Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-01-03

| to table near the entrance, across
which a Venetian screen was placed.
This brought them very close to the
party of young ladies we have men,
toned, and within hearing distance,
though concealed from them.
| They're the talk of the whole
neighborhood. Scarcely were thew
seated before this sentence pierced
their ears.
"On what account - was asked.
"Oh, on various accounts mainly
for their silly pride and Haunting airs.
You saw how they were overdressed.
and how queenly they tried to walk
as it the ground they trod on was
scarcely good enough for their dainty
| feet"
Yes, l noticed that. But l sup
pose their father has deep purse, and
wealth turns the heads of some peo-
ple.'
"There lies the poor folly of the
whole thing" answered the other
speaker. $50 far from being rich.
man their father is over head and ears
in debt, and worried half out of his
life to make his payments and keep
| above water. My brother knows all
about his business affairs, and says it's
a disgrace for his daughters to add the
heavy burden they must be adding to
| the bent shoulders of SO kind-hearted
a man. Proud, idle, good fW-nothings
he calls them. He took fancy to one
of them; but soon comprehending her
quality, turned away in disgust. They
are M debt everywhere. Our dress
maker told me last week that they
| owe her nearly fifty pounds, and that
| she has sent for the money over and
over again and l know they have a
large unpaid bill at a jewelers.. The
grocer and butcher in our neighbor-
hood both say it is almost impossible
to get an account settled; and yet
these idle girls sweep about in rich at
tire, as though they were the daughters
of a prince
II don't wonder they are the talk
of the neighborhood," was replied to
this.
"And they keep three servants"
| went on the other. "The neighbors
think it would be more creditable for
them to keep one--and honester into
the bargain.
GLOW many sisters are there?'
"Three"
"All alike p
"No. The youngest is wholly diff
ferent from the two you saw just
now. She is sensible girl, and
worth a score of her good-for-nothing
sisters
And the conversation ceased.
The talk of the whole neighborhoodl
| Even SO. Full two weeks passed be-
| fore Kate and her sister were again
seen abroad. and then 80 great was the
change in their attire and manner, that
many people who knew them ques-
| toned each other as to the meaning.
During these two weeks other scales
dropped from their eyes. So stem was
the pressure of embarrassment upon
their father that he had been forced to
yield, and all men knew him us u
broken merchant.
Necessity cannot stand to parley
with circumstances-it does not give
place to pride. Mr.. Hamilton was
compelled to demand Of his family IA
different style of living. Three serv-
ants gave place to one; and idle
daughters had, under constraint, to
assume their places, and become the
talk of the neighborhood. To them
the fact involved deep humiliation.
But how did the neighbors talk :?
In many ways; yet chiefly in tenor
like this:
81 didn't think it was them" SO :.
lady opposite remarked to a friend
who lived next door.
"Nor L. was answered. Kate,
in particular, had such proud, dash
ing air, and YVES so vain and idle, that
| never could believe it possible for
her to make a sensible woman. But
she has promptly accommodated her
self to her fathers changed circum-
stances. They've sent away all their
servants, am told"
Eyes"
ga fact more creditahe to them
than idle dependence on their father. y
"a thousand times more creditable.
Do you know I've felt an utter con-
tempt for these girls? But now re-
spect comes involuntarily.
".Just what Mrs. Lee told me this
morning"
Misfortune is the only means of
salvation for some people
cit is the only thing" replied the
neighbor, "that would have saved
the daughters of Mr.. Hamilton. I've
never called upon them, but shall dc
. so now"
SO the neighbors talked, as neigh
} bors who are very apt to look past the
outward seeming to the real character,
will talk. Pride and pretense cannot
hang up vail thick enough to conceal
the truth and mock gentility is sure