The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-09-01
verse labels decision, now that it ap.
peared to be made,

verse labels decision, now that it ap.
peared to be made. e
It was made, and the wedding-day
was about to be fixed, when something
occurred which quite changed the posi-
ton of affairs.
Isabel was walking near the cathedral,
when her attention was attracted to q
girl of about her own age, leauing
against the raj ings. The girl was
plainly dressed, and in her face and at.
titude was such an air of dependency,
that Isabel, whose heart was full of
compassion for the wretched. felt her
self constrained to stop and speak to
her.
"Are you not well ?" she asked in q
low, sympathetic voice.
The girl, who was very thinly and
poorly clad. looked up.
"Yes," she answered "I am WE'LL"
But ySu are sad. You have met
with some misfortune, have you not?"
eyes" answered the girl, despond-
emily.
"Will you tell me what it is? Per-
haps it is something that can remedy.
Do not think me inquisitive, but
really want to help you, if you will let
The girl answered frankly:
'Thank you for your kindness. It
does me good, for I stand in need of
kind words"
"Te1 me, then, your trouble" and
Isabel, in her sealskin jacket and warm
velvet dress, took the arm of the shabby
creature, and together they walked
along through Market street into the
busiest part of town.
"My mother and I lived together, -
explained the girl. "We are very poor,
and mother is an invalid, unable to do
much. We have nothing to live upon
except what I earn by my needle"
"That must be very little"
Yes. it is very little; but I have
been defrauded of that little. 1t is too
hard"
"Tell me about it. Isit possible that
any one could be so mean RS to cheat
you out of the little you earl In shat
hard way?"
at will tell you how it happened. A
week since, got bundle of waistcoats
to make for large house. The pay
was very small. BY working early and
late could earn about eighteenpence a
day"
"Is it possible? I never heard of such
oppression p said Isabel Indignantly.
"Well, I finished the half-dozen, and
this morning took them round to the
shop. Instead of paying the money, the
proprietor, rich man, said roughly
that they were not we'll done, and he
could only pay sevenpence apiece fol
them. III would take that he would
give me more work. knew it was al
pretence to cheat me out of sixpence
on each, for am an experienced waist
coat-maker, and these were made as well
| as usual"
"And did you take the money, my
| poor friend ?" asked Isabel
| "What could I do? There was M
money to buy our dinner. [ had to take
it, but know that it is impossible fol
us to get along on that paltry sum.
see nothing for us but starvation.
"Cheer up! ] am rich. I will nell
you," said the heiress. "But tell mt
the name of this mean wretch who de
frauded you?"
"Walter Barton"
"Who?" exclaimed Isabel, startled
and surprised.
"Walter Barton. I hear he is en-
gagged to wealthy heiress, but I don
think such man can prosper.
''I must look into this" said Isabel
quickly, her face flushed cts NOR,
important to me than you know. Com
to my house"
The girl accompanied her home, an'
presently the heiress, who had changet
dresses with the poor girl for brie
space emerged into the street and mad
her way to the shop Of Walter Barton
She was so mufled up that her fac
could not be seen.
"what do you want?" asked sales
man roughly.
"To see Mr.. Barton" answered Isabe
in q low voice.
''He is busy. He can't see girl ik
your
81 have something important to So,
to him."
| Walter Barton, on being told this
came forward.
"Well, girl, what do you want of me,
he asked rudely.
"You gave me only sevenpence fo
some waistcoat I brought here thi
morning said Isabel in an assumed
voice.
"what Of that? They were poorl
made"
"I need the money for my mother.
worked hard, and l am sure the waist
coats we're we'll made"
"Look here can't be troubled wit
you," said Barton roughly. "I CAV
you all the work was worth"
"My mother will starve p
IL "Let her starve then. It's no bu.
mess of mine.
This was too much for Isabel, who's
indignation was intense.
She threw up her veil, revealing
Walter Barton a face that terrified hin
so full was it of whitening scorn.
81 am glad have found you out
Mr.. Barton" said Isabel. "Fortun
ately it is not too late," and she turne
haughtily and swept out the shop.
"Isabel Isabel Isabel Howard
called Walter Barton in an agitate
tone. "Come back. It's all mistake
will make it right.
Isabel did not answer, nor turn bacl
but left the place with her illusion
broken.
The next day it was announced i
society that the engagement was broker
Three months later there was a ne
enQsQement, but this time it was D.
Percy who gained the prize for whic
SO many were striving.
The poor girl soon obtained remuner
tive employment through Isabel's Il
fiuence, and she and her mother new
again knew want.
As for Waltar Barton, he rued bi
terly his fatal mistake, but for Isabel
is most fortunate one, since it saved hs
from marryinp A man whom she woul