The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-05-16


"Now you may let me see the last
number of the Bazar," and once more
the orders were obeyed, with grace
and courtesy that Marjorie could not
help noticing, even while she had an
unconfessed feeling that such perfect
manners were quite out of place in a
seamstress. She knew better? OF
course she did. She had been been
carefully trained to show courtesy to
every one with whom she came in con-
tact, but it was an unfortunate fact that
the attention which had been showed to
the daughter of a man occupying such
an important position as her father did
had turned her head, and she foolishly
fancied that it enhanced her own i'm.
portance when she aped the imperious
manners of those wealthy people who
had never been taught the duty of
courtesy to those whom they consider
beneath them.
Presently Madame came busting into
the room, and quite overlooking Mar
iorie, she went forward to the young
girl by the window, and exclaimed in
pleased tone:
Well, we are all so glad to have
you back again, Miss Tanner. / am
very sorry to have kept you waiting,
but could not get at liberty before, for
one of my girls is sick this morning,
and so am short-handed with the cut
ting and basting. hope you are quite
well. When did you get homer"
Last evening, Madame" the young
girl answered cordially, shaking hands,
"and as usual one of my first visits is
to you. believe mamma left my white
dress here to be let out"
Eyes, and it is ready to try on"
Madame answered. "Good morning,
Miss Loomis," she said, turning to
Marjorie. 81 must ask you to wait for
little time, for Miss Tanner had an
engagement at this hour, and l did not
expect you until later"
The young girl tucked her dainty
needlework into her bag and followed
Madame into the next room.
Marjorie arose and went out into the
hall.
Tell Madame 1 will call tomorrow"
she said to the little girl who opened
the door for her, and then she went out
into the sunshine, feeling as if the sky
was overcast. Her modification was
overwhelming and her thoughts were
anything but pleasant ones.
"How could ever have made such a
mistaken" she thought bitterly. 81
never can make up for being 80 rude to
her. To think that l ordered Miss
Tanner around as if she had been a
seamstress, and had nothing better to
do than to wait on me. And l never
even said thank you, to her. Oh, what
an idiot have beenl" and she fairly
groaned as she remembered her i'm
perious manners. If she had been any
one else but Miss Tanner whom she
had treated 30 badly, for now that would
end all her hopes for the friendship
which she had hoped to form! Her
mother found her in her room, little
later, shedding bitter tears over the ir-
reparable mistake.
"Why, what is the matter, dear?"
she asked in alarm, as she saw the tear.
stained face.
Marjorie was too wretched to try to
shield herself in any way, and sobbed
out the story of her mistake.
{" am very sorry for you, Marjorie, -
her mother answered, "but l think
you are feeling bad over the wrong part
of it ALL"
"Why, mother?" and Marjorie looked
up in surprise.
{" 1t is not that you have treated Miss
Tanner so rudely that troubles me-
her mother answered. "This is com
paratively small matter. She is used
to attention and courtesy from every
one, and can exact it when people know
who she is. Your rudeness of this
morning will not make her unhapp,
nor add burden to her life. If it hac
been really one of Madame's girls who
had had to bear your rudeness because
she couldn't resent it, and who woulC
have been hurt by lack of courtesy
then should feel as if you had much
more to be sorry for. Miss Tanner
could have resented your conduct il
she had chosen TO do 50; it was probably
only source of amusement to her tina,
a double mistake was made,-that you
were undeceived as to her being one Of
Madame's girls, and she was unde
ceived in any impression that she might
have gained from your appearance thai
you were lady"
"Oh, mother" exclaimed Marjorie
Indignantly, 81 am lady,"
You seem to sadly lack the first in
stincts of true refinement" her mother
answered. "That courtesy which il
only rendered because it can be exactet
by wealth or social position is worth
very little. The real courtesy is tina
which is gracious to all, which viii
show the same consideration, or if any
thing even more, of the feelings of in
feriors than for those who are recog
nized as superiors. While l am sorry
that the brightness of your birthday
should be overloaded, yet cannot bu
feel that you deserved all the mortifca
ton that you have brought upon your
self, aud l am deeply grieved that you
could forget to show courtesy to any
one, whether yeu consider her worthy
or not"
1t had been indeed a mistake tina
could not be atoned for, and, as Mar
jorie had foreseen, all hopes of becom
ing special friend of Judge Tan
ner's daughter had to be abandoned
Although Miss Tanner did not bea
any resentment concerning mistak
which had simply amused her, yet sh
could not feel that she desired any &C