The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-07-29

At her side slender fcppish young man
with languid expression; brother and sisSs'
ter, one could determine at glance. Belle
Montgomery halted in her rather naughty
address, and look of utter establishment
dawned upon the supercilious face. Was il
possible2
There behind the counter in an attitude
of expectancy, was Bessie Burton, attired in q
blue linen gown, with dainty lace-trimmed
apron, her lovely eyes raised to the insipid
face of her customer"
Bessie caught her breath with little
gasp. The ordeal had come, she must brave
it. Would Miss Montgomery turn her back
upon her old sehoolmate, simply because
she was endeayoring to earn an honest liv-
ingH The sweet fsoe grew sternly resolute,
and tho two small hands clinched and I'M.
clinched convulsively.
Good-morning, Belle! !" she ventured.
"Blue satin ribbon, did you say? All, yes,
here is some-a lovely shade for"
Bessie's little speech came to an ignomini-
GUS end. Miss Montgomery, with naughty
stare which was freezing, had put up her
eye-glass and was sweeping the blue linen
dress from hem to bodice. She turned away
with contemptuous frown.
Ralph this to her brother" will
you see Mr.. Deyron and acquaint him with
the impertinence of his saleswoman Thii
is intolerable !"
And the incensed beauty trailed her silks
and satins to the other end of the great
room. For o moment Bessie stood like one
petrifed. The insult was so heartless and
cruel, so utterly unwarrantable.
And Ralph, who had been her devoted
cavalier upon all occasions, who had all but
asked her to be his wife-he, alas, had not
deigned to notice her at oil. She was only
saleswoman now; she must accept heI
fate resignedly, and with it utter annihila.
ton at tine hands of her fashionable friends
" Let them CO." she painted indignantly,
" such friends are not worth having. am
just as much lady standing here behind
Mr.. Devron's counter as was in the ball
room or opera box. Atrue lady is a lady
anywhere, and adverse circumstances can
not affect real worth"
"You are right"
She turned with a little start of surprise,
not knowing, in her excitement, that abe
had spoken aloud.
A handsome, dark-eyed man of perhaps
thirty years stood near gazing upon her with
eager interest. Mr.. Herbert Deyron, junior
partner of the firm, and the part upon
whom Belle Montgomery had long ago set
her heart--such as it was. Bessies sweet
face flushed painfully.
You are learning severe lesson, Miss
Burton, the gentleman observed gravely,
" but think it is one that you will be glad
to hive learned. / too have found out
something"
And his thoughtful, dark eyes followed
the retreating figure of Miss Montgomery
with satirical glance.
few evenings afterward Mr.. Herbert
Devron called upon Bessie. who was snugly
established at Aunt Hannah's little cottage.
One call brought another in its wake, and
before long he had learned from the garru-
lous old lady the whole story of Bessie's
tyrannical uncle, who had made her life
miserable by trying to force her into mar
riage with that old man Hodgins. Herbert
Devron's fine eyes flashed with Indignation
as he listened to the story.
Time passed, and he called no more Of
the Montgomery mansion, but nearly every
evening found the stately Mr.. Devron at the
tiny brown cottage.
One day Belle Montgomery, CHANGING
over the morning mail. as she trifed with a
delicate breakfast, found large square en-.
velope, thick and creamy, bearing an illegi.
bio monogram. She opened it slowly.
Wedding cards |" she drawled lazily,
"and great heavens Ralph, oh, Ralph,
Hebert Devron has married that saleswo-
man !"
And the elegant Miss Montgomery pro-
ceeded to indulge in fit of Mysteries, which
was repeated week later, when she learned
that old John Burton, dying suddenly, had
beaueathed all his large fortune to "my
niece, Bessie Burton, with prayer for for.
giveness."
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