Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-10-23
"ONLY A BOOK AGENT.-

a pattern which no artist under
heaven could hope to initiate.
Aud Kitty, the colored maid who
had accompanied her mistress from
Mobile, and regarded this North
ern climate as very Polar region
was attending her with chocolate
Vienna bread and broiled chick
ems wing.
George Jessamine was on visit
TO her fathers cousin, Mrs Dartley.
Major Joseph Jessamine, her faith
err, had been a well-to-do planter in
Alabama before the war, but he
was neither more nor less, at pres
ent, than genteel beggar, and
Mrs. Dartley's invitation to George
had been hailed with delight.
IL only wish She had asked me,
too said the major.
So George Jessamine was sup
piled with an elegant wardrobe
purchased mostly on crediD and
sent North to seek her fortune.
Mrs. Dartley was a rich widow,
who lived in a handsome house,
scattered her money to and fro
with liberal hand, and dwelt in a
perpetual wbirl of balls, parties,
soirees and receptions. And into
this sort of life Miss Jessamiue
plunged, as you may have seen a
bee dive joyously into the deep bill
of honey-suckle.
"If l can only make a good .
match here in New York, l never
need go back to that tumbled
down old house in Mobile" said
Miss Jessamine to herself
And, thus bordering, she devot-
ed the entire energies of her ma
ture to the attaining of the afore-
said good match"
Claude Dartley, her cousin,
came under that head. Claude was
handsome witty and wealthy.
But George was little afraid of
Claude. She never could quite
understand whether he was laugh
ing at her or not. But, in spite Of
all that, she smiled sweetly on ;
Claude, as first aud foremost among
the "eligibles" on her list, and had ,
built sundry castles in the air,
whereof he formed the founda- ,
ton. |
Last night, at Mrs. Penfield's !
1t4Sicale he had been especially /
devoted, and Miss Jessamiue's
spirits were very high, as she +
drank at the foaming chocolate and q
nibbled at the Vienna twists. ;
Ia q minute, however. blue
ribboned maid came to the door. .
Miss Jessamine," said she, with =
a little appologetic courtesy, "would i,
you please come down to the par o
lor ; there's a young lady there, @
asking for YOU" r
"a young lady!" repeated q
George, staring at the opposite 9
clock, which recorded an hour to q
early for fashionable calls. "Where !
is her card, Fanny 2" ;
"She didn't send mp any card,
miss"
"Did she ask for me by name ["
"Well, miss, she asked for my
mistress first, and then, when /
said she was gone to Signor Arditi's
to set for her portrait, but you was
in, she said might she see you a
minute"
George Jessamine glanced down
at the folds of her rose-colored
cashmere morning wrapper, and
then at the opposite mirror, 20 see
If the braids of her rich black
hair were in order.
Il suppose must go down." said
she, slowly "But if it should be
one Of those tiresome subscription
collectors, or patent dress support
vendors"
Kitty made grimace at Fanny
as the door closed behind the rustl-
ing trails of Miss Jessamine's rose
colored dress.
"De young missee, she done
t'ink nobody hain't no business to
lib but herself" said she. "She's .
dat selfish de good Lord ought to
ha' created little glass globe ODER
her to keep off de rest oh de
world
Meanwhile, Miss Jessamine,
sweeping down stair into the room,
found herself face to face with a
pale, lovely girl, in rather shabby
mourning, who carried a morocco
travelling bag, and held two or
three volumes in her other hand.
"Did you ask for me Z" she de-
manded superciliously.
The young lady bowed.