Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-10-09
ROSAMOND CLIFFORD.

"0ood-Oy, hosainonu OUT, u
for my wishes, they can't signify
one way or the other. I'm nothing
but a forlorn remnant of older
time"
Rosamond Clifford turned away
from the cracked mirror in it,
frame of stained wood, and went
out in the nipping November air
a tall, blooming damsel, with deeT
brown eyes, and a lovely pink and
white complexion whose simple
black alpaca dress set of her fresh
beauty, as an antique vase might
relieve a cluster of full-blossomed
roses,
Mamma" said little Helen Gift
ford, as she put another shovelfuI
of Goals on the carefully-husbanded
fire, "do you feel sorry that Rosa
is going to work the sewing-n,a-
chine at the Exhibition :"
Mrs. Clifford withdrew behind
her pocket-hankerchief.
"Ah, child, it is well for you that
you havn't my sensitive feelings!'
"But, mamma, why shouldn't
Rosa sew at the Exhibition fair,
Just the same as in the sewing-ma-
chine room in Oxford street
Where's the difference, so long as
they pay her for it Z"
Mrs. Clifford shook her cap-bor-
ders Historically.
81 never thought to see the day
when Clifford should be compelled
to work for living--and to work
in public too l only wish l had
been dead and buried first !"
Mamma, don't!" pleaded poor
little Helen.
ait would have been a great
deal better!" groaned Mrs. Clifford.
81 shouldn't have been in the way,
with my old-fashioned ideas and
notions, then! l hope Sir Walter
Morton sleeps peacefully in his bed
that's all l know / couldn't if
l cheated my cousins children out
of their inheritance !"
"But, mamma, how was it Cousin
Walters fault, if the law gave to
him the estate, instead of us"
LAW, indeed! Nonsense When
your poor dear papa always
brought me up in expectation that
some day Morton place would be
ours. And for him to step in-a
selfish, domineering heartless-"
"But, mamma, darling, you have
never seen him..
"If he had had a solitary instinct
of the gentleman about him, he
would have invited US all to make
our home at Morton place for the
rest of our days"
Helen liftedhe eyebrows shrewd-
y.
"If we had gained the lawsuit.
don't think you would
have invited Cousin Walter to
make his home at Morton"
"Go and get your knitting,
Helen" said Mrs. Clifford, petulant-
ly.
And Helen silently obeyed.
Pretty Rosamond Clifford cried
q little under her veil, as she hur-
ried along the street, because her
earnest efforts to gain a livelihood
were so little appreciated by her
mother but it was nothing more
serious than the sparkle of summer
shower, and, when she entered the
railed-off compartment at the Elk
hibition where her sewing-machine'
stood, the sweet, dimpling smil,
had come back to her lips one,
again.
"You're little late this morning
Miss Clifford" was the comment c
her employer. 1.-TWO or three hav
inquired about the new patent al
tachment already"
So Rosamond sat down, heart an
hand alike occupied with the bus
ness of the hour, entirely uncor
scious that she herself was I'll
prettiest object in the place.
Suddenly the sound of gentl
mans voice close to her ear mac
stprt.
"See here, Morton, you are il
terested in this new improvement
as you are going to supply IL
Industrial schools at your pia'
with sewing-machines. 1t is real
the best thing out"
And Rosamond, glancing U
through her long eyelasbes, sa
a tall, well-made gentleman, wit
bright brown eyes, chestnut lock