The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-11-21
name, merely requesting the girl to tell

name, merely requesting the girl to tel
her mistress a lady desired to see her.
There came into the o. a slight
graceful, girlish creature with beautiful
violet-blue eyes, and hair of soft, lus
trous brown, that was crimped slightl.
from the parting, and gathered into
thick Grecian knot at the back of tn
classic little head.
She wore a wrapper of gray serge
with pockets, collar and buttons o
brown silk.
There was a dainty linen collar an<
q bright blue ribbon bow at the neck
and linen cuffs at the small, rount
wrists.
There we're no earrings or jewelry o
any kind, and Mrs. Ruslington's iudg
ment gave a thrill of approval-ever
under a protest from pride-es this girl
ishly-womanly creature came forward
with an ease and graciousness that never
could have been acquired.
81 am glad you have come. Lay of
your cloak and hat, please, and we vii
go into the nursery. [ have all my dress
making done there now, SO that [ car
keep an eye to baby, you know"
Mrs. Ruslington liked the voice very
much. but hardly the peculiarly of ad
dress.
"In the nursery, Mrs. Ruslington
I certainly would be glad to see the
baby"
"You will see plenty of her." Mrs.
Ernest laughed, before I am done
with you. Oh, did you bring the polo
naise pattern, Mrs. there !! I told my
husband I never could remember the
dressmaker's name he said he would
send-Mrs.-oh, yes-Mrs. Abercrom'
bic d! You did bring the polonaise pat
tern?"
Mrs. Washington, senior, understood
it all in a fash.
Her daughter-in-law, whom she had
finally condescended to visit, mistook
her for the dressmaker.
Mrs. Washington, junior, was inly
astonished to see such a dignifed, we'll
dressed lady come to help her make up
her black silk, and, while Mamie was
absent q moment in response to a little
nesting cry from baby Helen, grand
mamma Helen suddenly began to enjoy
the situation, and when Mamie came
back, said:
81 have forgotten the pattern, Mrs.
Washington, but I think We can make
the skirt first, and leave the polonaise
until tomorrow"
And Mrs. Helen Berwyn Ruslingten,
or Mrs. Ross Washington, as her cards
read, actually cut out and basted the
breadths in her despised daughter-in.
laws black silk.
She contrived the trimming, and made
such stylish suggestions that Mamie
congratulated herself on her acquisition.
And the while, there vas not a look, 8
word, a gesture of the young wife's that
escaped the eyes of the deft-handed
masquerader. She watched the tender,
womanly way she cared for her little
one !; the sensible. economical mode OF
her housekeeping arrangements the
plain, palatable lunch the dignity OF
the young mistress to her n servant
her intelligent industriousness and he1
sewing while baby slept her patience,
her amiability, and her beautiful uncon-
scious alteration of her husband that be.
trayed itself at every turn.
It was not yet three o'clock of that
memorable day before Mrs. Ross Rus.
lington had thoroughly made up her
mind that her sons wife was far superior
to Genevieve Wallace, and that Ernest
had shown his accustomed foresight,
Judgment, and taste in choosing between
the two.
"II only. can get her to talk about
me-" she thought, as she made side
plating, thoroughly enjoying the excite
ment of the occasion.
A while later she purposely intro
duced the subject.
"Your baby has an uncommon name,
madam. Is it q fancy name"
"Oh, not is for my husbands
mother. Isn't it q beautiful name?"
Mamie then stroked the soft little
hand lying doubled up on her bosom
while the child slsft.
every pretty. So. old Mrs. Rushing
toms name is Helen, is it? Do you
know I never had much of an opinion of
hera They say she is naughty, unfor-
giving, and obstinate" -
"Oh, no Mrs. Abercrombie. My
mother-in-law is one of the most perfect
ladies you can imagine. She may be
haughty--rich people are apt to be, and
she-may be-is unforgiving where she
feels she has been ill-used. Any one
would be, would they not? But OBJ
stinate-no, I am quite sure not"
."You are we'll acquainted with her ;
you should know" "'.@
Mamie's fair cheek flushed. - r.
81 am not acquainted with her, at
all T have never seen her, for she was
so disappointed when her son married
me that she refuses to know me. If she
only would, lam sure 1 would make her
love me. I would give baby into her
arms, and let her see she is Ernest all
over again. I would tell her how T had
called her after her, hoping my child
w6dld make as noble a woman as reared
my husband. L"
And just as Mrs. Washington dashed
down the plating her trembling hands
could no longer hold, just as she was
going to snatch Mamie to her well-won
heart, the door opened, and her son,
handsome, CHEEKY, gay, came in.
"This is splendid! Mother dear,
this is all my home needed-to see you
here !! Mamie! how natural and cozy it
all is Why-what-" .
For Mamie had risen from her chair,
%bewildered, pale and Mrs. "Abercrom-
BIZ" stood, laughing and crying by
turns.
GIVE been here-taking advantage OF
q mistake Mamie made, and I've dis
covered what a jewel she is. Ernest.
She shall never again want my love or
care. Children, it's the best day I ever
saw !"
And when Ernest put one arm around
his wife and child, and the other around
his mother, with tears in their eyes, and
smiles on their lips, they all endorsed
her opinion.
- A Curious Sound.
Manitobah Lake, which lies northwest
of Fort Garry, and has given a title to
Il. --e- rs-ooJ o,k &c tho Dol