The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-08

down stairs into the drawing-room, found
herself face to face with a pale, lovely
girl, in rather Shabby mourning, who car
ried morocco traveling-bag, and held
two or three volumes in her other
! and.
"Did you ask for me?" she demanded,
superciliously.
The young lady bowed.
81 have undertaken the agency of a now
, publication" said she, hurriedly, and not
without mbarrassment--" Lanes Life of
Martha Washington should be hap
py to put down your name as subscriber,
The price is"
"Pray don't trouble yourself to go on"
said Georgia, coldly. 81 never subscribe
to any such thing. And think it the
height of insolence for you to come here
pushing yourself into the presence Of your
superiors on such pretext as this How
do know that you are not one of those
sneak-thieves, who make your way into
peoples houses in order to carry off their
valuable parlor ornaments?'
The young lady had colored scarlet at
first, and then grew deadly pale.
"Miss Jessamine-' she said
"That will do," tartly interposed the
naughty Georgia. 81 don't care about en-
tering into any discussion with you. At
all events, it is highly unfeminine to go
about peddling things, like any common
peanut woman! And beg you'll not re-
peat it in this house."
She pointed imperiously to the open
door, and poor Amy Horton, who, among
oil the Sights and snubs incident to re-
duced means, had never yet received
verbal castigation equal to this, hurried
from her presence with cheeks aAame and
eyelids wet with unshed tears.
"There I" said Miss Jessamine to her.
self, as she went up stairs again; 81 think
I've paid her off for bringing me away
from my half-fnished breakfast. As for
you, Fanny"-to the damsel in the blue
rIbbons-"if ever you admit such person
as that again, shall certainly request
Mrs. Dartley to discharge YOU"
Fanny tossed her head, and would have
made a pert rejoinder, had she dared, for
there was not servant in the DArtley
household that liked Miss Jessamine.
But it so CHANGED that Claude Dartley
himself, looking over the morning papers,
in the library, had heard the whole inter-
view, through the parlor-door that Georgia
had neglected to close.
1nvoluntarily he rose and came forward,
resolved to do what in him lay for the
healing of the cruel wound inflicted
by Georgia Jessamine's unwomanly
words.
"Pardon me-" said he, "but may look
at the publication you have for sale? l
Rm very deeply grieyed that my cousin
should have treated you so rudely, and"
But as she glanced wistfully up in his
face, he started back, with an exclamation
Of surprise.
"Amy Horton Can it be possible "
81 did not expect to see you here. Mr..
Dartley," said the girl, hurriedly. 81
asked for the lady of the house. did not
know who lived here"
"But, Amy, l don't understand this.
You-General March's neice and adopted
daughter - selling books for liveli-
hood !"
'It does seem strange, don't it?" said
Amy with faint smile. "But you dom
know all. Uncle March is dead, and all
his property has gone to his second wife.
Twas only dependent, and l could not
endure that sort of life; so l am striving
to maintain myself. came to New Y ork,
because | thought could do better here
than in a smaller city, but-but l am al
most discouraged
Claude Dartley took her hand and gazed
reproachfully into her face.
"Amy," said he, "Why did you not let
me know when you were in trouble? Had
you forgotten our old friendship?"
81 thought l had no right" she fall
tered.
"No right, Amy? Would you have
let yourself drift away from me for
eyer?"
And Amy Horton hung down her bright
golden head and family murmured:
81 don't know3'
Mr. Dartley was in the inner Office of
the law chambers of Messrs. Falkland,
Blrgh & Co., that afternoon, when Miss
: Jessamine rustled in, with strong smell
of Jockey Club" and little tinkle Of
affected laughter.
Mr. Burgh, the only representative of the
, aristocratic young firm, rose and bowed
low.
"Pray excuse our segar smoke, Miss
Jessamine," said he.
"Oh, that's nothing" said Georgia, tax
ing the leather-covered chair that he Of
fered her. "I'm so glad that found yor
L. IL a e.,