The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-10-13

cloth, still held its own in the matter of
looks. She found that lady with Miss
Sauls and several other friends warmly
discussing the projected tableaux. Cora
was cordially greeted, and at once APP
pealed to for an opinion as to cos
tunes, postures and various other points
She entered with good will into the
affair, and soon forgot her own private
perplexitiss in sharing the lighter ones of
her friends.
They had nearly concluded their plans
when a Mrs. Grey, who had been special
ly intrusted with the preparation of a
scene from Martin Chuzzlewit," an
nounced a difficulty as to a property
needed in the picture. She had searched
her own house, and those of her friends,
without being able to discover an UNI
brella suitable to be carried by the
Sairey' of the scene Holding up the
plate from which she was to copy, she
said IN tone of comical distress "There
you see, ladies! an umbrella to look like
that must have seen service, and very
queer sort of service, too. The umbrella
OF good society won't do at all, and where
to look for any other is more than |
know" Cora examined the plate, and
realizing the case at glance said, smil-
ing; Il believe l can help you, Mrs.
Grey, for think have the exact thing
you want; at any rate you shall judge for
yourself. l will bring it here tomorrow"
Accordingly, on the following day the
ancient and despised Camp" was
dragged forth from the dusty corner
where it had been hidden for six months,
and carried off to the little widow, who,
with her friend, was anxiously awaiting
it. Exclamations of satisfaction and
even of admiration greeted the queer
old thing when it was offered to the ap-
probation of the ladies. 1t was thor
oughly inspected before being opened,
and pronounced by Mrs. Grey to be
just the very thing" The unpleasant
peculiarities which had always rendered
it so obnoxious to Cora were now re-
garded as its points of special excellence,
and she was forced by Mrs. Marsh's
pleased comments upon it to feel that she
had actually furnished them with prize
So true it is that even ugliness has its
uses, and becomes harmonious directly
it is fifty placed. Having turned the
welcomed property" over and over, ad-
miring its doppy folds from every point,
the ladies finally unbuttoned the band,
and spread it fully open. Something
fell to the floor with thud, and Cora's
eyes, following the sound, beheld upon the
carpet at her feet the dear little, worn
old purse which had so treacherously
slipped from her hand on that memora-
BILE morning months back, and whose loss
had occasioned her so much sorrow.
Eagerly she snatched and openedit. There
sure enough were the bills she had placed
in it, and the two or three stamps besides
She hurriedly explained the circum-
stance to her friends, who were much
amused at the details, and congratulated
her warmly upon the recovery. Inward
ly she thanked her stars that it would be
no longer necessary to cudgel her brains
to find a suitable excuse for absenting
herself from the tableaux vivants,
which she had of course determined to
forego sooner than appear there in
shabby costume. Her recovered treas
ure was quickly put to it's appropriate
use, and when the evening of the enter
tainment arrived Cora was present, look
ing her best in a pretty, dark fall suit,
fresh and trim, with some bright ribbons
to relieve its somber hue, and set off her
white throat and shining hair. Never
had an evening passed more agreeably.
Everybody was in excellent spirits, the
affair was complete success, and DR..
Clay laughingly insisted that it was
mainly the result of his advice and
Cora's assistance that it was so.
All were very kind to the modest little
worker, and several of the gentlemen
were especially attentive. The doctor, how
ever, walked home with her, and he must
have made himself particularly interest
ing, for they fingered long on the door
step before parting, and when he went
the little girls eyes were full of tears,
and her lips bright with smiles, while
both were shining through shy, sweet
bushes.
Within three months the handsome
doctor took home dainty bride, who
was warmly welcomed by his sisters, and,
in the. long years of love and comfort
which followed, nobody ever had again
an opportunity of calling Cora Clay
dowdy.