The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-02-23
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
.'Only five hundred dollars! To think
that only five hundred dollars would
save the house. and for want of it it
must be sold, and what we shall do after
that do not knowr' And the hand
some young matron who spoke burst
into Hood of tears
She was sitting in the upper front
room OF her cottage home, with q
dressmaker, an elderly person with
neat gray curls, who was doing her best
to make one new walking dress out of
three old ones; and it was to her Mrs.
lockwood had spoken.
'.It is a shame to worry you with my
troubles" she added, in a moment
more; '.but really am in such state
that can't keep it to myself. Miss Nor
gan. Mr.. lockwood takes such things
so terribly to heart; and you know
when married there was every reason
to believe that papa would back us up
and help us along, and things have
turned out so differently"
''Indeed they have, Mrs. lockwood"
said Miss Morgan. .And if your pa
knows what is going on here l wonder
he can rest in heaven"
II forgive him, I'm sure" said Mrs.
lockwood. s'My step-mother poisoned
his mind against Mr.. lockwood; and
don't believe he was quite in his right
mind when he altered his will and left
everything to her. If he were living
he'd give me this money, if he only
knew needed it, without asking. He
never denied me anything" said Mrs.
lockwood, beginning to weep again.
"And she has the homestead and all
the property, and an income of at least
ten thousand a year, and am going to
be turned out of house and home for
five hundred dollars"
''Gracious mer' said Miss Morgan,
IL don't sec how / can 60 over there
!. and fit her black velvet dress to-mor-
row. / don't, indeed I've a good
mind to say won't--there now!-and
have the satisfaction of giving her a
piece of my mind to pay for it.
mo, no, Miss Morgan. She's good
customer" said Mrs. lockwood. ut
would do me no good. Do you think
you can get the waist out, Miss Nor
ganp"
II can, by piecing; and can make
a bit of shell trimming to hide the
place." said the dressmaker. "And
IN run in and drape it for you Thurs
day. Don't take big seams. I've cut
1t loose, because, to tell the truth, the
stuff won't bear much pulling"
Then Mrs. lockwood went to work
Cn the sewing-machine. Thankful to
have contrived decent gown without
much expenditure of money-linings,
buttons and braid, and Miss Morgan's
dollar and half being all that she
could save even by having liver and
bacon and Goldfish dinners twice week
and the worthy dressmaker stitched
away with great diligence, making up
her mind that she would say word for
poor Mrs. lockwood TO her-step mother,
even If she were snubbed for it.
ut brings mean folks to the point
sometimes" she said to herself, ..if
they know their meanness is known to
strangers"
Early next morning Miss Morgan rang
the bell at Mrs. Canline's handsome
front door, and found the lady ready
for her. She always got as much as
she could out of people who worked for
her, and paid as little for it as possible.
There was plenty of the black velvet,
however, and of rich lace to trim it
with, and the buttons were five dollars
q dozen.
No skimping and piecing of this ele-
giant costume; and as Miss Morgan
stitched she thought of the step-daugh-
ter's made-over dress, and inwardly
fumed and fretted. How could she get
a chance to say anything? And how
could she say it so as to do good, and
not harmp
''Miss Morgan, saw you at Mrs.
Rockwood's yesterday, didn't IP' said
Mrs. Canine, after awhile; and the
dressmaker started as though her
thoughts could have been read
'sYes, ma am" she said, hurriedly,
81 went there for day to make some
old things over, and very hard it was to
get one decent dress out of three. can
tell YOU. Such handsome wardrobe
rs your daughter used to have, toor
my daughter? Why, Miss Morgan,
you ought not to call Mr.. Canline's
daughters grown young woman when
/ married hirn-mfne, said Mrs Can
line, testify. s'Dear me! she was en-
gagged to that stupid young lockwood
when I first met her poor pa. My
daughter!''
II should have said your step-daugh-
ter. Mrs. Canine said Miss Morgan.