The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-04-12
MI i 8 O ella n @ us.
Rescued.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

~ don't like it at all, >" said Miss Estcott
"The flowers are vulgarly massed ; the fea.
theirs are hot,looking, and that rope ofRo-
man pearls stretched across the crown is
dowdy in the extreme"
Madame Bassompierre, the fashionable
French milliner, gave little deprecating
smile and courtesy at each one of these EN-,
phatically announced opinions.
"But, Miss Estcott-" she ventured to
insinuate, as the spoiled beauty paused for
breath.
"There are no butts about it !" pronounced
Victoria Estcott, dominantly. 1.-THE bon.
net is perfectly horrid, and I shall not take
it, Pray, who trimmed it2"
At this question, Madame Bassompierre
looked inquiringly at the tall, slender girl
who had brought the box into the room.
She eolored deeply; the tears sparkled
out under her long lashes.
~ trimmed it, madam" she faltered, in a
tone that was almost inaudibe.
"Take it back again into the work.
room !" said Madam Bassompierre, savage
ly. miss Estcott is not suited with it :
and let Mrs. Farley bring in some of those
exquisite hats that we imported from Paris
in the Belle Helene, last week."
But apparently, Miss Estcott was deter
mined not to be pleased with anything that
morning, and she finally swept out of the
showroom without having made choice.
Madam Bassompierre followed her to the
door, with the sweetest and most engaging
of smiles but the instant Miss Estcott was
gone she frowned darkly.
"Spoiled, arrogant thing p muttered she,
in har cln fnr i
have the patience of Job to cope with a
New York heiress Farley, send Miss
Wynde here ~
Once more the tall, slender girl with the
hazel-brown eyes, that were heavy with
tears, and the pale cheeks, came into Mad
am Bassompierre's presence.
"You are discharged" said madam,
sharply. No, don't attempt to argue the
question-indeed, it isn't worth while. A
girl who can't trim hat to suit my best
custom, can not expect to be retained in
my employment. Mrs. Farley will settle
with you up to date"
"But, madam" gasped the poor girl,
looking like frightened fawn, into whose
heart an arrow had entered
Madam Bassompierre lifted a warning
finger.
pray spare my poor nerves." said she.
II am compelled to discharge you. Be so
obliging as to leave the room ~
And Coral Wynde obeyed
Miss Estcott's claret. colored brougham
rolled up to the door next day, and Miss
Estcott came in, all smiles
"I'll look at that hat again, madam y
said she. upon second thought, I've
thnt H.,
very pretty. Only was cross and out OF
temper yesterday, and nothing looked
right to me-"
Madam Bassompierre was very sorry
very sorry-but the hat had been taken to
pieces, having been so unfortunate as to
meet with Miss Estcott's disapproval, and
"Then let it be trimmed again. BY the
same hand" said the imperious young
beauty, "and as nearly as possible in the
same style. That rope of Roman pearls
has haunted me all night"
II regret that it is quite impossible, "
said madam with puzzled look. "Ihave
discharged the young person who"
THAT tall, pretty girl, with the shining
brown hair and the dove-like eyes ?"
"Miss Coral Wynde--yes."
"Discharged her? And only because l
was captious enough to find fault with her
work ?" cried Victoria, impetuously.
"Was not that reason enough ?" obsequi-
ously smiled Madam Bassompierre.
"No," said Victoria, 81 don't think il
was. Be SO good as to give me her adj
dress. If I've lost her her place, it's only
fair that l should try and do something to
help her. And to think that all this came
| from one careless word !"
81 am very sorry" said Madam Bassom.
pierre ; "'but it is quite out of my power to
give you her address. l have not got il
myself l never had it, We have so many
young persons in our employ that"
"And can none of your people obtain il
for me ?" interrupted Miss Estcott.
Madam did not think that they could
and Victoria went away with troubled
ache at her heart
"Why can't learn to hold my tongue p
she asked herself, clasping her small, plump
hands so vengefully together that the
sparkling rings made red, angry dents or
the fair, pink flesh. "Why can't l contro
my temper shall never forget the teari
in that poor girls eyes, the culver on hel