The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-04-16


. her companion, but rose and rang the
bell. I'm going to give you cup u
tea 80 she said. "IIark how IL rams iou
cant 90 yet, and you'll be less Likely 70
luke cold when you do 60, Il you start
well warmed. Besides, | want - have
you stay. should Ike 70 have little
talk over this question Of dress which il
80 interesting TO all of ns women she
smiled brightly at her guest, who, a. i
dazZled. watched the entrance Of the tray
with It's bubbling kettle, its thin plate. of
bread and butter and crisp, dainty cakes
watched Myra measure the tea, warm the
pot Of gay Japanese ware, and when the
brew was ready, nil the thin Tipped cups,
and drop in sugar and cream.
"IIow NICE" she said, with sigh Of
satisfaction Her heart opened under the
unwonted kindness and comfort and Mss
Sydney had little difficulty in learning
what she wished to know. Cary Thomas
was the girls rame. She lived at home
t II two years ago. Did she Ike the city 7
Yes, she said she liked 1t well enough, but
il was not much like home 10 board. Sac
and another girl that worked at Snow &
| sher's had room together out in Far
well street. They had pretty good times
when they were not too full Of work, but
In the busy season they stayed so late at
the store that they didn't want anything
when they got home, except TO 20 right
to bed They got seven dollars a week,
more when there was extra work to DO.
"Can you lay up anything out Of thatF'
asked Miss Sydney.
NO, ma'am not cent; at least don [.
| There's some girls in the store that do,
but they've got sick friends to save for
Now" said Miss sydney, having thus
felt her way, ''tu go back TO the jacket
question. AS told you | can't at al af-
ford to have one for every dress
Can't you, ma'am, what do YOU do
them"
II buy one jacket which will do with
everything | wear
But that isn't suit said Cary doubt
fully.
NO, but is it necessary that everything
should be a sut!'
1.-The girls at our store think so much
Of suits"-in a puzzled tone of self-de-
fence.
Il know some people have fancy for
them, and they are very pretty sometimes.
But don't you see that they must cost
great deal of money, and that working
people, you and myself, for instan ce,
ought to manage more carefully
"Do you work, ma ann"
ITO be sure / do. You look surprised.
All you think that because | have a little
home OF my own and live in a pretty
room | must be a fine lady with nothing
to do. That's mistake OF yours | work
nearly as many hours as you do, and earn
the greater part of my income, and have
to consult economy TO keep my home and
make it pleasant, and among the things
which | cant afford to have are suits.
II wish you'd tell me how you do,
ma am"
IL will though I'm not in the habit of
talking quite so freely about my ailairs,
but | ii tell you, because it may give you
idea how to manage better for yourself.
IN the first place keep TO two or three
colors | have black gown or two, and
an olive brown, and this yelIowsh- green
hat YOU see and some lighter ones, white
1r pale yellow. Now with any Of these
the same bonnet will do. The one | am
wearing now is black with little jet and
pale yellow, and it goes perfectly well
with all my dresses, aud so does my black
cashmere jacket aud my parasol and
gloves, which are yellow a.so. Don't you
see there is an economy in this and that
If l had a purple dress aud blue one and
a brown, should want different bonnet
for each and different gloves and diiler-
ent parasol'
"Why, yes, it does seem So said
Cary, drawing q long breath. I'D like
to do something different myself. but
don't suppose I'd know how
"Would you mind if told you whit |
hink?9 anked Myra gently.
"No'm I'd thank you.
ut 81 ems to me ths' the chief trouble
with girls who work in stores is that they
care more for what they call stylish,
than for being either neat or pretty.
young girl can look her best in simple
dress, II it is well put on and becoming.
That's what mother used to say And
Mark, he always liked me best IN white
bib apron. To be sure he never saw me
in city clothes"-she stopped hlushlug
'Is Mark your brother?' asked Myra.
Then she smiled at her own stupidity, FOR
such deep blush as mantled in Gays
cheek is seldom evoked by the mention of
brother.
Nom he's just friend. His folks and
mine lived opposite
"In Gilmanton".
Ills father farms, aud Mark works for
him, but his time is out in the SPRING and
then he calculates to set up for himself,
"Does he ever come to the city
NO, not once since was here but he
speaks of coming down toward spring
aud that's one reason | Ike to look a.
stylish "a | can, SOS not to be different
from the rest when Mark comes
al think in his place | should prefer
you to be different" said Miss Sydney, de
cidedly. "Now, Cary, don't be off 'nded,
what you girls aim at is to look Ike the
ladies who come to the shop, isn't it,
stylish as you would ssyf'
"Yes, | spose it is. admitted Cary.
"Well, then | must tell you the plain
truth, you utterly fail in your attempt.
No one would mistake girl, dressed MS
YOU are at this moment, for lady, no.
BODY but" disregarding the deep flush
IN her companions cheeks-'if | went
INTO a shop, and saw there young lady
as pretty and as delic,tely made as you
are, Cary, with hair az smooth as satin,
and a simple gown that fitted exactly, aud
collar and cuffs as white as snow, and
perhaps black silk apron or white one
and with neat shoes isnd nice stockings
If ! saw girl dressed like that with 10th
ing costly, nothing that any girl cannot
have, but everything fresh and neat and
pretty, | should say to myself, there Is
shop girl with true instincts OF lady
And Cary-don't think me imperiinent
if Mark came to town and saw girl
like that among the crowd OF untldy,
over dressed ones at Snow and Asher's,
think the contrast would strike him as it
would me-agrseebly
Miss Sydney paused, half frightened at
her own daring. Cary looked steadily in
to the fire without speaking. The rain
had ceased. Myra rose AMI threw back
the blind, revealing the moon struggling
through thin edges of cloud. Cary fol-
lowed her to the window. He cheeks
were deep red but there was a frank
and grateful look in her eyes as she said
81 must be going now, ma'am. You've
been ever so good to let me stay. shan't
forget IL, and guess you are ABOUT
right
Il wonder if | said the right thing or
have done the least good?' queried Miss
sydney, as she watched her CUES. de
part.
1t was some weeks before she again
had occasion to visit Snow and Asher's,
and she had half forgotten the little iu-
cident, when one day, entering the shop
In quest of something her f'tention was
attracted by face which beamed with
sudden smiles at the sight of her. 1t was
indeed Cary, but such different Cary
from the draggle led vision of the wet even
ing! She still wore the blue dress, but
the fiounces had been ripped Off, and the
front was hidden with black silk apron.
The tangle hair was smoothed like ordi-
nary waves, white collar with knot of
blue ribbon was round her neck; one of
the Objectionable rings had disappeared
and so had the yellow locket. So chang
ID and so much prettier was the little
maiden that Miss Sydney scarcely knew