Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-01-17
A TIMELY DISCOVERY.
BY KATE NJ. CLEARY.

"Have you seen it," questioned Cora
Brown, eXcitedly.
"Seen what?"
Willie Lestrand lifted her soft, serious
eyes to the girl near her.
"The wedding-dress.
"What wedding dress"
"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.
Il haven't seen it-no. We inefficient
workers seldom get glimpse of madam's
masterpieces.
"That's So" assented Cora, vigor ously
prodding little emery strawberry with
her needle. lit was only by chance 1
saw this. But it is"-she paused fora
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 s.
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.
II 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 I did go in. Oh, Will
lie, you just ought to see it"
''Why?" inditferently.
She picked up a spool of primrose silk
and threaded her needle.
She was small statured 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,
''you're not liable to see anything so
grand in your life again. I'm certain l
shan't."
Willie smiled.
THAT is a cruel assertion, Cora"
H'Well, it's true!" 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 Git is
just like a seam cobweb) is two hundred
years old. And" sinking her voice to
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. My"
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.
whicl. Willie gave her.
''What have we to do with the fine
gowns or fashionable people?" she
asked
When she left the store that evening
she was joined by a 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 ad-
dressed. He had persistently and de-
youtly 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
AIS confession by saying, II can't ask
you just yet to marry me. have fair
position, of course, but l haven't saved
cent, and don't think ought to urge
girl to share poverty-comparative
poverty-With me-"
1t was a speech both plausible and