Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-03-09

--"my sisters dress. She is to be mar.
ried next week, and some Of her friends
coaxed her to have her dress made here,
Miss Fortescue she's only my half-sis.
ter, you know" in answer to Flora's
look of questioning surprise; 'but she's
very nice, and is going to marry well.
hope"
"It's the mode-coIored Dress" said
Flora, with Frightening eyes. 81 helped
to trim it myself. Yes, it's all
ready"
And presently madame came smiling
in, with the bill, and the dress folded
neatly in a white pasteboard box, and
Captain Drake departed with dim
idea that Madame Molini perfectly com.
pretended the art Of high charges.
Miss Fortescue herself came the
next day. She was young lady not
lacking in quiet resolution. She knew
her rights. and was prepared to defend
them.
"Where is the material sent ?" said
she to Miss Fox, who was in attendance
in the reception room. SIT is not all
made up into the dress. ! had purchased
enough for new waist and sleeves
and it is not hero.
sYou must be mistaken" said Miss
Fox, with an aspect Of polite impassi-
bility. "The bias puffs and folds cut
up the material shockingly, and"
But at this moment, little Flora Fay,
who was packing some tuile capes and
fichus into band-box, at the back Of
the room, rose and came forward, with
deepening color.
sThere ara two yards and half oi
the mode-colored silk, Miss Fox" she
interrupted -''don't you remember p
on the shelf in the back room"
Miss Fox colored and bit her lip.
Madame Molini, with ominously- dark
ened face, twitched the two yards and
half of silk off the shelf, folded it in.
paper, and handed it to Miss For.
tescue, muttering something about I" a
mistake made by one Of her young wo-
men;" and the young lady departed, a
little dubious as to whether or not the
fashionable dressmaker had intended to
cheat her.
She had hardly closed the door be-
hind her, however, when Madame Moli-
nj turned upon poor Flora Fay, with a
scarlet spot glowing in each cheek and
lips closely compressed.
"Young woman," said she, "you are
discharged r.
'sDischargedr' echoed Flora. "For
what ?"
81 want no one in my SERVICE" said
madame, swho is too conscientious
to fulfill my wishes. You have inter-
meddled unwarrantably in the matter
of that silk, and repeat that you are
no longer in my employment" !.
So poor little Flora went crying
home, with vague comprehension
that she had been discharged because
she had spoken out the truth.
It was nearly fortnight afterward
that Captain Drake noticed the absence
of Miss Fay from the table at the
boarding house.
SIS your little blue-eyed Iodger i'll,
Mrs. Dodds ?" he asked. "I don't
think I have seen her Of late"
mo she's not ILL.," said the landlady.
That is to say, not exactly sick. But
she will be if she don't look out. She's
boarding herself, Captain Drake, on
bread and crackers, and such like, poor
dear and wasting away like little
shadow, because she lost her situation
at that dressmaking place, and don't
see her way clear to another. And she
won't run in debt, she says, not even
for meal of victuals. Ahl'' the good
woman added. 81 can remember when
she was the pet and darling Of the old
folks at home, before they lost their all,
running about among the daisies and
buttercups like sunbeam"
"But how did she come to lose her
placer" asked Captain Drake.
And Mrs. Dodds, who liked to hear
the sound Of her own voice, told the
whole story.
cts shame !" cried the captain.
"Just what say myself" nodded
the landlady.
And the next day, Miss Fortescue
(who was Mrs. Arkwright now came to
see Flora Fay.
ssIt was all my fault" said she, with
afectionate vehemence, "that you lost
your situation-and oh, if you would
only come and stay with me, and help
me with the sewing for my new house,
I should esteem it such favorl Would
you please?"
care you quite sure that I can make
myself useful ?" said Flora, little hesi-
tatingly.
"Yes, quite" said Mrs. Arkwright.
And, in the sunny atmosphere Of the
brides pretty home. the young country
girl seemed to expand into different
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