Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-03-03

you, Alice, do you think, darling, you
would mind genteel place in a mil
linery or dressmaking establishment
something that was light and lucra-
tive"
Mamma" said Alice, clasping her
hands, " L would go as common SER
want maid, if only you will not look so
white and terrifed?"
"Oh, if only you had married Mr..
Izingsdale, sighed Emmeline, wiring
ing her hands.
at isn't worth while to talk about
that, now," said Alice, quickly.
Mrs. Stitchall, on Fourteenth street,
agreed to initiate Miss Stafford into the
art of first-class dressmalzing. The
girl was pretty and stylish. Her Gus
toners liked to be waited on by just
such dimpled young houris; and, be-
side, on account of her ineXperience,
Miss Stafford came cheap.
But poor Alice was indescribably
shocked on the second. day OF her
apprenticeship, when Miss Maugenet
swept into the showroom, with Mrs.
General Satisfy and half dozen
fashionable friends in attendance on
her.
"My niece has countermanded her
PariSiar order," said Mrs. Satisfy.
"She thinks that Pingat and Worth
charge a deal too much. What we
want to know now is whether you,
Mrs. Stitchall, can undertake to have
her dresses ready for the thiTtieth of
March
Mrs. Stitchall beamed and said "she
thought that shecould. For wedding.
outfit. of course, all other things must
give way"
Miss Maugenet smiled, loftily. She
did look old and ball-wOrn, Alice
thought, for all her eyes were so large
and her figure SO imperially developed.
yes" SAID she, '' l am to be married
on the thirtieth Of March, and ! don't
care who knows it. l am not one Of
your green schoolgirls who want to
involve everything IN mystery"
And then she fell to turning over
the stuffs and criticising the fashion
plates, as a fashionable lady should.
A strange pang rent poor Alice SAT
fOrd's heart as she stood there, ar
ranging imported costumes on their
frames. Her eyes brimmed with
tears. How could Frank ever have
fancied such a bold. snowy, loud
voiced votary of fashion as this2-
Frank, who was so fastidious, so re-
fined, so all that man should be.
Suddenly she started. Her own
heart lay before her, easy to be de
ciphered as an open book. Was she
in love with another wpman's aiiianced
lovere And the deep color glowed
on her cheek and her lip quivered.
Oh, why-why had she not compre-
hended her own nature beforep Now
it was too late
1t was a raw, snowy twilight when
she started to return home, with a
sad wind wailing through the streets
and the gas Jets fiickering behind their
misty glasses.
Never before had Alice Stafford been
out so late unprotected, and drunken
man, Just arrived at the gleeful stage
of inebriation. who staggered down the
street, made her heart beat with ter
ror. She uttered little scream as
she stepped hastily aside, and walked
nearly into the arms Of tall pedes-
trian, wearing a seal-trimmed over
coat.
"Why. Alice r. he called out, cheeri-
ly. els this really youp Alone, and
at this time Of night r
Frank r. was all that she could
gasp.
eff you don't want TO walk with
me-" he said, IL will not inaict my
presence upon you. But | will keep
a little behind, SO as TO make sure that
you reach home safely. Dusk is the
worst Of all times for young girl to
be out ir the streets of New York
without an escort"
She looked at him with eyes of mute
pleading.
What is it, AIiceP" he asked.
"Why do you look so strangely at
me2"
| "Because you speak 20 coldly. Be
cause you are so changedr' she cried
out, resolutely repressing her sobs.
"Oh, why don't you speak TO me as
you did onceY'
He drew her arm under his
Alice" he said, ''if thought that
you cared for me-"
ado r she exclaimed, passionately.
aYou know that do But, oh
what am / saying to you. the betI othed
husband Of another womanT
lie looked puzzled
"This is quite new 70 me-, said he.