The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-06-07
Only a Dressmaker.

"DO you really love me, Charley?"
"Do | really live and breathe? Now
Ruth, what's the use of asking such an
absurd question as that, when you know
perfectly well that | don't belong tO
myself at all. Pm slave-a misera-
Bile, abject captive in the chain of your
sweet eyes and gentle words - and
what's more, haven't the least desire
to regain my lost freedom"
Nonsense, Charley :"
But Ruth Murray said Nonsense
in tone that clearly meant "The very
best of sense;" and Mr.. Charles Trevor
took advantage of the cOquettish sylla-
bles accordingly.
They were sitting in the library of
the fine old country house, with a
bright fire blazing. Charles Trevor
was tall, and dark and handsome, with
wavy black, hair, and frank features,
while Ruth Murray was very small and
very plump, with long, brown eye
lashes, and lips red and ripe as straw
berries, and hair like golden water
stirred into fantastic ripples by sum-
mer evening winds. Only that she
was wonderfully pretty and coquettish
withal, as many pretty girls are apt to
be. Isn't that enough?
Charley" she said, thOughtfully,
playing with one of the sparkling but
tons Of her jacket, 81 do believe that
you love me-but I'm afraid that your
sentiments will undergo an alteration
when you know that-that-"
81 ought to have told you before" :"
faltered Ruth, coloring vividly, and
seeming to shrink away from the ruddy
shine of the fire, "Only-"
Told me what, darling?"
"That / am only dressmaker." ;"
"YOu a dressmaker! And visiting
at Wardley Place."
"Kate Wardley and | were school
companions, Charley-and she is very
kind-and she promised to tell nobody,
lest people should be cold tome"
"Stop minute, Ruth, said Mr.. Ire
vOr. 81 didn't ask the question because
the fact made one whit's difference in
our relations towards one another only
| was taken little by surprise, as it
were. A dressmaker, are you? Well,
Ruth, | shouldn't care if you were a
crossing-sweeper. love you-and
that's enough for me-"
"But, Charley, l am poor and OBJ
scure."
"What of that? | am not rich, by
any means; but am fully capable of
working for both of us; and as for
being obscure, why, Wen try and see
if we cannot make ourselves name in
the world, Ruth"
"But you are not obscure, Charles.
The TrevOrs stand high in the circles of
fashion. / know that, humble little
dressmaker though l am"
"What then?"
"Why, the world will say that you
have made a meSdllidRCe."
"And what care | for the worlds
verdict, as long as am happy in yeur
love? Little Ruth. what sort of mer-
cenary renegade do you take me for9 |
love you--and Pm going to marry yOuw
There was II glitter suspiciously like
tears on the long eyelashes, as Ruth
felt Charles Trevor's loving glance rest
ing on her face, and the little hand
stole softly into his, with an uncon-
sciously contiding movement,
"Charley," said Ruth, in a soft stined
voice, "I'll try to be a good wife to
YOU"
And then-oh, strange, inscrutable
heart of woman Ruth Murray cried,
just because she was so very happy.
And the next day, the gay country
house coterie broke up, all the guests
going their several ways, and owning,
one to another, "that they had had a
delightful time" and the next chapter
in their book of fashionable dissipation
commenced-while Ruth Murray went
home to house with shop, where a
plate bore the words, "Miss Mackenzie
Dressmaker.
The bright January sunshine was
turning the crusted snow to diamonds,
and making Miss Mackenzle's shabby
carpet look half dozen degrees shah
bier than ever. The clock has just
struck eleven, and Ruth Marray, in
a blue delaine dress, and trim linen
collar, was tacking together the
breadths of gold-colored glace silk,
with her rosy mouth full Of pins. Miss
Mackenzie stood watching her, with Il
skirt-lining depending from her bony
arm.
Ruth" said the old maid obviously,
IL don't understand you at all"
"Don't you HettyY Well, that's not
at all strange, for half the time ! don't
understand myself"
"No; but--Ruth, this arrangement
seems to me so unsatisfactory-so un-
suitable"
Don't my work give satisfaction H'