The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-04-09
ANOTHER'S FAULT.

which photograph themselves upon oul
minds indelibly. to the exclusion OF
many another of perhaps greater i'm
portancc. And if Noveila Henry hat
lived to be rs old rs the patriarchs. sht
never would have forgotten that lower
ing April afternoon in Madame Merits
millinery parlors-the ticking of clock
on the mantcl, the song of n CHEEKY
canary overhead, Madame Merit, her
self, all propitiatory smiles, and Miss
DE Ia Croix's tall figure in ruby velvet
and sable furs, between herself and the
window.
I'm very sorry" cooed the smiling
madame, '.that such mistake should
have happened. / intended"
ut is mistake which will cost you
our patronage for the future" said Miss
DE Ia Croix impetuously. "Of course,
could not 60 to the morning concert. and
l do not choose to be disappointed.
but the bonnet is exquisite" cried
madame, iluttering her plump fingers
over the dainty CONNECTION of white
tullc, garlanded about with monster
velvet pansies in every shade of purple,
from violet-black to the palest sunset
color. "Exquisiter'
"But you know very WE'LL" said Miss
DE In Croix imperiously, ''that purple is
the precise color l cannot wear. II
makes me us sallow as an oliver
Nothing could do that" said Madame
Merit smoothly. ..But, of course, the
fault is all Miss Henry's."
IL am very sorry" said Novella. "But
trimmed the hat exactly in accordance
with the orders written on the card"
That is nonsenscw said madame,
bestowing on the working-girl the full
weight of the scorn and anger that she
dared not visit on Miss De In CroiX. 81
don't see how you can stand there and
contradict mer'
but am only speaking the truth, "
said Novella earnestly.
And | suppose am telling a lien'
flashed out Miss DE Ia CroiX. IL con-
graduate you, Madame Merit" with Il
low, knocking courtesy, upon the polite
ness of your employees. But, really, il
is so very ovcrpowering that find it toe
much for me. Either this young woman
must leave your place or will withdraw
my custom
My dear Miss DE In Croix," cried the
millincr in genuine alarm, .'pray do not
think of such thing. Miss Henry, you
may consider yourself discharged.
can't allow my customers to be insulted
thus"
Novella grew very pale, but she made
no answer. She only inclined her head
and glded out of the room like little
grey, noiseless shadow, and, by dint o.
much coaxing and many doses of the
most skillful ilattery, Miss DE Ia Croix
was induced to leave an order for a
morning hat, to be trimmed with pink
daisies, and an evening bonnet of white
Mcchlin lace.
And that evening, when Miss Jenkins,
the forewoman, was making up her ac-
counts, Il pcncilled card fell from one OF
the folds of her deliberately festOOned
overdress, as she was searching through
all her pockets to find certain lead,
pencil.
"Well, declare" said she, ''if that
amt the very card of directions foI
Miss DE Ia Croix's hat. White lace.
with silver-winged birds. and a cluster
of lillcs-of-the-valley. And the card
gave to Miss Henry must have been the
one intended for the hat that old Miss
Garrctson was to wear to her nephcW's
wedding. Won't she be furious, though
when it doesn't come. / must get it of
by express the very first thing tomorrow
morning. thought it was strange thai
any one with Miss DE In Croix's com
plcXion would wear purple pansies-bu
these rich girls do take such unreason
able whims into their heads"
Madame Merit looked quickly M
from her ledgcrs and daybOoks.
''How very awkward! she said
Then poor little Miss Henry was not t.
blame, after ALL declare ! am sorry
now that discharged her. She trim
med hat with more style than any cir
in the room, and she was always Sc
willing to stay and work Ovcr-hOurs
What is her address, Miss Jenkins
Send to her at once, and tell her it wa'
all Il mistake"
But no one had Miss Henry's address
She had removed from tho house il
which she lived very soon after she hat
entered Madame Merits establishment
and none of the other employees knew
whittier she had gone.
Madame, world-hardened though sh,
was, had still conscience. She tolt
Miss De la CroiX, mt the first opportunity
how the matter really was.
II am afraid we were too hasty," sh,
said.
dear, dear. what a pity!' exclaimed
the fashionable belle. "But anyOn,
with the average amount of brain
might have known that a brunette
couldn't wear those dreadful shades O
violet; and dare say there are plent,
of places where she can get quite o.
good wages as you paid her here"
Madame was silent She knew, bet
ter than anyone else could know, how
difficult it was for u friendless girl to oh
tain employment without influence o
reference.
About that time handsome, spiritu
ally-minded young pastor took the helm
of st. AdOnais' Church, and it bccam
the fashion for the young ladies of thu
parish to form themselves into workin,
bands under his direction, to visit tn
poor, investigate cases of need, ant
ameliorate the condition of the deserV
ing poor.
1t was on a dark December afternoon
that Miss DE Ia Croix penetrated into
stuffy, sloping-roofed little room, wher
a young girl lay very ill. Close besid
her sat another young woman maxim.
artificial rosebuds, for the poor hav
little leisure to sympathize with thei
sick friends.
81 am Sister Clara" said the heires
kindly. 81 was told that there was
/ g 1,