The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-01-02
A TIMELY DISCOVERY.
BY KATE NJ. CLEARLY.

Brown, excitedly.
"Seen what2"
Willie Lestrand lifted her soft, serious
eyes to the girl near her.
"The wedding-dress.'
"What wedding -dress3"
''Why, the one that is being made for
the daughter of the head of the firm, Miss
Roslind Fielding"
Willie went quietly on with the ruffle
she was blind stitching.
81 haven't seen tho. We inefficient
workers seldom get ia glimpse of madam
masterpieces
''That's So! assented Cora, vigorously
prodding little emery strawberry with
her needle. ut was only by chance |
saw this. But it is'-she paused for a
suitable word-''well, it is just hea-
venly," she concluded.
Very crowded, very suffocating, was
the fifth floor sewing room of the great
dry goods establishment of Fielding d
Moore in which the girls sat and sewed.
The capital of the firm was immense,
its reputation really national. But the
prices paid employees were discouraging-
ly low, and the accommodations of the
workers far from sanitary, if humane.
81 happened to be passing the room
where they show shades by gaslight.
Kitty Davis is assistant there this week
and she called me to come in. Madam
wasn't around, so did 90 in. Oh, Will
lie, you Just ought to sec it !"
"Why?" indifferently.
She picked up spool of primrose silk
and threaded her needle.
She was small staturcd little creature,
plump and dark. Her eyes were large,
pensive, and of hazel black her COM
plexion of rare pearl purity; her lips
scarlet, sweet, and seldom smiling.
Because, said Cora, promptly,
"yourc not liable to see anything so
grand in your life again. I'm certain |
shan't."
Willie smiled
"That is a cruel assertion, Cora"
"Well, it's trueW persisted Miss
Brown. "Why, the satin would stand
alone-it is the new silver white, of
course-and it is paneled with embroid-
cry of crushed pearl-seed and crewel silk
daisies and oats and ribbon grass.
They say the lace on the corsage cit is
just like seam cobweb) is two hundred
years old And" sinking her voice to a
reverential whisper, "the buttons are
diamonds
Willie Lestrand nodded She did not
stop sewing, or seem much interested.
kitty Davis showed them to me, ="
went on Cora, eagerly. "'They are
worth-oh, l don't know how many del
lar she said-and her train is three yards
long. Ny"
She paused quite breathless and
ecstatic, and looked at her companion,
whose silence seemed to irritate her.
"You don't care much to hear about
fine gowns or fashionable folks" she
said.
A strange and wistful look was that
which Willie gave her.
"What have we to do with the fine
gowns or fashionable people9" she
asked.
When she left the store that evening
she was joined by gentleman whose
acquaintance she had made since entering
Fielding & Moores, two months ago.
He was assistant manager of the store,
and to him had the letter of introduction,
which secured her employment, been adj
dressed He had persistently and de-
voutly followed up the acquaintance.
He had visited her at her boarding
house, asked her out, sent her flowers
And, just three days ago, he had told
her he loved her.
"But," he had hastily supplemented
his confession by saying, 81 can't ask
you just yet to marry ME. have fair
position, of course, but haven't saved
cent, and don't think l ought to urge
girl to share poverty-comparative
yerty-with me.
t was speech both plausible and
.varicating, but Willie's better judg-
mt was blunted by the fact that the
speaker was romantically handsome, and
evidently also romantically in love with
her.
But the fact she did not know was
that he was tremendously ashamed of
having lost the organ he presumptuously
termed heart to mere sewing girl.
When he was her escort he tried as far
as possible to avoid meeting acquaint-
ances. He was immensely disguised with
himself for his infatuation. While en-
joying her society and admiring her
beauty, he resented his own preference
for her.
''If she only did not work for her liv-
ing" Harold Kent used to say to himself,
i might sacrifice the club, and my bays,
and few such Injuries, and marry her.
But if the truth should ever come out
good heavens, it would be terriblel"
By which cogitation the measure OF
III. Ashlcigh Kent" as he signed him.
self, may perhaps be taken.
When she met him ON this particular
evening, Willie looked up with smile.
He was so tall, so handsome, had such q
distinguished air and such beautiful
moustache and bearing it was hardly
strange he should win recognition, if moi
affection. Or so at lcas1 that foolish lit
tie girl thought.
1--WE heard of your good fortune,
she said, brightly. ''Let me congratu
late you, Mr.. Kent
They still addressed each other quite
formally. Though he had expressed his
affection for her, she hadn't given him to
understand she entertained any feeling
more than friendly for him.
He looked rather annoyed, she fan
cied.
What good for tunesr he questioned
why, that YOU have been appointc
European buyer for the firm she a,