work to be ex-
amined, and must therefore wait till fresh
work was given out. 1t was hard for her
to believe that the stern, harsh man before
her was the courteous gentleman whose
ring was hidden under her coarse glove.
H seemed to have magnifying glasses in
his eyes, so sharply did he criticize every
stitch. Several women had passed through
this rough ordeal of criticism, when one
came up that ut once interested Nettie's
kind heart. She was SO poorly clad, so
pallid and worn, that she seemed scarcely
able TO stand.
"This won't do at all, " said the gentle
man, harshly. II should think you would
be ashamed to offer such work here"
al had to sew without fire." said the
woman, in weak voice, "and my baby is
sick"
"Tve got nothing to do with your FIRE
and your baby. | can't pay for such work
as this"
81 don't think anybody but you would
notice any fault" was the reply; and Net
tie, looking at the garment, agreed with
her. She was not very near it, to DO sure,
but to her it seemed neatly made.
No use to us at all. !"
80 Mr.. Graham, give me half price
have not cent in the world |"
l shall not pay for work that don't
suit me. Move up; you are hindering
others"
With moan as if wrung from her by
physical pain, the woman turned towards
the door. AS she passed Nettie, she felt
the pressure of soft hand and looked
down.
"Take this" said whispering voice,
"and tell me where you live. Tomorrow
you shall have fuel and food. This will
help you to-day.
The woman looked wonderingy at the
five dollar bill in her hand.
But you are poor yourself" she said
81 eau spare that. Where do you
live"
She gave number aud street, and with
a falteriug "God bless you I" left the
room.
Others followed in the long line to the
table, and Nettie watched again. Some
asked for trihing advance to avert freez-
ing, starvation, or the terrors of unpaid
landlords. Some pleaded illness for slight
imperiections or delay, but these were ox-
ceptions, and every favor or indulgence
was sternly refused. The majority came
up with mechanical precision, and went to
the other end Of the long room to wait till
their names were called for payment.
Quite pile of garments were thrown
aside as too badly made to receive pay
ment, and Nettie innocently wondered if
they were really useless, looking, to her
eyes, so neat and well made.
More than one woman felt dollar more
slipped into her hands, and looked in vain
in the crowd around her for the voice that
gave low "Take this; / can spare it,"
with the gift, in defiance of the printed
rule against the wall that forbade any
talking in the room.
The winter afternoon was drawing to
close when girl in mourning went slowly
down the stairs leading to the street,
carrying heartache for every pale face
she had seen, every pitiful voice she had
heard. Even the sudden crushing of her
own hopes did not make her the less sore-
hearted for the misery she could dimly
guess at in the scene she had witnessed.
She found her carriage waiting at Hattie's
door, and hurried up the stairs.
"No work ?" said Hattie.
~ forgot it," was the reply. "You
have saved me, Hattie"
"And yet you smile"
Z" Yes, for my heart, it seems, could not
have been deeply touched, since now /
feel only contempt and scorn for the hy-
pocrite you have unmasked for me-"
al was so afraid" said Hattie, tearfully,
that it would make you unhappy. And
yet, Nettie, | could not let you marry him,
believing him to be noble, generous man,
such as would make your life happy and
useful one"
"You have more than repaid anything
| may have done for you. But come,
Hattie, the carriage is waiting to take you
home, and we will send tomorrow for
whatever belongs to you here"
1t will not take ten minutes to pack
all there is Of mine. One trunk is already
packed, with things untouched since faith
er died"
"Tell me, then, what to put in this one.
We will leave the armchair for the next
conner"
It did not take very long to finish all
the preparations for the ride. The trunks
were place upon the carriage, the ivalid
carefully wrapped up and carried in the
coachman's strong arms down stairs, ten
Derby propped up with pillows, and resting
on Nettie's shoulder, driven to her new
home.
1t was brilliant reception given on
Now-Year's Day by the Misses Nettie and
Hattie Hastings, and Mrs. Armstrong,
Nettie's aunt The invalid, daintily dress
ed in the garments her cousin thoughtfully
bad prepared, enjoyed the scene, and
gracefully filed her new position. Miss
Nettie, appearing 10 violet for the first
time since her gnnd.father's death, it was
pronounced lovely by all who saw her
But there was one constant visitor missing
from the numerous callers. In his own
room that morning Cecil Graham had re-
ceiyed a small note, in whose perfumed
folds was enveloped solitaire diamond
ring. The note was brief: