Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-09-14
Reantifnl Hands.

the elegantly furnished parlor Of her fathers
palatial mansion. The richest of lace fell
over beautiful hand, which rested upon
the soft upholstery of the arm chair. 1t
was hand that the most fastidious OF
sculptors would have chosen for his model.
On its first shapely finger was magnificent
diamond ring, which the son of Mrs. Thomas
Fletcher had placed there only the night
before Mrs. Thomas Fletcher was a rich
widow; Roland Fletcher had no identity
of his own-he was always spoken of as
"the rich Mrs. Fletcher's son." and every
body knew that it was his mothers money
that kept him sailing on the top wave of
elite society.
Marian Douglas, our heroine, was in deep
thought. Her eyes rested upon the betrothal
ring upon her finger, and shade of sadness
passed over her face
al wonder if there is any real happiness
in this world" she said, aloud. /" / thought
was going to be so very happy after I
promised to marry Roland Fletcher, but this
has been the most depressing day have
had for months. How wish had some
thing to do; something that amounts to
something. | want to be occupied, but
there is nothing for me to do; everybody
does everything for me- Roland talks about
the beauty of repose and rest, but | will
sence of occupation is not rest"
Just then the door-bell rang, and the SER
want summoned Marian Douglas to the hall.
The caller was a sewing girl from Madame
Marmount's, who had come to bring home a
new silk dress which had been made to
wear at reception on the following evening.
"Madame wishes me to stay and see if
the dress fits well, and if you will wish any
alterations made" said the sewing girl, as
she handed the elegant dress to Miss
Douglass.
The dress was pronounced perfect fit,
and Marian saw no alterations she wished
made, as the young girl fixed the "loop-
ings," and pinned on the flowers. 1t was
with gaze of rapture that the tasteful
dressmaker surveyed the beautiful young
lady standing before her, arrayed in the ele-
giant costume, and casping her hands to-
gether, she exclaimed, 40, how lovely"
Then, as if fearing she had been too COM
municative, she said Please excuse me,
Miss Douglass, but indeed | could not help
expressing myself as | did"
"You are perfectly excusable," replied
the young lady, kindly. "1f | look well |
am greatly indebted to you for the tasteful
arrangement of my dress May ask you
your name 2"
Dora, Dora Curtiss," replied the girl.
"Don't you get very tired sewing all the
time /? 81" asked Marian in kindly tone of
voice.
90, no, Miss Douglass. love to sew
and help design the beautiful dresses.
hope soon to have an establishment of own,
SO that can do more for mother and the
children"
Marian saw that Dora Curtiss was by no
means the "hollow-eyed, thin-cheeked, sad
Is.,r i ~ sNt t1,.o Il
pictured in novels. On the contrary, she
was bright, fresh, red-cheeked happy
faced girl.
"My mother has been an invalid for
years." she said, encouraged by the interest
the young girl had manifested. "She gets
low spirited, sometimes, so always try to
keep state of bright weather in my heart,
and that makes me feel better"
"Wouldn't your mother relish some
jelly ?" asked Marion, impulsively, eve
have plenty of it," and she sent the servant
Immediately to the store-room to bring two
glasses of the incest Jelly.
al thank you many, many times, Miss
Douglass, for your thoughtfulness," said
Dora. "Mother will enjoy the jelly so very
much"
GLOW much happier feel since met
that sewing girl" thought Marian. 81
wonder if it is because happened to think
of giving her that jelly But that was such
every day for the happiness of others'
The next morning Marian woke up with
the full determination to go and see Dora
Curtiss' mother and carry her some fruit
She got ready very soon after breakfast, and
while drawing on pair OF well-fitting
gloves over her tiny hand, she remembered
how often her friends had said, "What
beautiful hands you have !" and feeling of
pride filled her heart for moment. When
she arrived at her destination she was ush-
cred into plainly furnished apartment on
the first flool of a tenement house. Mrs.
Curtiss received her with many kind words
of welcome and thanks. She said the fruit
and jelly were just what she had been
wanting.
As Marian looked around the room, her
eyes fell upon paper pinned upon the wall.
These words were written on it
Beautiful hands are those that do
Moment BY moment n'' the iss whole day through"
She asked to copy the words in her mem
orandum book, and after pleasant talk
with the invalid, Marian left the house.
She had only walked short distance when
she Unexpectedly met Roland Fletcher.
"Why Marian, what are you doing in this
miserable part Oh Ine Guy 7
al have been calling on sick woman,
she replied with sweet SMILE
$50 you have turned Sister of Charity,
have your" he replied, in tone of dis
pleasure. 81 trust you will go directly
home. Don't you know that this is not a
proper portion of the city for young girl
like you? Have you no fear Of catching
contagious diseases ! am afraid to come
here myself, and when | have to collect
rents for mother, she always ties camphoi
bag around my neck"
!" am not at all afraid" replied Marian
"and this is not God.forsaken part of tn,
city, if the people generally are as sweet
patient Christians as the sick woman j hav,
left. never felt so happy in my life ant
have Just begun to learn that our trues
happiness comes to US through doing gooC
to Others"
CHARITY begins at home" said the young
man, twirling his gold-headed cane. "Yor
better make a convert Of me, though | don
think much of your religious chaps"
Roland Fletcher walked home with Ma
rian, expostulating with her and trying t.
make her promise that she would never g
into tenement house again. After the.
seated themselves in her fathers parlor, h
took the tiny hand with the diamond RIM
ON it into his own and said;
"The idea of such a beautiful hand a
this ministering to sick people in tenemen
houses and Juggling fruit, plasters, and nc
body knows what else, through the street 70
their benefit"
"My hands are not beautiful, Rolan
Fletcher" replied the young lady, hastil
withdrawing her hand from her lovers. {"
have learned to-day that
Beautiful hands are those that do
Hereafter shall devote myself to minister
ing TO those whom God has not seen fit [
bless with this worlds goods as abundant
as he has blessed me-"
If there is anything detest," said h
land, it's your pious women, your woman
rights women, your self-supporting woma
and your fanatical women, who think the
have a mission. | expect you will be clar
oring for the ballot next. You are my i
dividual property now, and wish you
preserve your true womanliness and n
overstep the boundaries Of propriety by tn
nunnery, mission business.
"You and differ about the meaning
the term true womanliness," repeated M
rian, in trembling voice. "Ifeel that
have right to follow the dictates Of n
own conscience in such matters"
Roland now saw that Marian felt hu
and, as he did really love her rs much
~. ..IE aI. So, IL