American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-12-29

walled. 81 wanted you to be happy to-
day, and now you will be so sad and
pale; and Miss Stark will be awful
angry, and Mrs. Hapworth will send US
to JAIL
By this time Daisy had risen and
hastily dressed herself. She turned and
caught her little sister in her arms.
"Don't, Eflie,'' she pleaded. at is
your distress that greives me more than
Miss Stark to come, but will take the
ruined dress to Mrs. Hapworth myself,
and tell her the whole truth. BY that
means Miss Stark will be exonerated
from all blame, and perhaps the rich
lady will not have us arrested"
Daisy had made up her mind, and she
gave her resolution no time to cool.
Hurriedly donning her cloak and hood,
and wrapping the ruined dress in an
old newspaper, she kissed Ef1ie's wet
cheek, and bravely set out to perform
her unpleasant duty.
1t was hard task, and Daisy felt
frightened chill creep into her very
heart at the thought of encountering
Mrs. Hapworth's WRATH yet she did not
falter or turn back, but hurried breath
lessly on, half fearful that her courage
would fail her before her mission was
performed. 1t was a glorious New
Years day. The sun shone from
cloudless sky; the bells in all the neigh
boring steeples pealed forth their glad
chimes; and the people passing to and
fro all wore bright, cheerful faces. 1t
seemed to Daisy that every body was
happy but her, and that nobody in the
wide world cared to trouble themselves
about that miserable, aching pain away
down in her unloved heart.
She was all out of breath when at last
she stood on the wide marble steps of
the Hapworth mansion and rang the
door. bell.
81 want to see Mrs. Hapworth," she
said to the servant who opened the
door, and she brushed past him without
waiting to be refused admittance
She was ushered into the grand draw
ing-room, where the arrangements had
all been completed for the reception of
New Years callers. She sank down on
one end of luxurious sofa, and waited
in trembling anxiety for the mistress of
the mansion to appear.
In few moments a rustling of silk
heralded the coming of the expected ter
ror, land a tall, handsome lady, in a trail
ing white wrapper, entered the draw
ing room. Her fine dark eyes evinced
considerable surprise as she looked into
the pale, girlish face of her visitor, but
there was nothing unkind in their ques-
tioning glance.
care you Mrs. Hapworth?" asked
Daisy, family.
The lady replied in the affirmative,
as she reclined with regal grace in
deep armchair, and folded her white,
jeweled hands on her lap.
Daisy Immediately swallowed the
lump in her throat, and bravely told her
simple story-told it all, from beginning
to end, and without attempting to con-
ceal single item of the truth. At the
same time she opened the bundle, dis
playing the elegant pearl silk, and show
ing how utterly it was spoiled. At first
slight frown disturbed the placidity of
Mrs. Hapworth's brow, but it cleared
away in an instant, and she gazed long
and curiously into the soft brown eyes
raised SO pleadingly to hers.
"Well, what are you going to do
about it?" she coolly asked.
l. 1oI No. Io,,
voice beginning to tremble little. g We
are very poor, Efie and I, but I will
work hard and pay you little by little,
and maybe sometime-''
But here Mrs. Hapworth interrupted
and astonished her by breaking into
peal of laughter.
"Why, you little innocent goose!''
exclaimed the lady; GO to imagine that 1
would accept money from you. am
rich, and have other dresses that will do
to wear to-day, so don't feel bad about
this little accident. Whenever you
want work send to me, and if you need
money for your present wants, say but
the word you shall have it."
A flash of pride came into the brown
eyes, as Daisy rose to her fullest height,
and drew her cloak around her slight
figure.
"You are very good" she said, earn
estly; 81 can never thank you suffi-
GENTLY for your kindness to me; but l
can't accept money as a gift. 1 will be
very glad to have work, and will accept
your generous offer. Good morning."
"Stay," said Mrs. Hapworth, rising,
you have not told me who you are.
Your face doesn't seem like strangers;
thought at first that must have met
you some time in the past; but now
know why it is. My brother carries a
picture of lady who has your face and
eyes. VIII you tell me your name?"
g Daisy Wilde" replied the girl,
modestly.
Daisy Wilde!" calculated voice
that caused both women to start. s'Who
uttered that name? Who brings news
of Daisy Wilde?''
The floor began to rock and surge be-
meath Daisy's feet, and a low scream
broke from her lips. That voice-that
face-that tall, manly fgure-they could
belong to only one person, and that per-
son was Paul Marston! He had entered
unobserved, and now stood in the broad
light that streamed in through the long
windows.
Another moment, and he had recog-
nized the little cloaked figure