The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10

pl<t r vi, and the major will never
HpW fintI didn't make it myself.
shirt. iadeeal Why he'll be ex-
! Reeting us IA scrub floors and make
soft soap neA The brown house is
very iiIce, out meansto be lady oft
Without any OF this odious drudg-
IefyD
30 Miss Bruce. WHO was tall, with
4 superb complexion, flashing black
eyes and figure like 'Diana's own,
rolled up the obnoxious materials and
csTried them'to little holse around
| tile corner, where a pale, dove-eyed
| ybnng woman, no longer in her first
\ youth, sat at her sewing.
u f,Agsver, Z said Miss Bruce, cuytly,
~ watlortally hate, Very nic4v
p,,., ~, e =, death the asa,. ssS a,ss,,,
do you hear ?"
Agatha Fontaine looked up visit
fully.
But, Erminia," said she, II am
very hurried just now. If you could
wait d week."
Every well," said Miss Bruce,
with a toss of her imperial head
'then I'll take my materials else
where. It's always the way with you
suffering poor. If one takes you work
you won't do it and then you come
and tell us all sorts of stories about
your priyations. Butmark my words
Agatha, if you refuse to oblige me
now I'll never employ you again"
Miss Fontaine sighed softly. Five
years ago she and Erlninia Bruce had
shared the same room in Madame
Eroulignac's fashionable boarding
school and were inseparable friends.
But poor Harmon Fontaine had fail
ed in business sand recklessIysdrawn
a razor across his throat, and here
was Agatha toiling for her daily
broad, no more than to support a
delicate mother and a little brother
who was ailing with spinal COM
plant. And Erminia had listened
with a patronizing air to Agatha's
humble request for work.
II will see what l can do for you,"
she had said, slipping the rich rings
carelessly up and down her fingers.
But amateur needleWork is never
quite up to the mark. However, if
you will consider that in your
charges"
81 will endeayor to work we'll and
Schaaaaals; y. - said Agatha, meekly,
Y And after she was gone Erminia
laughed exaultant y.
"It's regular stroke of good luck
for us, mamma" said she. "Broken
down gentry always work we'll and
at quarter prices !"
And so, when she turned coldly
away upon this occasion, Agatha
made haste to detain her.
"Leave the work, Erminia," said
she, "It is true that am very much
hurried just at present, but you have
been very kind to me, and l would
not willingly disoblige you"
at must be hand made" said Miss
Bruce, unroIling her parcel, "and
very neatly, mind, and l will pay
you fifty cents"
"Fifty cents !" echoed Agatha.
"Our usual charge is"
II don't care anything about your
usual charge !" said Erminia, impa-
tientIy. eff you can't do it for fifty
cents you needn't do it at ALL"
And she rustled out of the room,
leaving a strong odor of Bouquet de
Caroline" behind her.
"Isn't it strange ?" said Agatha to
herself, in sort of sotto voice.
"Isn't what strange ?" said pleas
ant voice from the adjoining room,
where Major Trixton was sitting by
Hal Fontaine's sick bed.
"This is the third shirt / have had
brought me to-day to make" said
Agatha, land all in hurry. shall
have to sit up till midnight to finish
them"
"1ndeed ~ said Mr.. Trixton.
"One is from Miss Ida Hedge and
one from her sister Bertha" said
Agatha. land now Miss Bruce"
miss Bruce, eh ?" said the Major.
Cant she make her own shirts with.
out bringing them here ?"
81 don't know" sighed Agatha.
"She is the naughty young woman,
Isuppose, who was domineering oyer
you just now?"
"Yes," acknowledged Agatha.
mot that she means to be unkind,
butt
mo, no--of course not" said Ma.
jor Trixton, dryly. "Only she treats
you as if you belonged to an inferior
race of creatures"
A L. =