Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-03-05
CAMBRIDGE & SON.

There was a suppressed murmur of
conversation in the dressmaking depart
ment of the large drapery establishment
of Messrs. cambridge & Son which the
steady whir of hundred sewing ma
chimes could not drown. Where the
presence feminine can be found, be sure
the tongue feminine will be heard.
The superintendent of the room, un-
derstanding this, cid not attempt to en-
force silence, so pretty DOllie Wynn and
May Bruton talked very confdentially
IN their corner of the great room, an
no one interfered so long as fingers were
busy as well as tongues.
And this was what they said, Dollie's
blue eyes being riveted upon the quilt
lug on which she was at work.
81 saw her yesterday when I was 60
ing out to dinner. She was just step
ping into her carriage, and Mr.. 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 I suppose her money
goes against her age"
did you hear they were to be mar
ried soon?"
''Bless me, didn't 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
IKE brides mother, Mrs. William Will
son. Twelve! Come, we will go for a
walk
''No, I am tired, Doilie pleaded.
And her friend left her, never needing
the sudden pallor of the sweet young
face, the dumb agony In the great blue
eyes.
When she WIS alone Dollie stole away
to the little room where the cloaks.
shawls and hats of the girls were kept,
and there, hidden entirely by a huge
waterproof, she tried to think it all
out.
What had it meant? What did Ed
gar Bainbr1dge mean in the long year
he had tried by every masculine device
to win her love?
She had not been unmaidenIy; 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, delicateiy and
perslstently, 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 sufficient salary 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 pref
erence to one of idle independence upon
wealthy relatives.
And yet IN the social gatherings Of
these relatives and the friends of form
er days, Dollie was still a welcome
guest.
1t was at her Uncle LaWrence's SUBJ
urban villa she had been introduced to
Edgar cambridge. After this she had
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 girl had let her
admirer know that, though she was
Lawrence Wynn's niece, she worked for
q living IN the dressmaking department.
of cambridge & Son.
Then he had made her heart bound
with sudden, grateful Joy by telling her
he had seen her leaving the fshop"
night after night, but would not join
her fer fear of giving annoyance by
exposing her to the remarks of her COM
panions.
After this, however, she often found
him waiting for her at some point fur
ther from the establishment, and always
so respectful and courteous that che
was glad of his protection in her long
walks.
But he was going to marry an heiress
on the 9th, only week away, so he had
but trifed with her after all.
Poor little Dollie, crouching among
the shawls and cloaks, felt as if all sun
shine was gone from her life forever, 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-room, 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 iamenta-
tons over a sudden food 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