The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-09-13


ra- Then she smiled at her own stu
pidity, for such deep flush as mantled
in Cary's cheek is seldom evoked by the
mention of brother.
Nom, he's just a-friend. His folks
and mine live opposite.
"In Gilmanton, and is he afarmerp"
ellis father farms, and Mark works
for him; but his time is out in the
spring, and then he calculates to set up
for himself"
Does he ever come to the cityp"
"No, not once since L was here, but
he speaks some of coming down along
toward spring, and that's one reason
like to look as stylish as L can, SOS not
to be different from the rest when Mark
comes"
81 think in his place should prefer
You to be different" said Miss Sydney,
decidedly. Now, Cary, don't be Of
Tended, but what you girls aim at is to
look like the ladies who come to the
shop, isn't it?-' stylish, as you would
say?"
"Yes, 1 suppose it isl admitted
Cary.
"Well, then, l must tell you the plain
truth; you utterly fail in your attempt.
No one would mistake a girl, dressed as
you are at the moment, for a lady; no
body.-but'' -disregarding the deep
flush on her companions cheeks-"if l
went into shop, and saw there young
lady as pretty and as delicately made as
you are, Cary. with hair as smooth as
satin, and simple gown that fitted ex-
actly, and a collar and cuffs as white as
snow, and perhaps black silk apron
or a white one, and with neat shoes and
nice stockings, if l saw a girl dressed
like that, with nothing costly, nothing
that any girl can not have, but every
thing fresh, and neat, and pretty, |
should say to myself: There is shop
girl with the true instincts of a lady,
And Cary-don't think me impertinent
If Mark came to town and saw girl
like that among the crowd of untidy,
over-dressed ones at Snow & Asher's, |
think the contrast would strike him az
it would me-agreeably!'
Miss Sydney paused. half frightened
at her own daring. Cary looked stead
lily into the fire without speaking. The
rain had ceased. Myra rose and threw
back the blind, revealing the moon
struggling through thin edges of cloud.
Cary followed her to the window. Her
cheeks were deep red, but there was
frank and grateful look in her eyes as
she said:
Il must be going, now, ma'am.
You've been ever so good to let me stay.
l shan't forget it, and guess you're
about right
Il wonder if l said the right thing,
or have done the least good?" queried
Miss Sydney, as she watched her guest
depart.
1t was some weeks before she had oc-
casion again to visit Snow u Asher's
and she had half forgotten the little
incident, when one day, entering the
shop in quest of something, her atten-
ton was attracted by face which
beamed with sudden smiles at the sight
of her. 1t was indeed Cary, but such
a different Cary from the draggled Wis
ion of the wet evening! She still wore
the blue dress, but the tlounces had
been ripped of, and the front was hid
den by black s TX apron. The tangle
of hair was smoothed like ordinary
waves, q white collar with a knot of
blue ribbon was round her neck; one of
the Objectionable rings had disappeared,
and so had the yellow locket. So
changed and so much prettier was the
little maiden, that Miss Sydney scarcely
knew her, till blush and smile pointed
her out.
She waited on her customer with as
sduity, and under cover of box of ruff
fies they exchanged condolences. Did
Miss Sydney think she looked better?
She was so glad. The girls had laughed
at her, at first, but not so much now,
and her roommate, Ellen Morris, had
got herself an apron like hers. Miss
Sydney left the shop with pleased
amusement at her heart. She meant to
90 often to keep little hold on Cary,
but circumstances took her off to Flori-
da, soon afterward, and it was late in
April when she returned.
THAT girl from Snow & Asher's was
here to see you about week ago,
ma am" said Esther, the evening after
her arrival. Il told her you was ex-
pected Tuesday, and she said she
would come again to-day, for she want
ed to speak to you particular, and she
was going away. There she is, now"
Cary, indeed, it was, with a steady,
manly looking fellow by her side.
LII is MAIN MISS Oy uncy' ohO c1biu,
by way of introduction. Later, when
Mark had walked over to the window
to see the view, she explained farther
in rapid undertone: "He came down
two months ago, while you was away,
ma am. came out to tell you, but you
was gone, and-and day after to-mor-
row rn-going back with him to Gill
manton. l told him he must bring me
out tonight, for l couldn't leave here
without saying goodbye to you"
"You are going to be married?"
"Yes''-with a happy look-.'to-
morrow morning. And oh, Miss Sgd
ney, what do you think Mark says? He
saws if he'd found me looking like
the rest of the girls at the store,
with false hair, and jewelry, and all
that, he'd never in the world have asked
me at all. And | did look just like
that, you know. 1t was what you said
that rainy night that made me change,
and except for that nothing would have
happened that has, and l shouldn't be
the girl l am"
Bread on the waters" thought
Myra, as a little later she watched the
lovers walk down the street. "Such
little crumb, and such wide waters, yet
it has come back! How impossible it
seems, or would seem, if one did not
have to believe that what we call
chances and accidents are Gods oppor-
tunities, by which He allows us to lend
helping hand in his work, not quite
understanding what we do, but know