The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-06-16

the wreath on at that price?',
cit is not usual" hesltated Made
line; "but if you insist upon it -
every well, " interrupted Miss War
rem; | will send around the tulle in q
day or two. Be sure it is all artistic,
and true to nature, and all that sort
of thing, for these private audiences
are so fearfully criticalp'
Madeline caught little Lucy in her
arms, as the door closed behind Miss
Valencia Warrens steel-colored silk
trail.
my darling little snowflake" she
cried out, "if this order is promptly
paid, I'll treat you to two weeks
board in the country this summer.
The milkman's wife will take you for
S. a week, and do so long O see the
roses on your cheek!' w..
"ls the country nicer" asked Lucy,
wistfully.
"Oh, my poor darling, you don't
know how nice! To think that you
never have gathered daisies nor made
dandelion chain, nor played snow
storm under the trees in apple blossom
time! But, please God, we'll teach
you the pretty lesson yet. And now,
dear, I'll learn you to cut out the
leaves by yourself while 60 to buy
material for this wreath.
Mrs. Warren and her daughter were
sitting together in the boudoir, when
Madeline Gray brought home the
wreath and veil, carefully folded in a
flat pasteboard box.
"Please, men," said Patty the
maid, "there's a young person down
stairs awaiting for the money"
"Dear me, what a hurry these work
ing people are always in for their pay!"
drawled Mrs. Warren, all older edition
OF her daughter, plumper, taller, and
little more bepowdered and beroug-
ed. "Open the box, Valley, and let's
see. Upon my word, it is beautiful
Try it on, darling"
And as Valencia stood before the
full-length mirror, her queenly head
encircled by the coronal OF waxy BIOS
SONS, and the vapor-like folds of tulle
sweeping around her, she did look
lovely indeed.
81 don't care a row of pins for the
rest" said Miss Warren, as she turn
ed complacently from side to side to
view the effect from all points OF sight;
"but I do want Reginald Meriman to
think am pretty!;'
HE can't help it darling" said Mrs.
Warren, soothingly; ''he'n lose his
heart tomorrow night, if he never did
before"
"But $40, mamma! I haven't got
the money. And papa is so awfully
stingy OF late and grumbles so about
hard times.
''She must watt" said Mrs. War
rem. ''Tell her so, Patty" to the
staring servant maid.
But presently Patty returned.
"She says, Miss please you promised
it her to-day, and
Valencia turned shortly around,
and in the motion she stepped on the
trailing hem Of the tulle veil, and tore
long, zigzag rent through it's gauzy
material.
''ThereH' she cried, angrily. "Now
see!''
"Hush, dear'' said Mrs. Warren,
a curious green light coming into her
eyes: 'Tell the girl, Patty, I wonder
What she means by sending home a
torn veil like this. She can not ex-
pect to be paid when she ruins mater
ial in this.way. Here, young woman"
opening the door and calling over the
banisters, 'come up here''
Madeline Gray, thus summoned,
surveyed the rent with dismay and
surprise.
miss WARREN" she cried eagerly.
1.-the veil was in perfect order when
laid it in the box! It must have been
torn since. and"
"There," said Mrs. Warren haught-
lily, that will do. I have no desire
to protract this discussion. It is
enough that you have spoiled my
daughters veil. Of course, we shall
have to buy new tulle, and you can't
be mean enough to expect pay for
your work under these circumstan-
ces"
"But," cried out Madeline, II have
| done my work and want nv money!
know nothing about this hole! -
Il never heard such impudence in
my life,' said Mrs. Warren. "Wil]
you leave the house, young woman,
or do you want me to call police.
man?"
So Madeline went away, bewilder.
ed, deeply wounded, and marveling in
her heart that so rich a lady could be
so despicable.
Reginald Meriman was sitting in her
| little work-room-somehowh he had got
into the habit OF coming in to see sick
Lucy quite frequently when he was in
the house visiting his friend the fresco
artist-when Madeline entered with
tear-stalned cheeks and eyes swollen
with weeping.
Lucy jumped up as she closed the
door.
"Have you got the money, sis.
ter? Did Miss Valencia Warren pay
you?"
And, Through sobs and tears, poor
Madeline told her tale.
''Oh, Mr.. Meriman they are rich
people," she concluded. miss Val
encia is as lovely as a picture. How
can they treat me so?"
| Reginald listened in silence. ..
| II know Miss WARREN he said
"but l would not have believed this
OF her: Little Lucy, why are you
crying?" =
And then Lucy unfolded the scheme
| about the coming May-time and the