Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-07-05
UNDER A CLOUD.

UNDER A CLOUD.
"Dear mep' said Mrs. Pell, "what is
tho matter with Carry2 Amt sick, is
she?"
Mrs. Pcll had come up to her lodger's
room to borrow dust pan. Life among
the poor-tenement- house life, at least
is all give and take; and Mrs. Pell
borrowed dust-pans and egg beaters,
just as Mrs. De Ritter of Upper Fifth
avenue would borrow piecO of music,
Or Miss Waldegrave the last new novel.
The Beltons had only lately come to
the house. They were very poor, yet
Mrs. Pell somehow respected an intan-
gible essence Of ladyhood that hovered
about them. They had no carpet on
their flood, yet it was always clean; the
curtains were made Of ''cheese- cloth" at
four cents a yard; the bed on which
mothers and daughters slept assumed
the similitude of stained pier wardro be
by day. Tho cooking was done on a
kerosene stove in the corner; and Mrs
Pell had discovered that Mrs. Bolton
did foss-silk embroidery on flannel for
infants wardrobes, while Garry was one
Of the attendants in Muller g. Co. :
great dry-goods store on Broadway.
II knowed they was genteel," said
Mrs. Peli, ''the minute l set eyes on
'em. Mrs Beton's dress is shabby;
and Mrs. Hourie, the grocers wife on
the first st-hoor, wears brand new silk,
but Mrs. Bolton wears hers somehow
different; and Carry's bonnet is plain
black straw, with loops o green ribbon,
bat it it's $ a great deal more lady fed than
Susan Jane Hawley's pink Grape, with
the red feathers and the Rhine stone
daggers stuck In it.
But to-day Garry was crying, and
Mrs. Bolton, with her floss-silk en-
broidery pushed to one side, was trying
to comfort her as best she could.
"No," said Mrs Bolton, "she isn't
sick, but"
81 am discharged" said Garry, sud
denly Strengthening herself up. ~ We
lost my place. Ono of the customers
brought a point-lace handkerchief to
tho store to match it in flounces, and
she couldn't find it afterward, and"
81 know" said Mrs. Pell. 81 had a
niece once in one o them big stores, and
you can't teach me much about en-
The gals is sacrificed right straight
along to the customers whims. 1t was
laid to you, of course. "
"And l may consider myself lucky,
so they tell me-" cried out indignant
Garry, 'that I am not arrested and
thrown into prisoni Only previous
good conduct has saved mel But
don't consider myself lucky l consider
that I have been insulted and aggrieved
l."
"Carry, Carryp gently soothed the
mother.
And Carrys passionate words died
away in flood Of tears.
"But what are we to do2" she
walled. show are we to live2 No
one will take me in, after this. 1t
would be useless for me to try to get a
situation.
"God will provide, Garry, whispered
Mrs. Bolton.
At that moment there came a sharp
tap at the door.
aasM ssss ss4assss ~
place out in Orange County9" asked q
gruf voice. ''Mr. Jcssup's wagon is al
the door. That's me. And he's a. wait
In"
'La, mel" said Mrs. Pell, starting
up. 81 clean forgot all about it. Name
of Jessupi Louisa olcott, she's dread
ful sorry, but her uncle amt wilIin',
on sober second thoughts, to let her GO
out of the city. They've gone to Coney
Island today, and"
"Ain't that the young womanl" said
Mr.. Jessup, nodding his head toward
Carry Bolton as he stood in the door.
way.
Certainly not" said Mrs. Pell,
bristling up. "This is floor above tn,
Olcott rooms"
mo offense, no offenseln said Mr.
Jessup. ''But what be l goin' to do
My wife she calculated on my bringin
homo hired hels, sn dunno nothin