The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-04-05
Pride and it's Fall.

"It's fine prospect in life for Mary
Moreau," said Patty Dexter, with q
sigh.
"Oh! I dare say" said Mrs Pendas-
set, brusquely. "But I've no patience
with a Girl who allows herself TO be 50
foolishly elated by mere piece Of good
luck"
Mrs. Pendasset was white-locked Old
lady, with black eyebrows, suspicion
of beard and deep bass voice, and
when she said anything, it sounded very
much in earnest indeed.
s'I think Mary is little conceited, ="
said Patty.
"Think !" echoed Mrs. Pendasset
"There's no sort of doubt about it. A
good deal conceited, you had better say
Mover mind, Patty, she's engaged to a
fine gentleman, with white hands and
broadcloth clothes, and your young man
works in a carpenters shop" patty
WINGED little at this, for she was in the
habit of calling Mark Robinson, her
affianced lover, ga builder ''); "but l
give deal more for your chance of hap
piness in married life than for Mary
Moreau's. And to think how recklessly
she flung James Bennett over for this
fine new lover of hers. Well, with a
long breath, and a slight elevation Of
the Roman nose, "she'l live to be sorry
for it yet, or I'm no prophet"
Patty Dexter went on with her sewing
in silence.
She was making up pretty dove col
ored cashmere dress to be married In,
for Patty was not one of the gilded
daughters of luxury who can afford diff
ferent toilet for every occasion.
In her case the bridal dress would
have to officiate as travelling dress also
and best dress for year afterwards.
There was only black silk and blue
alpaca besides in her simple trousseau,
and she could not help remembering,
with transitory pang of envy, the ex-
Ouisite white silk, thick and soft as a
magnolia leaf, which Mary Moreau had
shown her, as the dress she was to be
married in.
Mark Robinson was very nice; until
within month Patty had imagined him
perfection. But why couldn't Mark
have been grand gentleman, like
'Mary's lover?
Mrs. Moreau kept boarders, and Mary
earned her own living in Nine. Poillon's
millinery.
At least she had done go until her
blue eyes and dimples attracted the at.
tention of Mr.. Guy st. Clair, who had
temporarily engaged her mothers best
rooms-and now the pretty milliner's
girl was lifted out of her sphere at
once.
"Mary, you'd never give me up?"
said poor James Bennett, who was un-
able to believe his own ears when he
heard of Mary's engagement.
"Don't be silly, Mr.. Bennett" said
Mary, with dignity.
"But you promised me, Mary. And
you've been wearing my ring for year,
pleaded the young man.
"Oh, that was all nonsense" said
Mary, tossing her pretty little head.
"There's your trumpery ring back again
if You want it And of course no one
attaches any Importance to boy-and-
girl Irritation.
"I meant it, Mary
"The more fool you p retorted saucy
Mary.
And that was all the consolation James
Bennett could obtain from his tickle
lady-love.
Mrs. Moreau was hardly less delighted
than her daughter with this unexpected
dawn of good luck.
She. was silly, soft-hearted matron,
who had read good many novels and
acquired, in spite of her fifty years of
poverty and struggling privation, very
little actual knowledge of the world that
was around her.
"I always knew that you was made
for lady, Mary" said Mrs. Moreau.
"And you shall have that hundred
pounds Uncle John left us, for your out
fit. l intended it to refurnish the house,
but it amt likely I shall 60 on 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 girls who were badly off for
shoes, and wore decidedly shabby shawls
to and from school.
"Of course, when I am rich, can
give them plenty of things" said Mary
to herself. "And mamma shall come
and live me, and the girls shall go to q
regular boarding school,"
And Mr.. st. Clair was certainly, as
Mrs. Moreau delightedly declared, ga
real gentleman, as thought nothing of a
fresh pair of kid gloves every week, and
used Cologne water !"
He talked vaguely about taking Mary
on the Continent for the winter, and al
luded to his villa at Brighton and the
house he meant to buy in Belgravia,
asked Mary whether she would prefer o
basket phaeton, with cream colored
ponies, or landau, and expressed his
opinion that no lady should ever be with,
out two India shawls at the very least.
And, to cap the climax, he came home
one day with a velvet case in his hand
and tossed it debonnairly, into his faa'
GEES lap.
"For you, Mary" said he.
She opened it with varying color and
lips all wreathed with smiles.
"Oh, Guy !" cried she. "Diamonds?'
"I hope you'll like them," said he
carelessly. "They suit my taste"
ct will wear them to be married in,
said Mary, radiantly. "Oh, Guy how
can ever thank you enough2"
And she remembered poor James Ben
nett's inexpensive little garnet ring with
a thrill Of indsscribable contempt.