Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-01-15
''What then ?n

"What then?'
"Why. the world will say that yo
have made mesalliance."
"And what care for the worlds ver
dict. as long as am happy in your love
Little Ruth, what sort of a mercenar,
renegade do you take me for? Hove you
and I'm going to marry you'll" Their
was glitter suspiciously like tears ol
the long eyelashes, and Ruth felt Charlie
Trevor's loving glance resting on he
face, and the little hand stole softly int
his, and with an unconsciously confid
ing movement.
"Charley," said Ruth, in soft, stifet
voice, iii try to be good wife t.
Iyou!"
| And then-oh, strange. inscrutabl
heart of woman Ruth Murray cried
ijust because she was so very happy.
And the next day the gay country
house coterie broke up. all the guest!
going several ways, and owning, one tt
another, "that they had had delightful
time" and the next chapter in theil
imenced-while Ruth Murray went
homexo house with a shop, where q
plate bore the words, "Miss Mackenzie
Dressmaker."
=
The bright January sunshine was
turning the crusted snow to diamonds
and making Miss Mackenzie's shabby
carpet look halfa dozen degrees shabbiel
than ever. The clock had just struck
eleven. and Ruth Murray, in a blue de-
laine dress and q trim linen collar, was
tacking together the hreadths of a gold
colored glace silk. with her rosy mouth
full of pins. Miss Mackenzie stood
watching her, with skirt lining de-
| pending from her bony arm.
| "Ruth," said the old maid, obviously,
II don't understand you at ALL"
"Don't you, Hetty? Well, that's not
at all strange. for half the time / don't
understand myself"
mo; but-Ruth, this arrangement
seems to me unsatisfactory-so insult
able"
"Don't my work give satisfaction ?"
II never had an apprentice learn half
so quickly. Those white little fingers of
yours seem gifted by magic ~
| "Fhank you" said Ruth. bowling de-
| murely. "Fhe yellow silk. please
Didn't you tell me that Miss Trevor was
coming here at eleven to try on her
dress?"
| $50 she said-and there is the carriage
dashing up to the door. It's fine thing
| to be rich. are you sure the dress is
/ ready, Ruth2'
| "Quite."
Perhaps Ruth Murray's cheek was
trifle pinker than usual as Miss Trevor
rustled loftily into the room; but other.
| wise there was no shade of difference in
her manner or demeanOr
"I'm afraid I'm little behind time,"
! began the imperiOus young lady, throw
ing Off her costly ermine cape; "but,-
| Why, Ruth Murray, surely this cannot
be you"
'It is I, Miss Trevor"
Mary Trevor started.
"Oh, you've come to have dress fit
ted. Miss Mackenzie has such success"
"No said Ruth quietly, 81 am Miss
MackenSie's ASSISTANT
IA dressmaker," almost shrieked
Miss Trevor.
Yes; dressmaker."
Maria drew herself up haughtily.
"This is very strange" she said fri
gidly; may, it is quite unaecountable
thought you were visitor at Wardley
Place."
II was"
"And did Kate Wardley know"
"Who l was? Perfectly"
Maria tossed her head.
"UpOn-my-wOrd! Vhis was really
| gratuitous insult to her other guests.
Kate Wfrdley shall know my opinion
of her conduct.
Ruth had grown pale and then red:
but the next moment a score of laughing
dimples broke out around her mouth.
''It was dreadful to admit dress
| maker into the circle of her aristocratic
friends-and it was unheard of audacity
in the dressmaker to venture within the
charmed limits. Will you allow me to
try on your dress, Miss Trevor.
Maria stood haughtily silent in the
| middle of the room, while Ruth, mount
ed on stool to bring her nearer to Miss
TrevOr's height, put in pins here and
there, and laid little folds and basted re-
fractOry seams.
"She is pretty" thought Maria, as the
sunlight glanced athwart Ruth's golden
hair, and showed the exquisitely fine
texture of her rOse-leaf skin. "No pearl
powder there! / wonder if there is any
truth in the report that Charles fanced
her! The idea of our brother flirting
with dressmaker-foro of course 1t was
nothing but Irritation"
And Miss Maria unconsciOusly gave
herself such jerk that two pins flew
half across the room, and Ruth arched
her eyebrows.
"Dear me, Miss Trevor, shall never
get your dress fitted II you don't stand
stilIW
Home =" said Maria Trevor impera-
lively to the cOachman as she folded the
gay afghan over her siIken skirts,
Mrs. Trevor was dreaming over bit
ofembroidery by the fire, and Charles
Trevor, standing in the bay window, was
glancing up and down the columns of
the morning paper as Miss Maria enter
ed. It was magnificent drawing room,
with ceiling of freseo and gold, and car
pets soft and rich as finest moss, white,
plate-glass windows. hung with massive
satin draperies let in softened light;
and rich pictures glimmered on the
walls. The Trevors were not rich but
the Trevors were very worldly, and
know exactly how to make appearances
their teol.
Mamma, what do you think!" ex-
claimed Maria, breathless and eager,
THAT Ruth Murray, whom we met at
WardIey Place-the pretty blonde I told
you Of"
! "What of her ?" asked Mrs. Trevor,
as Maria stopped for breath, and Charles
looked quickly up with deep flush on
his cheek.
"She's nothing but dressmaker!
Nonsense, Maria ! You must be mis-
taken"
''But I am not mistaken, mamma! I
saw her this very morning at Miss Mac.
kenzie's, and she tried my dress on with
her own hands,"
"Surely my love, Kate Wardley would
never invite young person in that So
cial position"
"Rut, mamma, the Wardleys are so
odd, you never know what freaks they
NAV equity of. The idea of common
dressmaKer presuming to associate with
those so far above her."
'Stop moment. Maria," said Charles
Trevor, advancing into the room. I
have yet to learn in what respect Miss
Murray is at all inferior to any Of the
guests at Wardley Place. In nv estima.