, 1890-02-02
A TIMELY DISCOVERY.

"Have you seen ita" questioned Cora
Brown, excitedly.
Seen what?"
Willie Lestrand lifted her soft, seri-
eyes to the girl near her.
1.-The wedding dress"
what wedding dress2"
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 ruff
fe she was blind stitching.
81 haven't seen it-no. We inefi-
cient workers seldom get a glimpse of
madam's masterpieces"
That's sol" assented Cora, vigor-
ously prodding a little emery straw
berry with her needle. sit was only
by chance l saw this. But it is"-she
paused for a suitable word-"well, it
is Just heavenly |" she concluded.
Very crowded, very suffocating, was
the fifth floor sewing o of the
great dry goods establishment of
Fielding 81 Moore in which the girls
sat and sewed.
The capital of the firm was i'm
mense, its reputation really national.
But the prices paid employees were dis
couragingly low, and the accommoda-
ton OF the workers far from sanitary,
if humane.
Il 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 l did go in.
Oh, Willie, you just ought to see it'll"
"Why7n indifferently.
She picked up a spool of primrose
silk and threaded her needle.
She was a small statured little crea-
ture, plump and dark. Her eyes were
large, pensive and of hazel black; her
complexion of rare pearl purity; her
lips scarlet, sweet and seldom smiling.
Because" said Cora, promptly,
you're not liable to see anything SC
grand in your life again. I'm certain
| shan't."
Willie smiled.
That is a cruel assertion, Cora"
well, it's truel" persisted Miss
Brown. why, the satin would stand
alone-it is the new silver white, Of
course-and it is paneled with EN-
broidery of crushed pearl seed and
crewel silk-daisies and oats and rib
bon grass. They say the lace on the
corsage (t is just like a seam cobweb)
is 200 years old. And" sinking her
voice in a reverential whisper, the
buttons are diamonds!"
Willie Lestrand nodded. She did
not stop sewing, or seem much inter
ested.
kitty Davis showed them to me-
went on Cora, eagerly. They are
worth-oh, 1 don't know how many
dollars she said-and her train is three
yards long. Myl"
She paused, quite breathless and &c.
static, and looked at her companion,
whose silence seemed to irritate her.
you don't care much 10 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 fine
gowns or fashionable peoplel" she
asked.
When she left the store hat even
ing, she wa joined by a gentleman
whose acquaintance she had made
since entering Fielding & Moore's,
two months ago.
He was assistant manager of the
store, and to him had the letter of in
! OuuCllO "nlCA StCuTGu lltT tLlDlOl
ment been addressed. He had persist
emily and devotedly followed up the
acquaintance.
He had visited her al her boarding
house, asked her out, sem her flowers.
And-justt three days ago-he had told
her that he loved her.
But" he had hastily supplemented
his confession by saying, Il can't ask
,,D,, ,,,.t ,,,t 10 ,,,nrry mn h a yn a
fair position, of course, but l haven't
saved a cent, and | don't think l ought
to urge a girl to share poverty-com-
parative poverty-with me-"
1t was a speech both plausible and
prevaricating, but Willie's better
Judgment was blunted by the fact
that the speaker was Economically
handsome, and evidently also roman
tically in love with her.
But the fact she did not know was
that he was tremendously ashamed of
having lost the organ he presumptu-
ously termed a heart to a mere sewing
girl.
When he was her escort he tried as
far as possible TO avoid meeting ac-
houaintances. He was immensely dis
gusted with himself for his infatua-
ton. While enjoying her society and
admiring her beauty, he resented his
own preference for her.
IF she only did not work for her
living" Harold Kent used TO say TO
himself, II might sacrifice the club
and the bays, and a few other %luxuries,
and marry her. Butif the truth should
ever come out = good heavens, it
would be terriblel"
By which cogitation the measure of
III. Ashleigh Kent" as he signed him
self, may perhaps be taken.
When she met him on this particu-
lar evening, Willie looked up with a
smile. He was so Ill, so handsome,
had such a distingui he'd air and such
a beautiful mustacne and beard, it