Smyrna times., 1879-12-24
Dearly-BOught Experience.
RY INEZ IRVING.

RY INEZ IRVING.
Marry you, George Floyd, and settle
down to humdrum lie in the country
No, sir. | am much Obliged for the honor
you have conferred upon me by asking mt
to become your wife, but | am going to see
life a little. | think there is some othel
destiny for me than to make butter anC
cheese, and patch farmers clothes all my
liie.'
The young man eyed the bright, saucy
beautiful face, with an expression of sadnes.
in his soft, brown eyes. Had he loved the
wilful tut warm hearted girl less. he might
have taken serious offence at the rude flip
pant speech. AS it was, he longsd still
more to gather her to the shelter of hi.
arms and heart. He had loved her ever
since he, boy of ten, had held her, a
laughing, dimpled baby, in his arms and
now, when She has seen eighteen years, lac
has asked her to he his wife. In his pleas
ant, but somewhat old-fashioned. home, hi.
mild faced mother waited to welcome her a.
Il daughterin.law and love her for her son
sake, although the villagers often spoke
harshly of the free, independent ways o.
the motherless girl.
But Edith Wilson had no desire to settle
down for life in the quiet village Of Willow
side. She had an idea that once in The
great city she might make 4 brilliant match
She knew that she was beautiful and that
the girls of her acquaintance envied anC
hated her for it. and she believed that hel
beauty would win love, and love, a wealth,
husband. She had wonderful visions Of how
she would look moving around in gloss o
satin and glimmer of pearl the wife o
some wealthy man who would Worship hel
for her beauty. George Floyd was called 4
GOOD match in WIllOwside, and Edith wa.
the suhjrct of much severe comment anon.
the elders when it became known that sh,
had refused him.
II wonder what a poor girl like heI
| expects" said old Mrs. Giles. For my
part, | think it was confederation il
George Floyd to ask her to marry him."
i hear she's going to the city," said he
neighhor.
"A poor place for such as her; shoudn'
wonder if she came to some bad end"
But neither George nor his mother said ;
word against her. They knew there wu
much fine gold mixed with the alloy of hel
nature, and only pitied her.
cousin living in the city had told hel
that if she would come to her she would
get her a nice situation, and Edith was i'm
patient to try her wings.
1t ever you want "a friend, remember
you have me-" George said to her when h,
bAde her goodbye.
Thank you, but expect to have plent,
Of friends III the great CITY,"
George looked wistfully into the bright
hope flushed face.
&C ,uIlD't vot, 10 ,,aD-,,o,loI -. -
Edith, to give it all up and come to me p
Sine laughed merriy.
lilo" absurd. No, Of course couldn'l
think of such thing"
Arrived in the city, she found that h+I
Chances to earn her bread were not so plen.
tltul as she had anticipated. For several
Weeks she had nothing to do. Her cousin
Jailed to secure tue place she intended and
her small fund OF money ebbed low. She
found that in the race for existence amid
the crowd she was only one among a million,
and that aside from an occasional glance Al
h"r lace, half'admlrlng, sometimes half.
1old, her beauty did not seem to aid her.
She finally obtained a situation as sales.
girl IN large establishment. She chafed
under the restrictions, but held on because
II was her bread and butter, and she had
had bitter little experience of what it j.
10 have nothing to do. In time she became
AN otJect Of notice to junior partner,
which BATTERED her vanity considerably,
lie invited her out to supper with him.
winch invitation she accepted with fut.
terlng heart, thinking that, perhaps, her
triumphs had at last begun. He soon
revealed to her in guarded terms the design
OF his attention, at which she was both
mortified and Indignant. Being too true n
woman 10 take such step as he desired
she turned her back upon him scornGully.
In few days she had her reward.
Through the influence Of the gentleman
who could not readily forgive her contemp.
tuous rejection of his offers, she was
informed coolly that her services were no
longer needed.
She understood intuitively the reason OF
her dismissal. She put on her hat and
CLOAK and marched out with naughty def.
ance in look and movement.
One recommended her search for employ.
inent, stu strong in heart. Day after day
she pIodded around YEARLY, but it seemed
as a.. II every avenue was closed against her.
She mad barely money enough to keep her
from starvation, and bad it not been for
the shelter OF her cousins room, she might
have lain under the stars.
4 X
"Will you please direct me to -
street ?"
1t was Edith, who, having wandered
around nearly all day, until she was most
exhausted. found herself ut twilight with
her senses so bewildered that she did NOT
know in what direction to 20 to reach her
lodgings. The lady stopped and look ed
ln9ulringly into the pale, pretty face.
lou are tired;' she said, in a sympa.
thetic tone. P"
Yes; ] have been walking nearly ALI
day." Edith said, her brave spirit at a pretty
low sbb. 10y
You are long distance from -
street; but it is in my direction, and Won can
walk along with me as far as go.n
The lady, who was well.dressed and
middle-aged, asked Edith questions az thew
walked along, and became acquainted in =
short time with the principal points of her
history. At last she stopped before large
handsome house, or q street unfamiliar Ia
Edith. "
81 live here" she said, "and Won must