The Press., 1885-03-12
Issued Every Thursday Evening.

of keepin' the hair so; its such a nice way"
 ''rhat oval frame is elegant, too"
 After her callers had gone, Nancy thought over what they had said with sim pie pleasure and self-gratulation. This innocent, narrow. minded, middle-aged wo- man felt as much throbbing wonder and delight over her hair wreath as any genius over one of his creations. As far as hap piness of that kind went she was just as well off as a Michael Angelo or Turner j; and AS far as anything else, she was just as good woman for believing in hair wreaths.
 She had toiled hard over this one /; seem- ingly, nothing but true artistic instinct, and delight in work, could have urged her on. It was exceedingly slow, nervous work, and she was very delicate woman. Many night she had lain awake with her tired brains weaving the hair roses aud lilies which her fingers had laid down.
 Paulina spoke to Charlotte on their way home about her sisters looking so frail.
 II know it," said Charlotte "Nancy never had any backbone, an she's worked awful hard. s'pose it's more'n she ought to do, maxim all those fancy fxin's; but she's crazy to do 'em, can't seem to let 'em alone; an she does have real knack at it."
 sThat hair wreath was beautiful" as- scented the other; "but should have been afraid 1t would have worn on her..
 When they goi home, Mrs. Steadman' 's daughter Emmeline had got tea ready. She was a capable young woman she took in dress making, and supported her self and mother, and had all she could do She was rather pretty ; tall and slender like her mother with round face, and a mouth with an odd, firm pucker to it when she talked, that strangers took for smile she had very rosy cheeks.
 There was praye r-m eeting in the church vestry that evening, and after tea Mrs. Steadman proposed going, with her com pany and her daughter. Emmeline de- murred little. She guessed she wouldn't go," she ssid.
 ''Why not ?' asked her mother, sharply. She still kept tight rein over this steady. dutiful daughter of hers "You don't ex- pect anybody to-night?'
 Her mother said anybody" with re- gard for secrecy; she meant Andrew Stod- dard
 Emmeline colored very red. "No, I don't" she said, quickly; "I'll go." She was not engaged to the young man, and felt sensitive It seemed to her if she should stay at home for him, and he should not come, and her mother and her cousin should suspect her of 1t, she could not bear it; besides she did not really expect him there was nothing but the chance he might come to keep her. So she put on her hat, and went to the meeting with her mother and Mrs. Loomis.
 She wondered when she got home if he had been there, but there was no way o1 finding out He had to drive from a towr six miles further up the river to see her He was the son of the county -store-keepe1 there, and acted himself as head clerk He was a steady, fne-looking young man though he had the name of being rather fiery tempered. People thought he was great catch for Emmeline. He had beer to see her some six weeks now. Sht hoped he would ask her to marry him she could not help it; for she had grown fonG of him.
 Her mother was sure he would-in fact she hardly knew but what he had. Elm incline herself was not so sure; she hat never 8 very exalted opinlon of herself and was more certain of her own loving than. she was of anybody else's.
 When Sunday night came she staid Q home from meeting, without any commen from her mother, who put on her decen best bonnet and shawl, and went alone Paulina Loomis had gone home the da, before.
 Emmeline had put the little front room which served alike as dress-makers shol and parlor, in the incest order. It was poor little place, anyway. There was worn rag carpet, some cane-seated chairs | oY,1 hloolr xuoOJor, oo1,orol chintz. An old-fashioned bureau stoot against the wall and of a weekday ms hogany card-table, made square by having
 it's two leaves up, in the center of tn, room. Emmeline used this last for cut ting.
 To-day she had put down the leav,s and set 1t back against the wall, between the two front windows. Then she had go the best lamp out of the closet, and set on 1t. It was new lamp, with a brett, figured globe, one she had bought sine Andrew began coming to see her. Sh had picked bunch of flowers out ill he garden, too, and arranged them in a gil and white china vase, aud set it beside tn lana There We're balsams, and phlox, an' larkspur, and pluks, and some asparagu for green. She had tucked all her wor] and her patterns out of sight in the burea, drawers, swept and dusted, and got out tidy to put on the rocking chair. Thel she had put on her best dress, and sa down to wait. She thought, perhaps, h would come before her mother went t church but he didn't. So she sat the1 alone in the fading light, waiting. Ever time she heard team coming, she though it was his but it would roll past, and he heart would sink. At last the people be gan to flock home from meeting, and h. mothers tall stopping black figure cam in through the gate She thought Al drew was there, so she went straight thro the long entry to the kitchen; Emmelin knew why she did. After while she oE ened the door from the kitchen cautiously and peered into the darkroom she had lamp out there.
 "There's nobody in here, mother" sai Emmeline; "you needn't be afraid"
 Didn't he come? I thought didn , hear any talkin'." .... : "No; nobody's been here."
 "Why, wonder what's the reason ?"
 II s'pose there's some good one," II , piled Emmeline, puckering up her liI ' firmly. "I'm tired; guess I'll go | bed"
 If she felt badly she did not show it, e, cept by her silence at her mothers wol
 dering remarks; but she had always bee very reticent about Andrew, not ofte
 speaking his name She did not cry all
 after she went to bed-indeed, she cou s not for her mother slept with her: h,