Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-07-14
LAURA'S MISTAKE.

Laura had just been making ont a
bill. Miss Hayden. to L,ura Stet
son, DR., satin overskirt, rutfling skirt,
belt fifty three dollars"
That's ALL" said the tired girl,
letting her pencil drop, and breathing
q sigh of relief.
Il hope she will pay you tonight"
murmured Mrs. Stetson.
She is we'll aware of our needs, !"
was the sad reply. "At The same
time she carries her old habits of
saving into her new life, for she knows
[ shall not charge one half the price
that a regular dressmaker would.
She would have to pay Madame
! Joliffe $100 at the least
well, it's q shame" replied her
mother. that you can't get the reg
ular price when you do your work as
well. Time was when your father
could have bought and sold Walter
Hayden, and now you must work
your fingers off for his daughter, who
has neither your education, nor"
"Oh, don't mammal" pleaded Laura,
with a little laugh tina. was partly
hysterical. You only make it worse
for me, you see, calling up old times.
Just say it will all come right in the
fall, as papa used to;' and with the
smile still on her lips, she turned her
troubled eyes away.
For poor, proud Laura, earning n
scanty living for her mother and her
self, had memory of the Haydens
hidden in her heart.
When Bart Hayden ha6 gone away,
only year before, she had thought
of him for months after, nay, even
till now. with quickened pulse and
heightened color. The Haydens were
not wealthy then. but within short
time they had ccme into fortune,
and it was rumored that young Bart
was also growing rich through lucky
speculation.
1t was just nine months since the
death of Laura's father. He had
dropped down suddenly while ap-
parently in the full enjoyment of
health; and after the funeral it was
found that his affairs were in a tan
gled condition. In fact, only a small
house was left to the widow, through
the consideration OF creditors, and
that far from being comfortably fur
nished.
Laura, the Schild OF wealth and
fashion, her fathers idol, delicate,
thoroughbred, elegant girl who had
heretofore summed herself in the warm
rays of prosperity. and hardly knew
whether she had a heart or not,
proved herself a heroine. Whatever
she could find to do she worked ut
with all her heart Plain sewing,
embroidery. dressmaking, for which
she had q talent, and concerning
which she had often laughingly said
that if she had not been rich she
might have been famous; everything
was undertaken willingly. She ac-
cepted the situation, though not with
out some struggles with pride and
many secret tears.
Mrs. Stetson thought of the time
when a carriage was at the call of her
darling.
Dear. can't I take it?" she asked,
gazing at her anxiously. You look
ILL.,"
II am ill-that is, my head aches;
but the walk will do me good" Laura
responded, trying to look bright.
do yon think I would let you carry
home my work7 No, ipdeed~ and
she bent over and kissed her mothers
forehead.
Out in the open air she felt better.
The nervous depression from which
she suffered gradually left her, and
she became interested in the sights
and sounds about her. Some of her
former acquaintance passed her, a
few with a nod OF recognition, but
most without noticing her at all;
little stings these were, but she held
her bundle firmly, lifted her head a
triAe higher, and passed bravely on.
Turning a corner she came full upon
an unexpected tableau. A smartly
dressed boy, with a feather in his
cap. kickt d and struggled with his
nurse, who vainly pulled the obstinate
child till her face was purple.
why. Lucy! Why, Benny" ex
claimed Laura, for the girl was nurse
maid at the Haydens'. and Benny
the youngest hope of the house.
whats all this?"
Deed, miss. he's awful" said the
girl. nearly crying. "When he makes
up his mind, it's tiger he is. just
see him nowr
Laura spoke few words to the
boy in a low tone, and he ceased
struggling for n moment.
"We're all at SKIES and sevens,
said the nurse, "and the missus is
orful nervous Mr.. Bart's just re-
turned from Californy, without nc
warning at all, and brought beauti-
full young lady with him. ! do sup,
pose it's his wife, from what l heard
-and Il nnita npset the missus, and