The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-01


81 wish you would tell me how you do,
ma am.'
81 will, though Pm not in the habit of
talking quite so freely about my affairs, but
| I'll tell you, because it may give you an idea
of how to manage better for yourself In
the first place keep to two or three solors.
have black gown or two, and an olive
brown, and this yellowish green that you
see, and some lighter ones, white or pale
yellow. Now with any of these the same
bonnet will do. The one am wearing now
is black, with little jet and pale yellow,
and 1t goes perfectly we'll with all my dresses
and so does my black cashmere jacket, and
my parasol and gloves, which are yellow al
so. Don't you see that there is an economy
in this, and that if had purple dress, and
blue one and brown, should want a
different bonnet for each, and different
gloves and different parasol"' 8
"Why, yes, it does seem so,' said Cary1
drawing a long breath. "Pd like to do
something different myself, but don't sup
pose I'd know how"
ssWould you mind if told you what 1
think?' asked Myra, gently.
"No'm, I'd thank you."
1t seems to me that the chief trouble with
girls who work in stores, is that they care
more for what they call being Stylish than
for being either neat or pretty. A Young
girl can look her best in simple dress, if it
is we'll put ON and becoming
That's what mother used TO say and
Mark, he always liked me best in a white
bib apron. To be sure he never saw me in
city clothes
"Is Mark your brother?'' asked Myra.
Then she smiled at her own stupidity, for
such deep flush as mantled in Carys
cheek, is seldom evoked by the mention of
brother.
"No'm, he's just a--friend. His folks and
mine live opposite"
I'm Gilmanton, and is he a farmer?"
"His 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 70 the city?'
mo. not once since 7 was here, but he
speaks some of coming down along towards
spring, and that's one reason like to look
as stylish as | can, SOS not to be different
from the rest, when Mark comes"
II think in his place should prefer you
to be different" said Miss Sydney, decided
ly. "New, Gary, don't be offended, but
what you girls aim at is to look like the la
dies who come to the shop, isn't it?-'sty-
lish,' as you would say?''
eyes, suppose it is" admitted Cary.
'Well, then, l must tell you the plain
truth; you utterly fail in your attempt. No
one would mistake girl, dressed as you are
at this moment, for lady; nobody butt
-disregarding the deep flush on her COM
panion's cheeks-'sif / 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 a simple gown that
fitted exactly, aud collar and cuffs as white
as snow, and perhaps black silk apron or
white one, and with neat shoes and nice
stockings, if | saw !. girl dressed like that,
with nothing costly, nothing that any girl
cannot have 1nt avarythipn frnsh
and pretty, should say to myself, There is
a shop girl with the true instincts of a
lady, And Cary-don't think me imperti-
nent-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 as it would
me-agreeablyr
Miss Sydney paused, half frightened at
her own daring. Cary looked steadily 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:
81 must be going now, ma'am. You've
been ever so good to let me stay. I shan't
forget it, and-I guess you're about right"
l wonder if l said the right thing, or have
as she watched her guest depart
1t was some weeks before she had occa-
sion again to visit Snow & Asher's and she
had half forgotten the little incident, when
one day entering the shop in quest of some
thing, her attention was attracted by face
which beamed with sudden smiles at the
sight of her. 1t was indeed Cary, but such
different Cary from the dragged vision of
the wei EVENING" She still wore the blue
Arnce hpf no had hoa rsn Ioff
and the front was hidden by a black silk
apron. The tangle of hair was smoothed
like ordinary waves, a white collar with
knot of blue ribbon was round her neck;
one of the objectionable rings had disap-
peared 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 assidui-
ty, and under cover of box of ruffies 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 Nor
ris, had got herself an apron like hers. Miss
Sydney left the shop with pleased amuse-
ment at her, heart. She meant to go often,
to keep little hold on Cary, but circum-
stances took her off to Florida soon after
ward, and it was late in April when she re-
turned.
"That girl from Snow & Asher's was here
to see you about week ago, ma am.'' said
Esther the evening after her arrival. 81
told her you was expected Tuesday, and she
said she would come again to-day, for she
wanted to speak to you particular, and she
was going away. There she is, now.''
Cary indeed it was, with a steady, manly
looking young fellow by her side.
cts Marx, Miss Sydney" she said, by
way of introduction. Later, when Mark
had walked over to the window to see the
view, she explained farther in rapid un-
dertone: "He came down two months ago.
while you was away, ma'am. l came out to
tell you, but you was gone, and-day after
tomorrow Pm-going back with him to Gill
manton. told him he must bring me out
tonight, for l couldn't leave here without
saying goodbye to YOU
You are going to be marriedr'
"Yes"-with happy -tsto-morrow
morning. And oh, Miss Sydney, what do
you think Mark says? He says 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 10 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 1 shouldn't be the girl that ann
Bread on the waters" thought Myra, as
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 4
chances and accidents, are Gods opportu-
mites by which be allows us to lend a help
ing hand in His work, not quite understand
ing what we do, but knowing that guided by