Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-07-20


tanned of benefling her sex by her exam
pie were descanted on in such manner
that the gentleman was made to see the
state of things in its proper light; and the
conclusion of the matter was that Dorothea
was to have capital to put up seven story
building if she liked.
The Captain was TO furnish her with In-
dia and China goods at price that would
enable her TO undersell Jones & Co., and
for all this he was TO "tako mortgage on
the body, so that If she failed TO pay him
in greenbacks he should not be loser" be
said.
"Oh, this Is indeed fortune too great
for an insignificant creature like me-" she
said.
"NOnsense you're trump, Dorothea,
and you deserve success, whether you at
tain II or not; my heart is already made
lighter with the thought that my aunrs
money will do somebody good"
The next day the firm of Drake & Hart
was formed, aud everything settled in
satisfactory manner. And Immediately
thereafter there was an auction sale Of the
goods aud chattels of Dorothea Drake.
Jones & Co. made merry at the finishing
up of the little milliner, as they called her
but when the little frame building she had
formerly occupied aud its neighbor disap-
peared, aud blocks of granite began to ac-
cumulale on the sidewalk, they wondered
and reports began to circulate and sly hints
were thrown out by tue papeis, that a dry
goods establishment was being built that
would rival anything in The city. All won
dered, but none knew whose hand furnish
ed the capSal for the elegant building
which soon lowered above all others, and
bore the sign OF Drake & Co.
Nor was Miss Drake idle. While the
building was being reared, in an immense
workroOm hundreds Of girls were employ
ed in making up a large assortment of la
dies wear from materials and patterns re-
ceived weekly from Paris. Tiny bonnets
of Partisan fame, and dainty little round
hats Of London noloriety, together with the
India shawls, muslins and Chinese goods
that had already been received from Capt.
Hart, gave her an opportunity TO make
such a display Of choice goods as had never
before been seen in that city.
1t was day Of triumph for the little
miliner. The store was literally packed
with customers. The French clerks who
oflicialed at the counters where PIrisiau
goods where displayed were obliged to call
in the aid Of 9duche Americans and thus
it was in the Chinese department, where in
gown and queue two Celeslials presided.
Miss Drake herself rushed TO the rescue of
iha a a rE -hnpI IL SfatioOa1
where the India goods were displayed, for
the ladies seemed about ID crush one an
other in their anxiety TO obtain the most
desirable of these choice aud expensive ar
ticles.
On this day the store of Jones & Co. was
scarcely entered by acustomer worth wait
ing on and, to increase their cbagrin, Sal
ly Sparks, the superintendent of the work
room, and Belle Robbins, the best cutter
and filter, gave notice that night.
"Going TO be married !" asked an imper-
tinent clerk.
"We are engaged at Mis- Drake's." was
the cool reply.
"Dusty times ahead" said one of the
firm TO the others, when the store was at
last closed and the Jonescs retired to their
lodgings with gloomy forebodiugs.
1t was with wondering eyes that Miss
Drake beheld the proceeds of her first days
sales in her new store; indeed, her success
kept sleep from her eyes nearly the whole
night. She was up belimes on the follow
ing morning, and as she glanced over the
morning paper she laughed outright as a
farins card Of Jones d Co. met her eye.
"Forlunately for ourselves and the pub
lie, we are not driven 10 the necessity Of
arraying street loaleIs in foreign costume
to delude customers into purchasing bad
representations Of India aud Chinese goods.
"Genuine articles of foreign aud home
manufacture will he found as usual in great
variety on our counters, and only Amer
leans will be employed in our establish
ment. JONES & Co."
"The ladies of IIuhbubble know good
India shawl when they see it, and real
point lace, too, l reckon" said Miss Drake
as she selected some of The finest patterns
for the window, aud gave the finishing
touch to a magnificent morning robe which
one of the girls was preparing for display.
There seemed TO be magic in her fingers.
Whatever she touched she improved, and
her assistants soon learned that bounets
fashioned by the tasty proprietress were in
greater demand by the Hubbublians than
the costliest of Paris importations.
1t was she who fashioned neat prints into
those delicate morning robes which COM
fort requires; aud so great grew the de-
maud for these inexpensive articles that
new assistants were daily added TO the al
ready large corps employed in the dress
department.
A busy year vas This first year to Doro-
thea, yet it was the happiest she bad ever
experienced; and with heart thankful for
her success, she resolved that not one hu-
man being should go out of her establish
ment with a heavy heart that night. One
by one, from the book keeper down TO the
little floor-sweeper, they were summoned
to her presence, and each made the recipi-
ent of some valuable token of her esteem,
and an increase of salary for the coming
year.
Fatigued with the unusual exertions of
the day, she went early TO her lodgings,
and was au hour after surprised from her
dreamy, listless attitude on the sofa by a
knock at the door, and Immediately after
the announcement of "Mr. JONES'" by her
landlady.
"Yes, it was her rival from across the
way. A little smile-DOrothea could not
help it-swept across her usually calm face
as she requested to know his business.
He stood before her in the blackest of
black broadcloth and the shiniest OF patent
leather, fresh from the hands of the barber,
and with a smile meant to be captivating,
he replied, 81 called to express my high
appreciation of your talent, madam, as a
hnsi,nsa ,unR,on