Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-03-20
CAMBRIDGE 81 SON.

conversation in the dreSsmaking de-
partment of the large drapery estab-
Iishment Of Messrs. cambridge 81 Son
which the steady whir of a hundred
sewing machines could not wholly
drown. Where the presence feminine
can be found, be sure the tongue femi-
nine will be heard.
The superintendent of the room, IN
derstanding this, did not attempt to en-
force silence, SO pretty Dolly Wynn and
May Bruton talked very contidentially
in their corner of the great room, and
no one interfered so long as fingers
were busy as well as tongues.
And this was what May said, DOllie's
blue eyes being riveted upon the quilt
inc on which she was at work.
Il saw her yesterday when [ was
going out to dinner. She was just step
ping into her carriage, aad MI. Edgar
himself handing her in. She looks
old-nearly 40, [ should say; but they
say she is immensely rich, and her
dress was splendid. So [ suppose her
money goes against her age"
Did you hear they were to be mar
ried soon?"
BLESS me! didn't I tell you that?
Nv brother is in the stationer's where
the wedding cards are being printed.
They are to be married on the 9th.
Mr. and Mrs. Edgar cambridge, and
the card of the brides mother, Mrs.
William Wilson. Twelve! Come, we
will 60 for a walk"
mo, | am tired" DoIlie pleaded
And her friend left her, never heed
ing the sudden palIor of the sweet
young face, the dumb agony in the
great blue eyes.
When she was alone Dollie stole
away to the little room where the
cloaks, shawls and hats of the girls
were kept, and there, crouching in
corner, hidden entirely by huge water
proof, she tried to think it all out.
What had it meant? What did Edgar
cambridge mean in the long year he
had tried by every masculine device to
win her love?
She had not been unmaidenly; heart
and conscience fully acquitted her.
She had given her love, pure, true,
and faithful, TO the son of her employer;
but he had sought it, delicately and
persistently, before he knew that it was
given.
The young girl, now sewing for
living, had been daintily bred and
thoroughly educated, her father having
been man drawing a salary sufficient
to give his only child every advantage.
But when he died, and his wife in a
few months followed him, Dollie had
chosen life of honorable labor in pre-
ference to one of idle dependence upon
wealthy relatives.
And yet in the social gatherings of
these relatives and the friends Of former
days, DoIie was still a welcome guest.
1t was at her Uncle Lawrence's SUI
burhan villa she had been introduced
to Edgar cambridge. After this she
met him frequently, and in her simple
dress, with her sweet, pure face, had
won marked attention from him.
With the frankness that was one of
her greatest charms the young girl had
let her admirer know that, though she
was Lawrence Wynn's niece, she work
cd for living in the dressmaking de-
partment of cambridge & Son.
Then he had made her heart bound
with sudden, grateful JOY by telling her
he had seen her leave the shop" night
after night, but would not join her for
fear Of giving annoyance by exposing
her TO the remarks of her companions.
After this, however, she often found
him waiting for her at some point fur
ther from the establishment, and al
ways SO respectful and courteous that
she was glad of his protection in her
long walk
But he was going to marry an heiress
on the 9th, only a week away, SO he
had but trifed with her after all.
Poor little DoIlie, crouching among
the shawls and cloaks, felt as if all
sunshine was gone from her life for
ever, as If her cup of humiliation and
agony was full to overlooking.
But the dinner-hOur was over, the
girls coming IN or sauntering from rest
ing-places in the work-ro0m, and the
hum Of work commenced again, as it
must, whatever aching hearts or weary
hands crave rest.
DOllie worked with the rest, her feel
ings so numbed by the sudden blow
that she scarcely heard Mays lamenta-
dons over sudden flood of order-work
that would keep many of them in the
room till midnight.
We'll have all daT tomorrow if we
can finish these dresses tonight said
one OF the small squad of girls told off
fer the extra work. Miss Brown SAYS
so. But these must be ready to deliver
in the morning."
Talk, talk. talk! Whir, whir, whir!
Dollie folded and basted, working with
rapid mechanical precision, hearing the
noise of voices and machines, feeling
the dull, heavy beating of her own
Al
weary head, but speaking no word of
repining, exeusing her pallid face by
the plea of headache.
1t was after II o'clock when the last
stitch was set in the hurried work and
the girls ran down the long flight of
stairs to plod home through drizzling
rain, following the late snowstorm.
AS Dollie passed down the staircase
in the counting-house her