The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-05-22
ISABEL'S APPOINTMENT.

ISABEL'S APPOINTMENT.
Am | really going to have an Of
fce?" cried Isabel Dale, gleefully.
"Shall earn money of my own? And
all because I've learned to write fat
round hand like mans, and because
our cousin, Major Eccleson, is ac-
quainted with the Secretary of the
Treasury
Isabel, don't be SO ridiculous"
said Mrs. Dale, severely.
But, mamma" demonstrated Isa-
bel, checking herself midway in a mad
impromptu waltz that she was execut-
ing in the middle of the parlor floor,
''it's such fun"
'Funn' shrilly repeated Mrs. Dale,
as she shook out the folds of her black
bordered handkerchief. Upon my
word, Isabel, you exceed everything!
Do you consider it fun that we are re-
duced to a second rate boarding house
like this? that am actually compelled
to send my gowns to be dyed, and to
make over my own caps? that your
poor, dear papa's investments have
turned out failure?'
Mamma, never meant that said
Isabel, with sudden burst of peni-
tence. ':And you know l never could
be so hard hearted. Only that I was
so glad that | could have chance of
earning money to help your
Mrs. Dale sighed deeply, turned her
eyes upward toward the ceiling, and
Strengthened out the streamers of her
widows cap.
ITO think that it should come to
this" she sighed; that a daughter of
Falconer Dale should be compelled,
like housemaid, to earn her own liv-
ing! There must be something wrong,
or such thing could never have hap
pened!'
And with this, Mrs. Dale dissolved
into tears.
1t was her way. Tears, in her su-
perficial character, lay very near the
surface, and she liked the eclat apper-
tanning to q sensitive and high-toned
nature.
But Isabel was of a different calibre
and their financial misfortunes had
only spurred her on to renewed energy
and endeavor
Major Eccleson, tall, handsome
gentleman, who had never seen his re-
lations before, was somewhat puzzled
by Mrs. Dale's hysterical demonstra-
tions and IsabePs matter-of-fact calm
ness.
Il don't at all understand them,"
he thought. 'tBut of course | shall do
the best | can to help them. The
daughter is pretty little maiden-and
after all, her mother was my mother 8
fret npn lab oftav. ora3 %
relations, if one can"
Major Eccleson spoke to the Secreta-
ry of the Treasury. The Secretary re-
ferred the matter to one of his under
| lings-and in week or so Miss Isabel
Dale received an official intimation that
she was appointed to an office in the
| Treasury Building, at salary of six
| hundred dollars year.
Your work will be very simple, :"
Major Eccleson had said to her. 1T
will consist mostly of copying. Your
handwriting is very good and l trust
that you will be particularly accurate
in every business transaction"
Il will try" said Isabel, simply; but
her lips guivered little, and the round
crimson spots came into her cheeks.
Why did not Major Eccleson take her
| hand as he did that of her motherP
Why did he manifest no active interest
in her welfare beyond the cold advice
that q statue of ice might have given to
| her.
1T cannot be possible" said Isabel
to herself, suddenly starting, as if from
reverie, "that | am allowing myself
TO become too deeply interested in his
dark eyes and silken Vandyke beard2
Oh, surely, surely | am not such sem
| timental school girl as that! When he
thing more than the coldest politeness!
1t is high time that | set myself to Of
| flee work-and the harder and dryer
the better-if | am indulging in any
! such idiotic day dreams as this"
And Isabel cried bitter tears of self
condemnation and anger that night.
While Major Eccleson was scarcely
better pleased with himself on self ex-
animation.
"A mere DOLL" he said The spoil
ed daughter of shallow and silly
mother! Am | to suffer myself to be
swayed by the glitter of pair of blue
eyes, the pink and white cheeks of
simpering beauty? Pshaw! l wish I
had never seen these Dales.n
Mrs. Dale, unaffected by any such
| conflicting emotions, was in the mean
while turning over the details of her
daughters wardrobe.
''Mamma, pleaded Isabel, my
dress is very WE'LL"
THAT is all nonsense" said Mrs.
no1n oh 1LNn- AA1
must be decent. Do you want the 9TH
er young ladies-to say nothing of the
gentlemen-to think you are an abso-
lutte pauper? The bonnet may do with
cluster of ostrich tips, but you must
have tailor-made suit"
! mo, mamma" said resolute Isabel.
IF am to have new suit at all, Mrs.
Lovel shall make it. She is moderate
IN her prices-and, moreover, she
needs the money"
las if that mattered one wav or the
other, F." said Mrs. Dale, loftily.
| But for once Isabel had her way, and
the roll of black serge was carried to
Mrs. Lovel's simple dressmaking rooms
by Isabel herself.
II am to have new gown, Mrs.
Lovel," /" said the girl, land make it
quite plain, please. 1t is for business
suit. am to be government clerk. +"
she added, with innocent pride. "In
The Treasury. begin work next week.
At six hundred dollars a week, Mrs.
Lowell"
Dear me, Miss Dale the luck that
some folks have" said Mrs. Lowell with
O sigh. u congratulate you, 7 sm