Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-02-18

you arc at the moment, for lady; no.
body!-but' '-disregarding the deep
flush on her companions checks-"if l
went into u shop, and saw there young
lady rs pretty and as delicately made as
you are, Cary, with hair rs smooth as
satin, and a simple gown that fitted ex,
actly, and collar and cuffs as white a.
snow, and perhaps a black silk apron
or white one, and with neat shoes and
nice stockings, il saw a girl dressed
like that, with nothing costly, nothing
that any girl can not have, but every
thing fresh, and neat, and pretty, /
should say to myself; There is q shop
girl with the true instincts of lady
And Cary-don't think me impertinent
If Mark came to town and saw q girl
like that among the crowd OF untidy,
over-dressed ones at Snow d. Asher's,
think the contrast would strike him as
it would me-agreeablyv'
Miss Sydney paused. half frightened
at her own daring. Cary looked stead.
lily into tho fire without speaking. The
rain had ceased. Myra rose and threw
back the blind, revealing the moon
struggling through thin edges of cloud.
Cary followed her to the window. Hef
cheeks were deep red, but there was
frank and grateful look in her eyes as
she said:
Il must be going, now, ma'am.
You've been ever so good olet me stay.
l shan't forget it, and-I guess you're
about right"
81 wonder if / said the right thing,
or have done the least goodP" queried
Miss Sydney, as she watched her guest
depart.
1t was some weeks before she had oc.
casion again to visit Snow & Asher's,
and she had half forgotten the little
incident, when one day, entering the
shop in quest of something, her atten.
ton was attracted by face which
beamed with sudden smiles at the sight
of her. 1t was indeed Cary, but such
a different Cary from the draggled Wis
ion of the wet evening! She still wore
the blue dress, but the flounces had
been ripped of, and the front was hid
den by black silk apron. The tanglt
of hair was smoothed like ordinary
waves, q white collar with q knot OF
blue ribbon was round her neck; one Oh
the Objectionable rings had disappeared
and so had the yellow locket. Sc
changed and so much prettier was the
little maiden, that Miss Sydney scarcely
knew her, till blush and smile pointed
her out.
She waited on her customer with as
siduity, and under cover of a box of ruff
files they exchanged condolences. Die
Miss Sydney think she looked betterl
She was so glad The girls had laughed
at her, at first, but not so much now
and her roommate, Ellen Morris, hat
got herself an apron like hers. Miss
Sydney left the shop with pleased
amusement at her heart. She meant tc
go often to keep little hold on Cary
| but circumstances took her off to Flori
da, soon afterward, and it was late in
April when she returned.
THAT girl from Snow & Asher's wa
| here to sec you about a week ago
ma am" said Esther, the evening afte
her arrival. II told her you was ex
pected Tuesday, and she said she
would come again to-day, for she want
ed to speak to you particular, and sht
was going away. There she is, now. y
Cary, indeed, it was, with a steady
manipulating fellow by her side.
ut is Mark, Miss Sydney" she said
by way of introduction. Later, whcI
Mark had walked over to the window
to see the view, she explained farther
in rapid undertone: "He came dowl
two months ago, while you was away
ma am. came out to tell you, but yor
was gone, and-and day after to-mor
row rni-going back with him to Gil
manton. l told him he must bring mt
out tonight, for l couldn't leave here
without saying goodbye to YOU"
"You arc going to be married."
"Yes''-with happy look-"to
morrow morning. And oh, Miss sgd
ney, what do you think Mark says? He
says if he'd found me looking like
the rest of the girls at the store.
with false hair, and jewelry, and al.
that, he'd never in the world have aske,
me at all. And 1 did look just lik
that, you know. 1t was what you sale
that rainy night that made me change
and except for that nothing would hav'
happened that has, and shouldn't be
the girl L am"
Dread on the waters" though
Myra, as a little later she watched tn,
lovers walk down the street. ''Such {
little crumb, and such wide waters, we,
it has come back! How impossible
seems, or would seem, if one did no
have to believe that what we cal
chances and accidents are Gods oppor
tunities, by which He allows us to lcnt
a helping hand in his work, not quite
understanding what we do, but know
ing that, guided by Him, the smalles
things end sometimes in great results. y