The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-09-02

which were leftY"
III folded them up with the dress, mad
anne" said Flora Fay, an innocent blue
eyed young girl, recently from the country
who stood IN an uncOnsciously graceful at
titude before the fat aud florid dressmakcr
"Then you were goose tor your pains,
shortly retortcd Madame MOlini, as she
unfastened the parcel, distracted the piece
of glistenlng, uncut silk, and whisked II
away upon shelf "rwO yards and q
half isn't much, but II ID better than moth
ing"
Flora Fay opened her innocent blue eyes
wide.
"What is she gong TO do with III" she
asked Miss Fox, IN whisper, as madame
rustlcd off to scold the errand boy for put
ting too much coal ON the fire.
Don't you know, little sillyy" whisper
cd Miss Fox, laughing. "lt's what she
cabbages"
"Cabbages!" repeated Flora, In amaze
ment. III don't understand you"
"You will, when you see the dove silk
made up into sleeveless basque for mad
ame," said the other, trimmed with the
gimp that was left from Mrs. Aubrey's
dinner. dress, aud the pearl fringe from
Mrs. Ossett's white damdsse ball costumc.'
But you don't mcan," said breathless
Flora, 'that madame takes the silk that ID
left from the customers dressesY"
"Goosie" cried Miss Fox, "dOp't talk
nonsense any longer. It's what every fash
ionable dressmaker does"
The dress WAS sent home, but the lady
for whom 1t had been made called on Ma
dame Molini the next day. 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
show room. at IS not all made up into
the dress. had purchased enough for II
new waist and sleeves, and 1t Is not here. :"
"You must be mistaken" said Miss Fox,
with an aspect of polite impassibility
THE bias puifs and folds cut up the mate.
rial shockingly. and"
But at this moment little Flora Fay, who
was packing some tulle cspcs and fichus
into band. box, at the back of the room,
rose and came forward with deepening
color.
"There are two yards and a halt Of the
dove colored silk, Miss Fox" she inter.
rnpted; don't you remember ON the
shelf IN the back room"
Miss Fox colorcd aud bit her lip.
Madame Mollni, with omlnously dark.
ened face, twltched the two yards and a
half OF silk off the shelf, folded 1t into a
paper, and handed it to Mrs. For!escue,
muttering something about "a mistake
made by one of her young women" and
the young lady departed.
She had hardly closed the door behind
her, however, wnen Madame MolIni turn.
ed upon poor Flora Fay, with scarlet
spot glowing IN each cheek and lips close.
ly compressed.
young woman" said she, "you are dis.
charged"
Dischargedv' echoed Flora. For
what?"
81 want no one in my service" said ma
dame, "who is too conscientious to fulfil
my wishes. You have intcrmcddled un.
warrantably in the matter Of that silk, and
I repeat that You are no longer in my en-
ployment.'
SO poor Flora went crying home, with a
v,gue comprehension that she had spoken
but the truth.
And the next day Mrs For,escuc came
to see Flora Fay.
at is all my fault" SAID she, with affec.
tionate vehemence that you lost your sit
uation--and oh, il you would only come
and stay with me, aud help me with the
sewing for my new house. | should es.
TEEN it such favor? Would you, please ?"
"Are you quite sure tina, can make N.Y.
self useful 7" SAID Flora, II little heslta-
tingly.
Eyes, quite" said Mrs. For,cscuc.
And, IN the sunny atmosphere of her
new home, the young country girl seemed
IN n II nnnia al
ly after Mrs. Fortescue's brothcr-a hand.
ON the scene, and little Flora, all uncon.
scious of her own feelings, began to watch
for his daily visit as a hcliotrope blossom
watches for the Gun.
Until, at last there was talk of another
long voyage TO China, and then Flora
grew pale and nervous again.
ii have been here long enough" she
SAID, land need change"
But Dick Blake went straight to the
root of the matter.
Flora" sad he, "aro you unwilling that
| should 20 to shanghai"
81 always had horror of the sea-" whis-
pered Flora, hanging down her pretty
head; "but OF course, Captain Blake, you
must do Ms you please"
ayes, of course" he answered, abscntly,
and when he was gone Flora shed few
quiet tears over the tablelincn she was
hemmlng for Mrs. Fortescue.
But the next evening, at dusk, Captain
Blake saurtered IN, with that swinging
gait of his, as if he were still treading the
deck Of an outward bound vessel.
Don't run away, Flora" said he, as the
girl caught up her work and prepared tor
a precipita,e retreat
"Did-dd you want to speak to mel"
she faltered, with downcast eyes.
Don't always want to speak to you!
Sit down, Flora" SAID he, land hear what
Two been planning"
"Now it is coming" thoaght Flora, with
a sick feeling OF her heart. "He is gong
to be married, and he is coming to tell
me So"
III have decided to give up the sea-iarlng
business, said Capt Blake.
"Have your" fluttered Flora, family. al
am so glad"
"And I've bought farm" he went on,
Flora, where you were born and brought
ur. I'm going to be n farmer"
"Oh," she cried, involuntar!ly, ut |
could only see the dear old place once
more"
But won't 20 there to live" said the
captain dcterminedly, unless you'll go
there with me, Flora, as the farmers wife!
What do you think of it, little girl! Shall
II Ia n partnership"
And when Mrs. FOrtescue came in the
papers were all sealed, signed and dellv-
cred; the partnership" was foregone
ct don't know how I shall suCcpnd No q
farmer" said Captain Blake to his sister;
but if little Flora here is only with me,
heres nothing III all the world that l