The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1877-06-29
Selected Story.
MAY PERRIAN.

II am sure | could do that" said May
Perrian.
She was sitting on an inverted starch
N box in the middle of the kitchen floor, her
lround chin in her hands, her dotted camb-
tHc dress turned deity up to protectit from
Ian possible contact with dust and dirt; for
Miss Perrian spent goodly portion of her
time in that identical kitchen.
Mark Perrian had been a well-to-do
merchant once, but pnwarily allowing
'Ihimselfto be persuaded into endorsing for
la plausible villain, he sank almost as if by
Imagic into the Slough of Despond which
linen call poverty. He was not man Of
Inuch courage or endurance, and conse-
Iqchtly he gave up almost without a strug
Irle, took to his bed, and sent for doctor.
n And May, his eldest daughter, was left
in entire charge of battalion of young
Icltdren. Servants had been discharged,
the big house had been exchanged for
shabby little tenement in a side street, and
aI expenses were curtailed as much as
possible
But May had all the spirit and energy
THAT her father lacked, and this she could
lhave borne bravely enough had it not been
Iior the ever-increasing heritage of petty
,AeOt that seemed to weigh her down. She
lmS sitting on the starch-box, with a gro
i@r's bill in her hand, her pretty brows
limited, and her lips pursed up in mnte
Ilerplexity, when Annie Smith came in.
Annie had been seamstress in the
family when they had lived in the big
house, and she had now been promoted to
Ihe position of general assistant in
fashionable millinery. She was taking
home an order, and she could not resist
stopping to exchange greeting with her
Foung mistress as she came by the door.
"lt's for Miss St. James," said she.
fJust look, rniss-such love of hat"
Miss Perrlan turned the hat around on
ber hand, eyed the bunch of crushed roses
ItAe cloudy folds of tulle, and the crystal
butterfly that quiyered on spiral wire on
The top.
"l'm sure I could do that" said she.
Deed, miss, and I wish you had the
Chance, uttered sympathetic Annie. 'For
Fiss Halwyn is ill-the best trimmer that
Padame has-and we're dreadful hurri-
3D.
Gould you get one or two for me to
Eam? Itwould be 50 nice if could earn
little money when the children are at
behool."
| III try, miss" said Annie.
And the next night she came at dusk,
BNA mysterious paper box under her
f'n' and her face wreathed with smiles.
There's two of 'em, miss" said she
aaP and one lace, with the flowers and
"@mlngs in paper. And if they suit,
foa can have plenty more to do"
aay trimmed the hats to the best of her {
"D'N studying over them as if they had q
RNn PRIZE essays or cabinet paintings, or
nv 'ang else that required the deepest
.'oS0I and the most careful manipula- 9
E"n and Madame Denise went into ecs- n
f''Ies over them. :
.She shall trim Miss Laplace's hat, {
~0D' said she to the pleased little as i
a@a'' and tell her to do her very
l. ! was piece of pale pink crane, with q
,Y0oS OF the softest sunset hue and a .
s'sr Of delicate spring honeysukles, )
m anne Smith brought round that night q
Mss Laplete is lnadame's best Gus
882portance.
,.a,3Iy. y reFrlan waited until Dr.. Lindsey a
= neF tather's sick-room--Dr. Lind b
,5 y whose gentle patience and uniform Al
I,f,rs5s, nIied her ssheart with the deepest b
IN, "aae' ..l'. He looked in as he passed the d
's9 u S'ttingroom door. 4
/, IGaF ,P:' father seems brighter this morn. C.
r.l, a,s' Perrian, said he. n
T'y.s brown eyes sparkled. j
loaor s4 !. 50 glad" said she. "And hope, til
s,.. s,' N few days to be able TO paw YOU &C
~ S'st portion Of, IT, H i /,
1Espel 'ass''s q, no hurry about that inter J
aopsb 'os doctor. Time enough-time to
And ii. lit
v next instant, Nay Perrian could pr