The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-10
A COSTLY BARGAIN.

surrounding IOf It's 1aif occupants, Httl
Mrs. Delmaine, dark and bewitching a
gypsy princess, in her pink cashmer,
dressing-gown, with its big square but
teas of solid gold, and stately Myr:
Bellairs, fair as blushing rose, witt
her naughty red mouth and bewilder
ing violet blue-eyes that to everyone il
the world were cold and serene, excep
to Arthur Torrens, the only man in the
world who had ever won her love, anC
who had won it and held it, and mad.
her absolutely happy.
But Myra and her chief friend, Lucy
Delmaine, were not discussing her low
er just at this moment, but the object
OF their animated conversation lay care
fully displayed on the rose silken couch,
a marvellously magnificent dress OF
foamy lace.
''And only thirty pounds! 1t seems
Incredible
Mrs. Delmaine caressed it with her
fair diamond hand.
lit was the greatest bargain 1 ever
heard Of" Myra said, in her low, exquis-
| lite voice. Il have always wanted a
real lace dress, but certainly never eX-
| pected to find one so cheap and so mag
niflcent as this. 1t is worth hundred
and fifty pounds
Il think so," Mrs. Delmaine return
ed. 'How did you happen to secure
such wonderful bargain, dear?''
81 saw an advertisement in the
Queen, saying that a real lace dress
must be disposed of at great sacrifice.
So went to the address, very re-
spectacle lodging house, in Blooms
bury, and found the dress and the own
era pale, misunderstanding creature,
hItt n laHxr hnr.,, on1 IL
been very beautiful once, l Think
Mrs. Delmaine listened attentively.
''What charming story! Do CON
tinue, Myra, DEAR
There is really very little to tell"
she said 81 asked to be shown the dress,
and she opened the square cedar box,
lined with satin, that contained il, and l
at once fell in love with it, although l
took care not to let her know that
Mrs. Delmaine laughed softly.
''Of course not
''She told me it was the sole remain
ing relic of former wealth. She said
she had parted with everything. They
had been wealthy French people, it
seemed-and really she was most re-
fined and ladylike-but SO i'll and weak
she could not speak much without
coughing. This" and Myra laid her
dainty, pearl kidded hand Oh the dress,
''was her weddiBg-dress, and never
worn but once; cost two hundred pounds
when lace was not SO expensive as
now"
'.And you got it for less than quar-
ter of its proper value. Myra, how did
you do it?''
Myra lifted her eyebrows in COM
posed way.
Il simply told her what 1 would give
her, and although 1 knew she would
think it terrible sacrifice, she would
also know that thirty pounds in cash
was better than the useless garment in
the box"
''Of course she was not foolish
enough to refuse it, but-Myra it was
tremendous bargain for you"
.'Of COURSE" Miss Bellairs said, CON-
placently, ''but people in reduced cir
cumstances must expect to make sacri-
fees. l could haye given her hundred
pounds and still secured the dress cheap
Iy; but 1 preferred to do the best /
could''
Her blue eyes rested in loving pride
on the dress.
'.And only thirty poundsr' sighed
Mrs. Delmaine. Il am afraid am en-
vious, Myra! Why, the box alone is a
treasure-it is worth five pounds at the
least
II rather admire it" Myra said, COM
placently. ''Did you see the name on
the inner lid? 'Grdc,euse DE Lesley.
AUec amour. Dteu cOus go2ae.' just
a trife romantic, isn't it?''
A look of womanly sadness was tenn
porarily in Mrs. Delmaine's bright dark
eyes.
And pitiful Myra
Miss Bellairs arose to finish her call,
while Mrs. Delmaine's deft-fingered
maid returned the dress to its box.
81 certainly feel very sorry for the
poor thing" she said, coldly, "but 1
dare say the money will do her a great
deal of good. l hope Arthur will like
it."
She went down to her carriage, beau
tiful, stately, high-bred as some young
princess, and Arthur Torren's who was
as much at home in Mrs. Delmaine's
house as in his mothers, by virtue of /!
took himself up from the !
lounge in the room adjoining that in |
which his cousin and his betrothed, |
both profoundly unaware of his prox-
unity, had discussed the purchase.
.'Can it be possible, can it be possi-
Dlt. lnstt VI Stll WOlucu III tic WOflt, tnc |
love is a grasping, unscrupu-
lous bargain-maker-and that, too,
toward sister woman, sick and in
want? Can it be possiblep''
He went up and down, up and down
The room, his rapid, emphatic steps at /
,racting Mrs. Delmaine's attention.
..Arthur! Why, did not hear you
come i'm
Nevertheless, / came in as / usually
come, and have had the pleasure of
nearing the report of Myra's success i'm
Madame Gracieuse De Lesley
,n the lace dress question. And you
we're either not brave enough or not
enough TO brand the tran
'actiOn, the swindle it was
Mrs. Delmaine looked at him in sur
,rise.
..Arthur! what do you mean? Why
YOu are-'
.Yes, / am-if you mean astonished
md indignant beyond measure.
would not have thought Myra could be
.uilty of such-well, we won't speak of
TT
Twenty-four hours later Mr.. Torrens,
eading his morning paper. uttered an
of almost horror, for
amongst the news was paragraph to
he effect that Madame Gracieuse De
lesley, most estimable lady of reduc-
a circumstances, had committed sui
ide, leaving as her reason a note writ
en- to her daughter, that she had paid
yUav hor last raDnv T,ocoivo6 for tha