The Washington critic., 1886-03-27
A HARMLESS PLOT.

Albert, but she is SO frivolous. | tell
you truly don't believe Amy Faulk-
ner ever had serious thought in her
life."
ut pains me to hear you say so,
Lucy, for ! am quite sure you wrong
her." said her brother, little warmly.
"Well, / hope l do, and perhaps
longer acquaintance may prove / am
mistaken. have only seen her few
times"
But she is alwaysjust as you saw
her-light-hearted and merry. Yet /
feel sure under her careless manner
there is hidden many an earnest
thought. | cannot give up the hope
of winning her, but so wanted my
darling sister to love my wife"
Lucy sat very quiet for moment,
then said, seriously:
'Albert, will you grant me one ia.
vor2'
"a thousand, dear, if you like"
you have not yet proposed to Amy
Faulkner"
"No, not yet"
"And you are going to Washington
tomorrow to be absent few daysI'
eyes"
well, promise me you will not offer
yourself TO her till you return"
"a strange request, Lucy, but will
make the promise"
=. Aud Lucy expressed her gratitude
by giving him kiss. Then, taking
seat by the window, she appeared
busily engaged in some fancy work,
but she was, indeed arranging little
plot in very clever manner
Her brothers departure the next day
left her free to carry her plan into
operation. Being an orphan and in the
possession of snug little fortune of
her own, there was no one to control
any of her actions while her brother
was away.
Her first move was strange one.
She took off her handsome silk gown,
combed her hair out Of its crimps and
curls, brushed 1t straight back from
her face, and tucked 1t in little knot
behind. Then dressing herself in
somewhat worn alpaca, and fastening
plain collar about her neck, she
looked in the glass and laughed
heartily.
II think | shall do nicely" she said.
II am certain she will never recognize
me in this rig"
So with look of satisfaction on her
face she put on plain hat and shawl,
having previously given notice to the
landlady that she would be absent q
few days.
She walked directly to Mrs. Faulk-
ner's and rang the bell, inquiring for
Miss Amy.
She was shown up stairs into pretty
room, where Amy sat sewing.
She spoke kindly to Lucy, and asked
her to be seated. Lucy told her bust.
ness in few words.
"NIiss Jones, the seamstrcss, sent me,
If you please, ma'am She says she's
very sorry, but she's engaged this week
and can't come to you, but she thought
maybe I'd do as well, miss"
II dare say you WILL" said Amy,
kindly, as she led her into the sewing.
room, after asking her one or two qucs
tions about her capacity for work.
Lucy understood sewing very vel
and was able to give satisfaction, but
she grew rather tired of her mas
querade. She had made no progress
in discovering any flaw in Amy's dis.
position or manners.
One morning she heard her talking
in the next room to her mother.
There is such lovely white pop
lin at Robinson's," said Amy. ut Il
creamy and rich and heavy. 1t is jus,
the thing want for Ada Hyat's wed.
ding. can trim it with that Spanish
lace. 1t will be charming"
"Well, Amy, you must promise moi
to ask anything more till after Christ
mas, for our expenses have been very
heavy this year."
Dear mamma, don't say another
word; l was wrong to ask 1t. l Car
do without it,"
mo, my child, you really need ,
new dress and you shall have it. TIL,
poplin will be very pretty and service
able"
Amy heard the money counted on
to the young girl, and an enthusiastic
discussion about how the dress was t.
be made.
When Amy entered the sewing-roon
a little while after she saw the youn!
seamstress with her head bowed in he
hands sobbing bitterly.
why, what's the matter?' she aslSe,
anxiously.
But no answer came from the ap
parently convulsed Lucy.
"Do please tell me-" said Amy, will
emotion, stealing her arm about Lucy
neck.
ooh, nothing, miss" said the littl
hypocrite:
"But know you would not cry so |
you were not unhappy. Do tell m
what troubles YOU"
So Lucy, with broken voice an
convulsive sobs, told the sad story o
an invalid mother, drunken father
helpless little ones and heartless land
lord, who threatened to turn them Il
the street if the rent ives not paid tina
day.
Amy's eyes filled with tears. "No
no; it shall not be p she cried. "Her
is the money for the rent. Now, neve
mind the work. Go at once and pa
up the landlord. Take it, it's mine {
do as | choose with, and | choose t
give it to you"
Lucy felt very guilty as she wen
away. But instead of going directl
, home she went to Robinson's an
bought the white poplin and ordered
,, to be sent to Mrs. Faulkner.
That evening, much to Lucy's dc
light, Albert came home.
0"Ohp" cried Lucy, II take back q
l said against Amy Faulkner, for sh
l is the darlingest the dearest, the swee
est little thing, with the kiltlest, til
warmest heart in all the worldW
II found that out long ago." sal
: her brother, laughing, "but | shoul
be delighted to know what has change
your opinion"
She told him how she had been pla,
+ ing seamstress and the result Il
t scolded her for the deception she la
practiced, but he did not seem yer
S angry. -,