The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-07-15

ished wearing have been very pretty
and stylish. l will hold myself ready
to make over the best of them for you
to wear again, and / will do it in my
best Manner
And be paid for itP
Certainly, like any other dress
Maker
IF you were not a perfect simple
ton you would marry Luke Hark-
ness" Mrs. Grenman bust out anew.
Then you would have an establish
ment equal to your sisters and there
wouldn't be such horrible inequality
in your station as now"
Il marry Luke Harkness?" said Miss
Annable, with the first touch OF
haughtiness she had shown. "A nan
old enough to be my grandfather, as
deaf as a poet and as bald as an
ancient American eagle. would go
out as a cook or housemaid first. Yes.
Julia, if the choice were given me OF
marrying the man or digging my own
grave, with the understanding that L
was to jump into it when it was COM
pleted, | would chose the latter al
tentative with gratitude"
The o in which this conversa-
ton took place was the fourth story
OdCh VI d SO-CdlI0u IdolllOAloOiO pOoAN
ing house, and this was Florence An
nable's home.
Her father and mother were both
dead, the former having survived the
wreck of a large fortune only a few
weeks. When the estate was settled
it was found that there would be
enough money to provide Florence,
the only unmarried daughter, with
the necessaries of life. In other words,
it would pay her board. So, for two
years OF more, she had been dependent
upon her wealthy sisters for her ward
robe. 1t was a disagreeable position
for a sensitive and high-minded girl,
and it had come at last to be unen-
durable.
"Florencen'
Mrs. Gren1nan was ready to go.
well said her companion.
II shall repeat this conversation to
Paul. / tell you that you may be pre-
pared to meet the consequences"
A few hours later Miss Annable was
driving in the park with some friends.
She passed both of her sisters, and
their recognition, though calculated
to deceive her companions, was well
understood by her. Julia had com
municated with Blanche and they
had both shown their d~ispleasure in
as marked a n as les cofoe9dflces
would permit. This recalcitrant menu
Der of their aristocratic family was to
be brought to terms. Florence Anna
BILE smiled as she though of 1t.
Clark Durivage rode along by the
side of the landau and chatted with
the young ladies. For the first time
since Florence had decided not to
wear any more least OFFS her cour-
age failed her. She felt it to be hui
initiating truth that she cared more
for this mans good opinion than for
anything else in the world; to think
that she was quite independent OF re-
mark of criticism from any other quar-
ter, but not from him, filled her with
confusion and alarm. Mr. Duriyage
had been the only man she had met
in society who had talked to her as if
she was possessed of IN equal intelli-
gence.
Miss Annable canvassed the subject
very thoroughly in these few minutes.
Her scorn of her own weakness, az
shown by the presence OF this man,
acted like q spur to her conscience.
1.-THE die is cast, ~ she told herself, as
Mr.. Durivage babe her good evening.
II will not wear jags, SO must play
jigs."
The young lady did not estimate
her musical talent at its true value.
1t was almost a case of genius. She
could play the works of the most
favored composers, and with a power
and expression that delighted the
most critical. And so it came to
pass that Miss Florence Annable
was engaged at regular professional
prices to play for a party at the house
of the wealthy and distinguished Mrs.
Van Cortland. Her sisters were both
present, but neitherof them came neal
her during the evening and in this
way the world found out there had
been a quarrel.
"Good evening, Miss Florence"
''Good evening, Mr.. Durivage."
ut is rather singular there is no one
here to play but you," the gentleman
remarked. II have been waiting a
half hour to invite you to dance"
sit is not in the least singular, Mr..
Durivage," said the musician, smiling
heroically, ''for | am regularly EN-
ployed to play for Mrs. Van Cort-
landt's guests this evening"
The plunge was made, the worst
over, and Florence felt that she could
look herself squarely in the face when
the evening vas over.
"And you-you have struck out in
this way for y~ourselfY"
There was a strange quality in the
gentleman's voice that his companion
did not understand.
"Struck out?n Miss Annable laugh
ingly answered. ''That is a good
phrase. 1t requires muscle, l assure
YOU
But your sisters, Miss Florence?"
"They are here. You must have
seen them. The next piece is a quad
rifle, Mr.. Durivage. Please listen to
it critically. 1t is my own compo-
| sition."
The music was a success. The APP
plause and excitement that followed
its conclusion amounted to an v
ton. Mr.. Durivage drew near the
piano and whispered his congratula-
lions to the fair composer. Looking
at the music he saw the name of the
quadrille was, Rags and Jags and
Velvet Gowns"
There came a time when Florence
Annable could tell her friend, Mr..
Durivage, the whole story, and the
following is the substance of his re-
ply:-"I determined" said he, Ito
WOO and win you, that night, at Mrs.
Van Cortlandt's. | had cared for you
from the first day of our acquaint-
ance, but how could ! help fearing