The daily gazette., 1879-03-10
BEHIND TIE SCENES.

cred lace.
"Poor Ellen," she murmured, show
different our lots have been ordered in
this world. Her parents dead-their
wealth irretrevably lost, and she too
proud to accept a cent that she has not
laboriously earned. Oh, dear.' and
Laura sighed again, just as the clocks
liquid voice chimed the half hour.
"She doesn't come," soliloquized the
puzzled little da,nsel. "There's some
thing the matter. Perhaps she is sick
oh, dear, she must be sick. III send
James to inquire-no, I'll go myself"
Before the words were out OF her lips
she was up in her own room adjusting a
soft grey shawl over her black silk dress,
and tying the string of quiet little
brown velvet bonnet, whose own crimson
rose among its trimmings of enameled
moss was not unlike the bloom of he-
own cheek.
81 don't think it is going to snow" she
pondered, 10 king out at the giey, threat
ening sky, as she drew on her perfectly
fitting gloves. "At any rate shall walk
very fast."
As she came through the softly car
peted vestibule servant approached
her.
All. The rose was several shades in
the back ground now, as she broke tile
scented seal, and glanced over the deli
cate cream-colored sheet, with bright
suppressed smile dimplng the corners of
her mouth. Yet the note was a very
simple one after all.
"MY DEAR Miss AVERY May l
promise myself the pleasure of accom-
panying you 20 hear the new opera to-
night? Unless | receive q message to
forbid me, l will call for you at half-past
seven. Your most devoted slave and
subject. FLoRIAN RICHLEY.
Laura instinctively slipped the note
into her bosom, as If fearful lest the
very picture ON the wall should catch a
sight of the elegant chirography, and pur-
sued her way down the gloomy street,
with eyes that saw the murky atmos-
phere through the radiant glow of couleur
de rose. Meantime the gray light of
October was fading away from the dreary
room on the third story OF house stu
ated on one of those streets where deceit
responsibility strives hand to hand with
the grim assailant, want.
Singularly out OF Ike. ping with the
shabby anc poverty-stricken aspect ofthe
apartment, was newly finished dress of
lustrous purple silk, bright as the dyes of
Tyre, that lay folded on the table beside
the window in such a manner that you
could see the costly trimmiRg-a wide
border of purple velvet, edged on either
side with futing of white point lace.
For poor Ellen Wayna'l was nothing
more important than hard orking aud
poorly paid dressmaker.
She lay on the little white bed in the
corner, with her flushed face pressed close
against the pillow, and her slender figure
partially covered by coarse pladed scar
let shawl, while the involuntary con-
traction of her forehead bore witness to
the pain that she was meekly suffering.
As one or two silent tears escaped from
her closed eyelids, and crept softly down
her cheek q light step sounded on the
landing outside, and knock came gently
to the panels of the door,
"Come in" said Ellen, hurriedly dash
ing away the tears. "Laura, is it possi-
BILE that this is you, dear?
"Yes, it is myself and none other. Nell
/ could not imagine why you did not
come and fit that dress as you appointed ;
but know the reason nov. Nelly, you
are sick. Why did you not send for me ?'
Ellen tried to smile family.
81 am not very sick, Laura; at least
l have not suffered much pain until to-
nj :ht, and the doctor saws that if l only
had little wne-no, Laura, do not draw
your purse" she added, with a slight
perceplible sparkle in her eyes and a
proud quver on her lips 81 am not quite
so low yet as to accept charity. Don't
look so hurt and grieved, dearest. You
know how sensitive cannot help being
on some points. 1t is only for a little
while. When | am we'll enough TO take
that dress home, and receive the money
for it, shall then be enabled to pur chase
" hatever | may require"
| Laura Avery knelt down at her friend.
bedside with soft, pleading eyes.
"Dear Ellen, you will not refuse 20 ac.
cept temporary loan from me ?"
Ellen shook her head with a grave
smile.
81 can wait, Laura"
| Laura looked from the dress to Eller
with a face painted with perplexity. Sud
denly bright inspiration seemed u
strike her.
"Let me take the dress home, Ellen p
she asked. "The walk will be just hal
/ need, and can stop at Dubour's OH th'
way back and order tho wine for you.
\ ou will never be strong unless you cos
set yourself up little. You will let M
Nell"
Ellen hesitated moment.
'.Bu., Laura"
"No 'buts' in the matter, if you please
Nell" laughed Laura, gleefully, begin
ming to fold the rich dress into litti
basket that stood OH the table beside il
"Where is it to go?"
"To Mrs. Rlchley's, in River street
Why, Laura, what is the matter ?"
"Nothing, only am folding this dres
wrong" returned Laura, in low voice
1t was well that Ellen did not see tn
scarlet blush that rose TO her friend
lovely cheek as she stood with he
back to the bed, smoothing the lustrou
breadths of purple silk. Mrs. Richley's
!. Laura was almost sorry that she had vo
unteered to go, but it was too late to re
tract her offer now.
II "What selfish little creature l am,
J she mused. "Poor Nelly needs th
} money 50 very much, and cannot go fc
D it herself, and it isn't at all likely that
shall see Florian. will go-there is a
} end of it,"
81 "Thank you, dear Laura, |. is so kin