Daily Republican., 1886-01-08
A WOREIlG-R ROOM EPISODE
BY GERALDINE FLEMING.

BY GERALDINE FLEMING.
Isn't Oracle here7" Madame Cor
nely's brother Inquired, rs he put his
handsome dark heSd Just within the
door OF her work room.
Madame Ccrnely WA q prosp erous
maker, aud she had established her
self In composiious apartments adjoin-
Ina the modest clothing emporium of
which her bachelor brother was the
proprietor.
mo, Miss Eliot isn't here" she an
swered rather stiffly. "And / should
like TO know, Walter, for what you oan
possibly want her"
"Oh, have some odds and ends of
-ilk fsoinRs," he explained, with lit
tie conscious flush upon his attractive
features, land / thought she might like
the pieces for crazy work or some
thing"
" might utilize the pieces myself,
f5r that mstter," said the thrifty dress
nsker. And / had rather you would
not bother 80 much about Miss Eliot
she Ia quite inattentive enough 10 her
work already"
" 1 do not wsnder, when you are
forever sending her on pyramids or some
thing" the young man remark ed blunt
ly rs he sauntered into the room.
She likes bsing out on pyramids, !"
smiled Paulips Davis, q tall blonde,
with . profusion OF pale yellow frixzss
and with eyes like gold-stones. "She
likes being sent where shs has chan ce
for idling and for chatting with gen.
tlemen.
Mis- Davis was madame's fAvorite
workwomAn, and she considered her
self grievously wronged by he par.
TALLY which madAme's agreeable
young brother manifested toward the
deprecated Oracle
The silly chatting il delaying her
now, dare say" madAme said orossly,
as she glanced nj her watch, which she
had just placed open on the workable
beside her. The skirt IL ready for the
machine. PAulins," she added, NJ abe
handed several bastsd bread this OF satin
and cambria 70 that young lady.
And must have some machine
twist" PaulinA said 90 with the skirt
upon her arm she leaned across the
table for the needed spool. Mr..
eterne, do please push the boz this
way" she lisped swestly 10 the young
IA IN who stood inst opposite.
But he seemed neither TO see nor bear
her, aud she gold.sSone eyes gifts I'd
as SIZE noted how eagerly he
gAzed toward the outer door, which had
Just opened 10 admit = slim girl in
shabby black.
"He has eyes and cara for nobody
but Grace Eliot" she thought wrath.
fully, as she secured the spools and
went back 10 her machine.
You have not got the right thing at
all, Miss Hlioi, the trimmings are pre-.
|cisely what l told you not 10 get, I"
madame said with sharp displeasure ~
she inspected she parcel which the girl
placed before her. You will be-
obliged 70 90 bAok-and do try and
make haste really have no patience
with the way yon daily and blunder
about everything"
Grace took the parcel and turned
away In mortified silence. She was
sorry and ashamed OF her little mis-
take; but she certainly had not dallied,
and that she was so sharply censured
In the presence of madame'a brother
was painfully embarrassing to her.
kor an instant she looked shyly
toward him, and her hot cheeks became
hotter, her embarrassment more awk.
ward and distressing, as she perceived
upon his countenance an expression OF
disapprobation which she deemed
meant for her own unlucky self.
shall be compelled to dismiss her,
1 atn afraid" Madame Cornely com.
planned, rs the door again closed be.
hind the pretty culprit. "5he doesn't
suit me 81 ALL"
"She doesn't try" interieoted Miss
Paulina, the gold-stone- eyes II aching
jealous sparks toward Walter Sterns,
who had moved to q window and stood
gazing absently after the slim figure
vanishing down the street. Aud rs
likely ~ not she blundered puposely ;
che wanted another chance for u chat
with some admirer, no doub,."
"She ought be back In a half hour, I"
said the busy dressmAker, glancinx at
the table where she had placed her
watch.
But the watch WAS not there.
"What q singular thing |" she ejacu.
lated, AS she arose, lifted little pile of
silks, shifted fragment of cam brio.
shook heap of frlnges, pesred beneath
chairs and table-and all In vain.
How very mysterious - echoed
Paulina, leaving her machine and join-
ing with Jealous sympathy In the
search.
at is really gone" Madame Oornely
said, after another scrutiny of every
probable and improbable depository
scat.
at certainly isn't here" Miss PAUL..
M iterateG deoisively.
ut was surely on the table moment
ago." said the dressmaker.
ut was there when I came into the
room, said her brother, moving from
tne window and looking rather puz-
"Well, 1t isn't hare now, and IL
couldn't have got away without hands.
either" his sister declared with oonvic.
ton,
"But It did have hands. did IL notq"
Mr.. Sterns queried humorously.
"You need not jest and pun, Walter"
his sister snapped with frown. the
watch was valuable, AMI really can.
not afford the purchase of another"
do not wonder Grace Eliot was an
confused and 30 anxious to hurry
away" Miss Paulina muttered, "a In
speaking to herself But people who
affect 10 be so mock and quiet are mover
~ bs trusted. Perhaps she took IL In
spiss because you rsptoved her, dear
Madame Oornely," she concluded with
= seeming attempt TO suggest some.
thing charitably palliative.
81 dislike TO think she took 1t at ALL"
the other said donbtlngly.
=" Perhaps shn wanted somethin she
could turn into money She could
sell tho witch fer more than she could
earn in whole season-she Is 30 indo.
lent and 80 doplorsbly tond Of friyoli.
ties," Miss Psulina continued, with an
sir of pious condemnation.
a. WAL do bona sha "a NOT an dread