The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-30

i see, now. AndInDerInaluS, mattresses,
sewing. cooks Clearly, those won't
do. But, all! now I've got it, or my
| name isn't Bella. I'll have to put my
pride in my pocket this time, guess. :
The advertisement read to the effect
that lady wanted person of refine
ment to do up laces and fine lawns
each week. The person Of refinement
was to call at No. II periwinkle place,
| and ask for Mrs. Goodman, house.
keeper.
"And. as true as l i've" exclaimed
Bella. Il believe that's where Georges
aunt lives. Well, she cant eat me,
that's certain. and might as well do
up her laces as anybody elses. Even IL
she should happen to see me, she
wouldn't know me. only hope shall
get peek ut her, If no more than the
end of her proud nose: one must have
some enjoyment in life if one is poor.
Queer that never thought Of getting
laces to do up. For, really, when |
come to think about it. what is called
fine washing is my only accomplish
ment / suppose when | 60 there, that
Mrs. Goodman, the housekeeper, will
goto the madam and say: If you please,
| IN, the wash'woman has come Well,
/ guess / can stand it. Ill ask Mrs.
| Cordova and the Montagues on the ave-
nue. if they have any of that kind Ut
work to give me. And perhaps they
| may know Of others"
And so, Bella, with brave attempt
to make '.her destiny her choice"
dressed to 60 to Periwinkle place.
In ten minutes after she had rung the
doorbell the interview was at an end.
She had been politely treated by the
housekeeper. who. after close scr,i-
| tiny, asked what she could do, and then,
her address, and finally gave her quite
: parcc! Of laces, fine handkerchiefs
and sons delicate silk underwear to do
up. And the interview had passed and
nothing had happened.
And. pray. what did you expecta"
demanded Bella of herself, savagely.
| Ibid you think you would see George S
| aunt, and that, stunned by your charms.
she would Immediately exclaim: Come
to my arms, You poor, stricken DEAR
Don't forget the Van Duzener pride,
| Eella-nor your own"
And so six months passed. Bella had
all the work she could do, and. conse-
| quently, was SO busy that she had no
| time to waste in wishing that the
patron saint of lovers would turn his
attention to that little affair of hers.
In fact, just about this time the course
of true love didn't run at all: it stood
stock-still.
| 1t happened that. during one of those
| rare, brief visits which Bella now per-
mitted Mr.. Mortimer to make her. the
! subject of that young ladys employ
| ment was brought under discussion
Bella. with most becoming flush on
her checks, and an extra toss of her
curly head, explained the sort of work
she had found to do.
| ''For Heavens sake. Bella, couldn't
you find anything in this big town to do
but THAR" gasped Mr.. Mortimer. What
| if that should come to my aunt's ears?
Why, Bella, it would be the death-blow
to all our hopes"
"Humph.' said Bella. coolly, though
| her heart beat angrily. ''As for that,
the mischief is done, if it can be called
mischief ! marched right into the en-
emy's country the first thing In fact,
I've been doing up the enemy's laces
and things right along.'
Mr.. Mortim, r's despair was too deep
! for words lie could only gaze blankly
at his companion and wonder il wom-
| ans boosted tact wasn't an unknown
quantity, after all. Certainly, Bella
hadn't any.
81 haven't seen Mrs. Van Duzener
even once" said Bella, after awhile,
with view to placating her lover.
OH said Mr.. Mortimer, brighten
| ing. In that case, perhaps we are all
| right, yet. | dare say she wouldn't
know you from a hole in the ground"
continued he, inelegantly. but hopeful
ly.
''Now. of course, you will give up
| this business Immediately. Something
else will soon turn up: something more
| suitable and-proper."
''Of course, shall not do any such
thing" replied Bella, Indignantly. In
| the first place, grandmother has SO
many poor turns that | do not dare
undertake any work that may not be
done at home. And, in the second
place. this work that have chosen is
the only kind that can do well. One
had better be good laundress than an
incompetent teacher or a poor seam
stress"
Tears stood in Bella's eyes. She had
tried SO bravely to do her duty, and,
instead of sympathy, she met only with
condemnation. But she was a plucky
girl, and all the Establishments and
coaxings of her lover failed to move her
in the least. Then they quarreled, as
only people who are very fond of each
other can quarrel. At the end of fifteen
| minutes, he said:
| Good evening, Miss Wakefield"
And she, with corresponding flour
ish Of politeness, said:
''Good evening, Mr.. Mortimer"
And the door closed between them
And SO they parted with sore hearts
and the belief that each was responsible
for the unhappy ending of their love.
Bella, however, kept right on in the
path which she had elected to follow.
But she was thankful that Mrs. Van
Duzener sent her things to her every
week, and also sent after them.
Among the many diversions which
Mrs. Van Duzener's high station and
big bank account brought to her, she
found none SO satisfying and entertain
ing as watching from day to day the
changes in the ingenious countenance
of her nephew. That he was in love
she had long since guessed. AS he
grew moody and quiet and left his
favorite dishes untasted, she decided
that she must know what troubled him.
So, one morning at the breakfast-table,
she suddenly said, in her quick, snappy
way:
Come, George, satisfy an old wom-
ans curiosity. Who is she?''
Mr.. Mortimer was at first very much
confused. But being very young anu
very unhappy. and noticing that hi.
aunt looked particularly amiable, h.
soon unbosomed himself OF few Of
his woes
/ l.,