The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-03-27
CAMBRIDGE & SON.

BAINBRIDGE & SON.
There was suppressed murmur of
conversation in the dressmaking de-
partment of the large drapery estab-
lishment of Messrs. Bainbridge & Son
which the steady whir of 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, un-
derstanding this, did not attempt to en-
force silence, SO pretty Dolly Wynn and
May Bruton talked very confdentially
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
ing on which she was at work.
81 saw her yesterday when l was
going out to dinner. She was just STEP
ping into her carriage. and Mr.. Edgar
himself handing her in. She looks
old-Rearly 40, l should say; but they
say she is immensely rich, aud 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 l tell you that?
NY 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 Bainbridge, and
the card of the BRIDES mother, Mrs.
William Wilson. Twelve! Come. we
will go for walk"
No, | am tired" Dollie pleaded.
And her friend left her. never heed
ing the sudden pallor 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 q
corner. hidden entirely by a huge water
proof. she tried to think it all out.
What had it meant? What did Edgar
Bainbridge 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 a
living, had been daintily bred and
thoroughly educated, her father having
been a man drawing a salary sufficient
to give his only child every advantage.
But when he died, and his wife in q
few months followed him, Dollie had
chosen a life of honorable labor in pre-
ference to one of idle dependence upon
wealthy relatives.
I And yet in the social gatherings of
these relatives and the friends of former
days, Dollie was still welcome guest.
It was at her Uncle Lawrence's su-
burban villa she had been introduced
to Edgar Bainbridge. 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.
ed for living in the dressmaking de-
partment of Bainbridge & 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 week away, so he
had but trifled with her after all.
Poor little Dollie, 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 overtiowiug.
But tho dinner-hour was over, the
girls coming in or sauntering from rest
| ing-places in the work-room, and the
hum of work commenced again, as it
must, whatever aching hearts or weary
hands crave rest.
Dollie worked with tho rest, her feel
ings SO numbed by the sudden blow
at she scarcely heard Mays lamenta-
tions over a sudden flood of order-work
that would keep many of them in the
room till midnight.
Well have all day tomorrow if we
can finish these dresses tonight" said
one of the small squad of girls told of
for 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
heart and the throbs of pain in hel
weary head. but speaking no word OF
I repining, excusing 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
she saw in the counting-house hel
recreant lover, busy over some account
books.
But for the heavy news she had heard
that morning she would have felt sure
that this sudden spasm of industry was
to furnish an excuse for escorting heI
home at the unusually late hour.
But, if so, Dollie felt it was but ar
added Insult to his dishonorable con
duct, and she hurried on, hoping ht
had not heard her step.
She had gone some few streets from
the shop, when, passing church, sht
slipped upon treacherous piece OF lc'
and twisted her ankle.
The sudden pain make her faint fol
a moment and she sat down upon tht
stonework supporting the ratings tt
recover herself. Beside her, not 1
stones throw away, dark, narrow
alleyway ran along the high brick wal
of the churchyard. and the girls hear
sank with chill OF terror as she hear'
a mans voice in the alley say:
Didn't you hear a step. Billp"
a woman. She's turned of some