Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1881-02-23
sUsIE,s ECCENTRIC NEIGHBOR.


The tenement house was one ex-
ceptionally desirable and situated in
a quiet and respectable locality. The
large back room on the second floor
was also pleasant and not unhandsome,
with its ceilings that looked like q
huge slab Of unpublished white marble
walls neatly covered with an excel
lent quality of rosy gray tint modestly
spangled with nondescript flowers and
foliage of bright yellow gilt and dull
green bronze. The furniture of the
apartment was harmonious and grace
ful. twas unstained oak upholstered
in brocatel which, inexpensive though
it was, still was effective and pretty in
its design Of green and gold. Several
small, really fine and tastefully framed
chromoes adorned the walls, and upon
the mantel were cheap vases and cum
ming little plaster statues. Two sunny
windows shaded by lace curtains and
shutters discreetly bowed, opened up
on a tiny yard where the grass was
permitted to grow all fresh and sweet
and untroden. A third window open
ed upon an exceedingly narrow alley
that seemed to be so many feet OF
waste ground, as very oddly there
was neither stables nor sheds nor rock
cries in the rear, and it ended at a
high, blank, wooden wall, which in
closed mansion of the next parallel
street.
Beside this window, the shutters
open wide, the curtains looped back
by knots of gay ribbon, sat a young
woman working busily. Before her
on large table lay cloud of tulle,
fragments of white satin, and bits Of
green velvet, and all the requisites of
the artistic maker of artificial flow
ers.
But Just then Susie Aldrich was
toiling for herself alone. The lovely
things that were being shaped by her
deft, dainty fingers were orange BIOS
SONS and buds and leaves, and that
misty mass of snowy tulle was to be
her bridal veil
~ have finished the last leaf and
flower" she observed with smile and
and a sigh, as if loath to relinquish
her pretty work, into which she had
woven so many fond hopes of JOY and
love. "Isn't it quite perfect, Pam
ella p
Her elder sister-very elderly in
deed-looked askance at the bridal
garland and drew long and doleful
breath.
II suppose So" she returned, sour
ly; "but in my way of thinking you
will never wear it,"
"Why shall l not!" inquired the
young girl, q sudden shadow in the
innocent gray eyes she turned quick
ly toward the only relative she had
on earth.
"Why. Because, Susie, your Dion
De We're now that his fathers death
has left him wealthy and independent,
may choose to marry a woman very
different from a humble fower-ma-
kerr" was the cynical, but impressive,
response.
She tossed back the heavy jet black
curls from her exquisite face, and
laughed merrily.
"You are always predicting I'M
pleasant things, PAMELA" she enun-
oiated at last, still smiling. "Dion
loves me just as / love him. He is
as true as truth itself; and we shall
be married, PAMELA, on the appointed
day, and / shall wear my lovely gar
land"
1--WE shall see," came the reply
like q witch's croak.
Just then diminutive tawny mon.
grel yclept King Charles, which had
been doing at Susie's feet, began tc
snarl in very unfriendly manner, and
at the same moment there came 0
gentle tapping upon the door.
"Mr. De We're has come. i shall
vanish" remarked the accommodat-
ing PAMELA, taking her basket oil
brilliant weols and disappearing in
an inner room.
Susie, blushing and agitated, flung
the table cover over the tulle ant