The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-05-17
WHAT HE LOST.

The evening was warm and still, and
all the doors and windows in George street
were set open, and everybody who could
escape from indoor occupation was out
for stroll. The people living here were
decent. hard-wOrking men and women,
earning enough to keep their families in
comfort, and taking an honest pride in
themselves and their dwellings. lost of
the windows could boast of clean muslin
curtains. ana Tho dOOrsteps were as white
as hard securing c0eld make them. There
was one house, however, whose Doorstep
could i'll bear comparison With ito neioh.
bors; and, as to its curtains, r.er were
drab and dingy, and had been up all the
winter.
"Miss Kennaway don't regard appear.
ances, that's certain" said one matron to
another. as they took their evening walk
together. IF were her, ! should be
sick of ehe sight of those frightful drab
curtains. And she with smart young
man coming often to the hOusep'
Poor thing" sighed the other woman
"a good.natured soul, always ready to
find excuses for those the. world was hard
upon" poor thing! she can't have a
minute to call her own. What with her
dressmaking and her mothers long ill.
ness, she must be pretty nearly at her
wits end"
"Well, if young Parr don't mind the
curtains, and that disgraceful doorstep of
hers, I'm sure l DON'T" responded the
first speaker, sharply. "And here he
comes, looking as natty as you please,
and walking as if the ground wasn't good
enough for his feet!"
William Parr, the promised husband of
Fanny Kennaway, was one of those men
who are said to be above their station, and
are sometimes SO very much above it that
there is no keeping them in it. William,
however, was industrious enough to find
favor with the merchant who employed
him. Out of the counting house he held
his head high, and looked down upon his
fellow clerks, who never ceased to won
der why such lofty fellow should have
courted a humble little dressmaker in
George street. But very few men of taste
would have been surprised at PARIS
choice if they had seen Fanny Kennaway
in her seat by the window that evening.
After long days work, she was rest
ing eyes and hands for few minutes, and
watching for Williams coming. Hers
was delicate, clearly-cut face, pale as q
lily, and serious almost to Sadness face
that seemed TO have little in common with
the needles and pins and gay stuffs arouad
her. And yet, in . general way, Fanny
worked cheerfullv enough at her trade.
1t was only when nursing ~ we'll a. dress.
making fell to her lot, and a heavy
doctors bill was added to ordinary ex.
pcnscs, that her little body felt itself
aweary OF this great world. But there was
no WEAKNESS in the smile that greeted
William, as he entered the humble room.
Like wise woman as she was, Fanny al
ways met her lover with . bright look and
CHEEKY voice.
"Come, Fanny" he said, won't Won
go for walk this evening. Your mother
is better, SO that you Can surely be spared. -
Oh, yes; mother can spare me; Mrs.
Marks is sitting. with her. But there il q
dress that must be finished tonight, Will.
iam."s
II wonder why we can never enioy
ourselves as other peonle do" muttereS
Parr Grossly. "You are making 9 reeu-
lar slave Of yourself, Fanny"
"Well, then, Iii TO-" abe answered
after little pause, and won't be Ave
minutes getting ready"
She tripped of, and soon returned. look.
ing so neat in her walking garb that only
an ill-humOred man could have found
fault in her. But q they walked avav
together down the street, there was clomS
on Williams face; and presently he smoke
out his grievance.
Why don't you get . stylish hat.
Fanny, instead Of wearing that everlasting
bonnet? l can't think how It Is vonI
things last 90 long; one never sees you IL
anything fresh and new. For my sake
you ought to be little smarter in youl
dress"
Fanny did mot tell him that every six.
pence she earned was spent on the com.
mon necessaries Of life, and that all hel
savings had gone to pay that terrible doc.
tors Dill; but she looked up lovingly into
MS handsome gloomy face. William
was her first love; she could mot wish
him changed, even when his magnificent
notions caused her some inconycnience