Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-26

had petted, teased and spoiled aer. as he
had done his sister, with no though that
the Young girl had enshrined him as her
hero In her heart OF hearts.
When Helen was. is her father died, al
tor having lost hfsenCife property, leaV-
lug as his daughters sole inheritance an
invalid mother, with small cottage near
the Haldane estate. But tue brave girl
never taltered in her thorny path; she told
her friends it was necessary for her TO
work, and she should be glad OF their pa
trouage. She was natural genius IN the
making OF artistic costumes, and one
morning placard, bearing the inscrip-
ton: Helen Durand Fashionable
Dressmaker," was n noticeable fealure or
the cottage now occupied by Miss nelen
and her mother.
Bellies mother was shocked at the I'M
lady-like business qualities Of her dau2h-
ters early friend, and would have cut the
acquaintance altogether had not her step
son and actual head OF the famliy,
through his late fathers will, insisted
upon the members OF his household treat
ing her with all the courtesy OF former
years. They obliged him to the extent OF
ordering many OF their charming cos
tunes Of the indefatgable young WORKER,
and tue widow did not hesitate to pro-
nounoe her prices eXOrbitant when she
modestly asked fair remuneration Tor
her labor.
Egbert HaIdane, calling at the cottage
a week before the opening of the story,
had found Helen in tears, and her mother
not a little agitated. He forget the fact
that she was young lady of % and not
a miss OF 7, and in his old brotherly man.
ner asked her the cause of her distress.
The mother, plying her daughters evil
dent confusion, hastily explained that
Mrs. HAldane had just lett, after being
more than usually unkind and insulting.
She had intimated that she did not APP
prove Of their receiving so many uucere-
monious calls from himself, who, though
model man, was probably no better than
other men, ETC., ETC., and ended by saying
that she really must withdraw her patro-
mage from Miss Durand II she still con-
tinued her present line OF conduct. Belle
had been present and had added:
You cannot, OF course, expect Egbert
TO marry Helen now, no matter how good
friends we used TO be-"
AT this stage of her mothers narrative
Helen piteOusly cried out:
"Please, oh, please, Air, Haldane, do not
blame mel"
He looked for one instant into her eyes,
and, reading something more than morti-
fcatlon at the mothers story, politely
DuWCu hIlnoell Oub VI Lub IOOUl.
Two hours later he received this note:
"MR. HALDANE - Doubtless you
thought that little little scene was got
ten up this morning for your especial
benefit, and mamma expected you to offer
yourself as an antdote to your mother
and sister. Many thanks for your kind
ness, but Pll not take the prescription,
Notwithstanding mammals Endorsement
OF IT,. Don't come down any more,
please. Yours, gratefully,
"HELEN DURAND"
1t is needless to say that the mothers
approval, the lovers earnest pleading,
AID the young girls long-concealed re-
gard for her suitoT at length outweighed
her objections TO the ''antidOte," aud at
Mrs. Van Hyden's party Helsn Durand
fret figured as beauty ld belle-such
Ia the feet OF happiness on most femi-
nine mortals.
Consequently, when Egbert returned
from escortlng Miss Durand to her door
upon the eve of the before mentioned So
cial gathering he found the ladies OF the
household awaiting him In their common
sitting room.
The widow had decided that a high
moral ground was the proper stand tor
her under the circumstances, and com
menced:
bgDerC, nope, out oil regard for your
fathers memory, there Is no truth in the
rum0r that you contemplate bringing that
Helen Duraud, the dressmaker, to preside
over our home which"
(which for so many years has been so
regally presided over by another dress
maker. Madam, your marked success In
the position renders me adverse to going
outside OF your old profession TOR your
successor. Only, as Miss Durand sug-
gests: Two of trade seldom agree
ana Rosewood cottage will be ready
for yourself and Belle by the end of the
mouth"
He rose to leave.
zone thing more: The COMPUTATION OF
the allowance | am now making you will
depend upon the manner in which you
treat the lady who has condescended TO
honor me with her hand"