The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-07-03
THE LAST RESORT.
pY HELnN FoRREsr enAvEs.


It was sunshiny afternoon in late
May. The breezes that wooed apple
buds into blossom, far off in country
wildernesses, served but to send clouds
Of dust along the city streets. But over
head the sky was blue and bright, all
dappled with white clouds, and Miss
Gill, Mrs. Aramis's forewoman, looked up
with sigh, and thought of the old farm
in Ulster County, where she used to live
many, many years ago, when she was a
girl.
Mrs. Aaron Aramis was fashionable
dressmalSer in Montagu street. Miss Gill
was second in command, and there were
six young girls who sewed in big back
room, and couple of ''titters" TO super
intend.
The spring fashions were advantage
ously displayed upon various wire forms
and waxen dummies around the show
room. Mrs. Aramis was in curtained
recess by window, checking off large
order from the South. Miss Gill stood
behind the counter, and pale, pretty
young women, dressed in mourning that
bad lost its first freshness. was talking
earnestly to her.
$50 you have no vacancies at all2n said
she.
Miss Gill shook her head.
''None," she replied. But l think if
you were to apply at Severell's, next
door"
The pretty girl colored wildly.
"The place would not suit me-" said
she. "The walker"
And then she stopped suddenly.
eyes, understand" said Miss Gill.
''He is rather disagreeable. l wonder, {"
she added, within herself, ''if this is the
girl I've heard of, that old Fitch, the
hoor-walker, was determined to marry,
whether she would or not. She is very
pretty. And I'm sorry for her, poor
thingl"
81 don't know what to do" wistfully
added the girl. az am very poor, so
very poor, and there are SO few ways for
woman to earn her living. If one could
drown oneself, and be done with it. But
starvation is such a slow death"
At that moment the creak of heavy
footsteps sounded on the stairs, and in
trudged a stout, elderly woman, with a
black felt bonnet, and short gray curly,
blown into sad confusion by the riotous
spring winds.
'Is this Mrs. Aramis's placel" de-
manded she.
Miss Gill bowed courteously.
''pve heard deal about it," said the
elderly woman. ''Mrs. Judge Jexon, out
our way, bought maroon silk drees
here once. II was dretful tasty. And
/ was calculating to buy a black silk
dress myself. We hain't no good dress
makers at Eventown, so sort o. thought
I'd buy it ready made. Got any nice
onesY"
Miss Gill came out from behind the
counter. II was true that the old
woman's bonnet was cheap in material,
and ancient in make, and her general
attire entirely deficient in effect; but
these eccentric people were often the best
customers.
Miss Gill drew forward a handsome
costume, above which was wax face
simpered with perpetual smiles.
'How do you like thiss" she said.
Old Mrs. Blinn started.
al most thought it was alive, at first, ~
she said. "Thats an awful pretty dress, "
Peering through her spectacles at the
loops and puffs and lace cascades that
decorated the rich material. "What's
the price2n
"We could sell this" said Miss Gill,
making a mental calculation, "for one
hundred and twenty-five dollars. 1t is
worth more, but
Again Mrs. Blinn started.
"a hundred - and - twenty-five
dollars !" she echoed, ''Why, that's more
than Blinn's best team o. horses cost.
couldn't think O. giving that for q
dress"
Miss Gill pushed the wax-headed figure
back, not without some scorn in heI
movement, and took a big pasteboard
box from a drawer.
''Here is a bargain, " said she.
Mrs. Blinn pricked up her ears at the
word.