Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-08-24
city elothes'-she stopped, blushing.

us Mark yeur brother - asked Myra.
Then she smiled at her own stupidity, for
such deep blush 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
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 to the city 7"
| "No, not once since 1 was here, but he
speaks some of coming down along toward
spring, and that's one reason I Ike to look
as stylish as can, SOS not to be different
from the rest when Mark comes"
II think in his place 1 should prefer you
to be Different said Miss Sidney decided.
~. NOW, Cary, don't be offended, what
you girls aim at is to look like the ladies
who come to the shop. isn't it ?-'atylish,
as you would say p
Yes. s'pose it isl admitted Cary.
''Well, then, 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; no.
body l-but"- disregarding the deep flush
on her companions cheeks-"if 1 went
into shop, and saw there young lady as
pretty and as deiicately made as you are,
Cary, with hair as smooth as satin, and a
simple gown that fitted exactly, and col.
lar and cuffs as white as snow, and per.
haps 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
but everything fresh and neat and pretty
I should say to myself, there is shop girl
with the true instincts of a lady. And
Cary-don't think me impairment III
Mark came to town and saw girl like
that among the crowd of untidy, over.
dressed ones at Snow & Asher's I think
the contrast would strike him as it would
me-agreeably !"
Miss Sidney paused, half frightened at
her OWE 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 follow.
ed her to the window. Her cheeks we're a
deep red, but there was a frank and CRATE
| full look in her eyes as she said: II must
be gong now, ma'am. You've been ever
so good to let me stay. shan't forget it
nd T ,3rao OH i~bf
II wonder if 1 said the right thing OF
have done the least good ?" queried Miss
Sidney, 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 this little incident
when one day, entering the shop in quest
Ut something 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
| draggled vision of the wet evening"! She
still wore the blue dress, but the hounces
had been ripped off, and the front was
| hidden with black silk apron. The
tangle of her hair was smoothed like Or
binary waves, white collar with knot
of blue ribbon was round her neck one of
the Objectionable rings had disappeared,
andsso had the yellow locket. So changed
and so much prettier was the little maid
en- that Mics Sidney scarcely knew her. till
blush and smile pointed her out.
She waited on her customer with ASST
duty and under cover OF box of ruffies
they exchanged condolences. Did Miss
Sidney think she looked better ? She was
so glad. The girls had laughed at her, at
first, but not 80 much now, and her room
mate, Ellen Morris, bad got herself an
apron like hers. Miss Sidney 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
Florida. soon afterward, and it was late
in April before she returned.
THAT girl from Snow & Asher's was
to see you about week ago, ma am, y
said Esther, the evening after her arrival.
II 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 sturdy, manly
looking young fellow by her side.
ut is Mark, Miss Sydney," she said by
way of introduction. Later; when Mark
had walked over to the window to see the
view she explained further in rapid IN
dertone. HE came down two months
ago, while you was away, ma 'am. 1 came
out to tell you but you was gone, and
day after to- morrow I'm gong back with
him to Glmanton. told him he must
bring me out tonight, for 1 couldn't leave
without saying good-by to YOU"
you are going to be married ?''
"Yes"--with happy look" tomorrow
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 that he'd never in the world have
asked me at all. And did look just like
that, you know. It was what you said
that rainy night that changed me, and ex.
cept for that nothing would have hap
pened that has, and I shouldn't DO the
girl 1 amp
BREAD on the waters" thought Myra,
as little later she watched the lovers
walk down the street. "Such a little
crumb, and such wide waters, yet it has
come backI How impossible it seems, or
would seem, If one did not have to believe
that what We call chances and accidents
are Gods opportunities, by which he al
lows US to lend helping hand in his work
not quite understanding what we do, but
knowing that guided by Him the smallest
things end sometimes III great results
The Congregationotist.