The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1877-03-24
SELECTED MATTER.
The BridnI Gift.

4A0 oT4Au4 GA4Ss
at is fine prospect in life for Mary Moreau,
seid Patty Dexter, with sigh.
.'0h II dare say said Mr.. Pendasset brusquely.
sfut I've no patience with girl who allows
herself to be so foolishy elated by mere piece OF
good luck"
Mos Pendasset was whitelocked oldlady, with
black eyebrows, a suspicion of a beard, and deep
bass voice, and when she said anything it sound
r.i very much in earnest, indeed.
II think Mary is little conceited," said Patty.
Think p echoed Mrs. Pendesset. ''There's no
sort of doubt about it. A good deal conceited, you
had better say. Never mind Patty, she's engaged
IL fine gentleman, with white hands and broad
cloth clothes, and your man works in a carpenter
ship (Patty WINGED little at this, for she was in
the habit of calling Mark Robinson her efhanced
lover, builder,) but I'd give deal more for your
chance of happiness in married life than for Mary
Nireau's And to think how reeklessly she flung
James Bennett over for this fne new lover of hers
We'll with long drawn breath and slight eleya-
ton of the Roman nose, she'll live to be sorry for
ityet, or I'm no prophet"
Patty Dexter went on with her sewing in silence.
She was making up pretty dove-colored dress
to be married in for Patty was not one OF the gid
ell daughters of luxury who can afford a different
toilette for every occasion In her case the bridal
dress was to oficiate as travelling dress also, and
best dress for d year afterward There was only
black silk and blue alpaca besides in her sim
pie trosseau, and she could not help remembering,
with transitory pang of envy, the exquisite
white silk, thick and soft as magnOlialeaf, which
Mary Moreau had shown her as the dress she was
t. be married in. Mark Robinson was very nice,
until! within a month, Patty had imagined him
perfection. But why couldn't Mark have been
a grand gentleman like Mary's lover?
Mrs. Moreau kept boarders, and Mary earned
her own living in Madame PollOn's millinery. At
least, she had done so, until her blue eyes and
koI he Of Mr. Inv
Clair who had temporarily engaged her mothers
best room--and now the pretty milliner's girl was
lifted out of her sphere at once.
"Mollie, you'd never give me up?" said poor
Jamie Bennett. who was unable to believe his
own ears when he heard of Mary's engagement.
.gD9En't be sl1ly, Mr. Rennett," said Mary, with
:ignity.
.sBut YOU promised me Molly. And you've been
wearing my ring for year." pleaded the young
maehinist.
"Oh, that was all nonsense" said Mary, tossing
her pretty head "There's your trumpery ring
back again, if you want it. And of course no one
attaches any Importance to boy and girl airta-
tion"
"I meant it, Molly!'
''The more fool you r. retorted Mary.
And that was all the consolation James Bennett
could obtain from his lady-love.
Mrs Moreau was hardly less delighted than her
own daughter with this unexpected down of good
luck. She was silly, ofthearted matron, who
had read q great many novels and acquired, IN
spite of her fifty years of poverty and struggling
privation, very little knowledge of the world
around her.
az always knew that you was made for lady,
Mary said Mrs. Moreau. "And you shall have
that thousand dollars Uncle John left US, for your
outfit l intended it to refurnish the house, but
it amt likely shall go having boarders after
you're married to rich gentleman like Mr.. ST.
Clair"
And Mary unconsciously selfish in her great
happiness, took the family fortune without once
thinking of the three younger children who were
badly off for shoes, and wore decidedly shabby
shawls to and from schools.
"0f course, when I am rich l can give them
plenty of things" said Mary to herself. "And
mamma shall come and live With me, and the girls
shall go to regular finishing boarding school"
And Mr.. St. Clair was certainly, Mrs. Mo
reau delightedly declared, real gentleman, as
thought nothing of fresh pair of kid gloves
every week, and used cologne as if it was CrOton
water Hstalked vaguely about taking Mary to
Europe for the winter and alluded to his villa at
Newport and the house he meant to buy on Fifth
Avenue asked Mary whether she would prefer q
basket phaton, with cream-colored ponies, or a
landau, and expressed his opinion that no lady
should ever be without two India shawls at the
very least.
And to cap the climax, he came home one day
with veIvetcase in his hand, and tossed it debon-
nairly, into his fancee's lap.
''For you, Mary" said he.
She opened it with varying color and lips al
wreathed with smiles.
"0h, Guy" cried she. "DiamOnds"
"I hope you'll like them,' said he, carelessly
"They suit my taste"
sI will wear them to be married in" said Mari
radiantly. "Oh, Guy! how can I thank yo'
enough?"
And she remembered poor James Benefits in
expensive little garnet ring with a thrill Of indie
scribable contempt Yet how beautiful she hat
thought it at the time.
They were sitting in the parlor the next day
when boy brought a note for Mr.. st. Clair.
CHOW provoking!" exclaimed the bridegroom
elect, knitting his brows.
''What is it, Guy?" said Mary.
srThe bill for those diamonds. l told the block
head not to send it until my remittanees cam
from Boston, but they must have misunderstood.
"They'll wait, won't they?" said innocent Mary
ssOh, YES, they'll wait; but 1 should like to sen
the money at once. One doesn't like to be unde
a compliment to that sort of people. But it don
signify III just step cut and borrow Of fello
at the bank. Anybody viii let me have thou.
and dollars.
He took up his hat. Mary who had glanced Z
the open bill, put her hand on his arm to detail
him.
"Wait Guy" said she. ~ can lend you II
money. Mammals lawyer paid in Uncle John
bequest this morning don't you remember! 70
were in the dining room when the check came"
"All right" said Mr.. st. Clair, careiessiy. 1t
only until tomorrow night. You boy" to the e
rand lad, ego right back to Dudley's and tell 'el
I'll call and settle in half an hour
"A thousand dollars is nothing to you, Guy
said Mary admiringly.
'.Not such great DEAL" said Mr.. St. Clai
Struggling his shoulders. "Well, may as well {
round and settle the bill. / shall never buy an.
thing there again if they're in such duce Of
hurry for their money. You will be ready for Il
opera when come back, will you, Mary"
"Shall you be long"
ooh, not more than a hour"
Mary was all ready at the hours end, in litt
lace hat she had tackled together herself, with
cluster of crushed roses and fall Of SPANS
blonde, while on her shoulders she wore viii
shawl She had borrowed from Mrs. Pepperell, Il