Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-09-28
Mrs. Nortlup' 5 LEDGER
Bv AUGUSTA LARNED.

y. an hour with Fanny Ashley's per-
s,od note in her hand, while the
l pailou Jacket plastered his clay house
tbe beam over her head. Her own
!. was too absorbing to allow her to
~ On weaving fictitious webs. Some
Zinc so new and delightful had come
,nto her life she felt obliged to give her
IF mn to the luxury of her sensations
Tbsn she awoke to the fact that she had
10 clothes wherein to appear before fash
;onable people. Her old garments seemed
- rise up and shame her. She had torn
her only possible gown the day she
Sroueht Celestina Rivers through the
brambles, and it seemed out of the power
If thread and needle to darn that trap
DIOR" in the skirt SO as to remove the
ranroach. But she had promised to go
on the Yachting party, and her heart beat
mick and fast at the thought. The
1riting table was pushed against the
wall and the remainder of the long day
was spent in repairing her wardrobe;
for Edith was as quick with her needle
As her pen when she set herself to the
task.
The accusing trap door darn was
neatly hidden under the fold of the
gown. the cracked boots were mended
and renewed with liquid backing, the
old gloves were deftly repaired, and the
long Sits in her black lace sash drawn
nm with cunning art. Some new trim
ming for the old hat was even discovered
at the bottom of the box, a crumpled
feather, that recurled by aid of skill
ful penknife looked almost as good as
new. and with the work of her quick
fingers was blended many happy girlish
dreams. 1t was almost dark before
Edith had finished furnishing, brushing
and busting, and then she had only just
time to run over to the hospital and in
ouire after Miss Rivers. The old lady
was much better, had come back to con-
sciousness, and asked in feeble voice
after her young rescuer. She had also
expressed solicitude in regard to her MS.
volume Of poems. Edith went to bed
delightfully."- dreamy, as if she had eaten
hasheesh, only to see her hopes of literary
fame melt and fuse in warm indefinite
vision of luxurious happiness.
She awoke next morning under the
spell to note flock of purple clouds in
the sky, rosy light over the tree tops
and the sparkle of dew on the plants and
flowers in Mrs. Northups little garden.
She dressed herself, with the influence of
the dewy, star gemmed dawn still hang
ing about her She was still young and
believed in miracles 1t was two hours
later when Mrs. Northup saw her ledger
drive away in the Ashleys' carriage, with
the smart coachman in livery on the box.
"Bless me-" said she to herself ''if she
don't look like queen, and the girl has
got a face and figger that outshines all
the Ashleys put together aristocrats
though they be-"
1t would be impossible to describe
Ediths day on the yacht, Indeed, the
girl never quite grasped it herself. She
seemed to be floating along grassy and
fowery banks, through enchanted isl
.ands, ever becoming more and more in
innate with the Ashleys, especially Har-
old, who sat beside her talking the most
delicious nonsense when she was not tell
ing him about Willie, praising her broth
er's scholarship and his wonderful genius
in way that made her blush for shame
when she recalled it later,
But Harold took pains to draw her
out, and seemed deeply interested in the
poor boy, and she had been led on, she
knew not how, to confide to this young
man, almost stranger, her dearest
hopes about her adored brother, her only
near relative. Then everybody was so
kind, exactly as if the little fete had been
made in her honor. They dined on a
pretty wooded island, carpeted with
ferns, and Miss Trevor was brought off
the yacht and arranged with rugs and
pillows that she might enjoy the feast
without injury to her health. The scene
was perfectly idyllic under the trees,
and the manners of this family toward
each other were so beautiful and cour-
teous that Edith's young imaginative
head was quite turned. She remembered
wandering round the island "A long time
with Harold in such state of bliss that
never for a moment had she thought OF
her shabby clothes. 1t was species of
intoXication from an unwonted draught
OF pleasure as heady as new wine, and
in this unreal state of enchantment she
had forgotten her long days of labor and
hardship, her garnet chamber and her
neglected story. She returned home in
the twilight and found Mrs. Northup on
the front doorstep enjoying the cool of
the day, while Margery skipped about
among the flower beds and chased a
great brown moth. Mrs. Northup no
ticed the large, live look in Edith's eyes
and her air of suppressed, joyous excite
ment.
81 guess you have had splendid time,
Miss March, and no mistake"
Indeed have" said Edith, laughing