Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-05-26

the part OF most of the visitors al
to the proper line of conduct to be
pursued in greeting the gentlewo
men so abruptly transformed into
trades. people whom they were here
to scrutinize. That the cordial re,
respectful familiarity of equals was
not TO I've thought Of, now, Was the
dominant impression with the ma.
jority. Yet few were 30 indurated
in woridliness, or 10 barefaced in
the display Of it "a to attempt 70
treat their late social oompeers OK.
actly as they would 'squite common
persons" The result was . comb.
nation of stiffness and patronage
totally at variance with the car.
risge of well.bred ease, favored
with hauteur, they adjudged to be
"the thing in the circumstances
The proprietors of the elegant
apartments were mistresses Of
themselves and the position from
the beginning. With q single eye
to business, they .adroitly evaded
all allusion to the novelty of the
scene; received the compliments to
their establishment and their wares
with smiling composure; showed
the stock aud took orders with pro-
fessional dexterity, and entirely ig-
nored glances and yelled hints Of
com miseration.
"Have you NO assistants', queried
more than one.
"At present, nOne,' Imogeu re.
turned, quietly. "Should our bust.
ness require it, we shall procure
help, keeping everything. OF course,
under our own personal super.
vision"
at is not an untried field to us,
you know subjoined Blanche, in
her blithest tone. "Much practice
has taught US swiftness and the
artistic sleight of hand that dis.
tinguishes the work of the modiste
from that Of the amateur
The rooms were quite full when
II plain but handsome carriage
stopped at the door. A lady
alighted with her arms full of bun.
dies, followed by two slender girls
of eighteen and twenty, each with
a parcel, although the footman
stood idly by, holding the door.
"Just like ber!" murmured a
spectator inside the front window,
peeping through the lace curtains.
"She pridcs herself on her want of
what she calls false shame, and on
being able to wait on herself"
A hum ran from the tattler
through the little assembly.
Blanche, who was showing q box
of feathers to u customer, feigned
not to hear il; dared not to steal a
look mt her sister, although she
lOnged to know how she compOrted
herself in view of the approaching
ordeal. She was the ohiy one
present whose eyes we're not direct.
ed instantly toward the young
dressmaker as she advanced q few
steps to meet the new arrivals.
Foremost in the group was the
mistress Of the carriage, Il stately
figure, richly attired, who wore her
own gray hair folded smoothly
above II pair of black brows and
searching, usually severe eyes.
They softened and shone at sight
of the form in deep mourning,
awaiting her pleasure, perhaps
reading through the guise of lady.
like self possession the secret
trouble that futtered heart and
pulse, while the trained features
served the resOlute will faithfully.
"My dear child!r abe said, i'm.
pulsively, holding fast to her par
cells, but bending to kiss the cheek
which flushed high under the
salute.
Her daughters pressed forward
to bestow caresses as affeCti0pate
upon "dear Imogen,' the family
having recently returned from
abroad. Their mother allowed
them no time for inquiries or con.
dolence.
al am very, very glad to see you
looking 80 well and bright" she
pursued, in a breezy, cheerful tone,
neither shrill nor loud, but one that
could make itself heard whenever
and by whomsoever she willed. 81
didn't mean that my first call
should be one Of business, but 1
suppose yOu wouldn't admit me
upon any other plea, in business
hours. But there's the great
Huntley wedding, week after next,