The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-06-05


Away she ran to meet the little COW
cred cart in which an apple-faced
old man logged to and fro the market
town and the station three times in the
week; received from Master Cripps the
important package that bore the stamp
of n West-End linen-draper, and hur-
ried with il TO the dining-room,
whittier her mother and sister followed
her.
Too impatient to unite knots, Mar
garet cut the string, tore open the
brown paper, and then eyed the con-
tents askance.
Were these the fairy gifts she had
expected TO receive ?-the pretty, if
not actually expensive, gowns that
were to enable her to make good APP
pearance beside her more fortunate
cousins?
What she really found was a roll of
stout, serviceable calico for under gar
ments; dress-length of coarse,
strong navy serge, and another of a
neat chocolate cambria, and these were
all.
Margaret looked from these things to
her silent, troubled mother, and back
again, tossed them into n heap, and
ran away to throw herself on her bed
and weep bitter tears of disappoint-
ment.
Il don't understand it at all, sighed
Mrs. barton, in confidence to her sym
pathizing elder daughter. Unless
your aunt thought it would be wiser to
make her present plain and useful,
than to encourage in Margaret love
of dress, which, in our circumstances,
it is more prudent TO repress."
Perhaps Aunt Bessie dresses very
simply herself, Mary suggested.
"A rich widow, who had discarded
her Grape when she landed, and is
evidently not in the habit of denying
herself any luxury! No, no, Mary, my
sister Bessie does not clothe herself in
coarse serge and common print. But
what is to be done? your father will be
vexed if this invitation is declined; yet
to bid Margaret go, arrayed in a garb
that would mark her as the poor rela-
ton, / cannot"
However, Mr.. barton, rendered irrita-
BILE by overwork and the anxiety of
making small income meet the wants
of large family, angrily pooh-poohed
the mothers objections.
Decline so kind an offer simply be-
cause your sisters good sense prompted
her to send useful articles instead of
finery! You shall do nothing so foolish.
Margaret is to 60 to Brighton, insist
ON it, and let her remember that by be-
having rudely or ungratefully she may
ruin the prospects of her brothers. If
should happen to me, pray
what friend have you in the world be-
sides Mrs. Laurence?"
If papa insists, of course [ must
obey" said Margaret, gulping down
n sob. And for Maurice's sake
will try to be civil and all
that; but shall take care
not to stay longer than I can
help, and wear those horrid things /
will not. The serge can be cut into
blouses for the boys"
But, my dear child YOU are so
poorly provided for such a visit"
sighed Mrs Darton.
DO not / know that, and writhe at
the thought of displaying my poverty
to my rich relatives! Yet if they were
not ashamed to insult it, why should /
care? Not even to please papa will /
put on Aunt Bessie's something suita-
BILE"
And to this resolution Margaret add
hered. Her loving mother would have
sold a small quantity of lace she pos
sessed, and made a few additions to
her daughters wardrobe with the price
obtained for it, but her purpose was
and forbidden. 1t was,
therefore, with very small amount of
gray cashmere, just made
up for Sunday wear, the dark green
worn all last winter, and an Indian
muslin embroidered for her by Mary
ut the beginning of the summer-that
Margaret went away, to be conveyed
to Brighton by the highly respectable,
woman in black silk and
furred mantle, who introduced herself
TO the young lady as Mrs. Laurence's
attendant.
Some of Margaret's resentment
melted beneath the warmth of her re-
ception, for Mrs. Laurence, hand
some, energetic, middle-aged woman,
came iuto the hall 10 meet her niece,
and tell her, with hug and kiss,
that she was almost as pretty as her
mother used TO be at her age.
Then she was hurried upstairs, to be
to Emma and Marion, sal
low ssickly looking girls of thirteen and
foSNeen, whose time seemed 10 be
spent in ceaseless squabbling with the
brisk little French governess, who was
to arouse them from their
Incidence
There was not much companionship
TO be expected from them, and for the
first three or four days after her arrival
at Brighton, Margaret scarcely saw her
aunt. except at lunch.
Mrs. Laurence breakfasted in her
own room. came TO the luncheon-tray
with her hands full of papers, over
which she pored, or made notes while
She ate few biscuits. The carriage
bore her off directly after, aud she mere
~ returned in time to dress for din
being erwhelmed with In
yitations from friends and relatives of
her late husband
Perhaps Margaret preferred that it
should be so. She felt no desire TO i'm
prove her acquaintance with the lady