The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-02-20


ment at this hour, and ] did not expect
you until later"
The young girl tucked her dainty bit
OF needlework into her bag and follow
ed Madame into the next room.
Marjorie arose and went out into the
hall.
"Tell Madame / will call to-mor-
row." she said to the little girl who
opened the door for her, and then she
went out into the sunshine, feeling as
IL the sky was overcast. Her mortifi-
cation vas overwhelming and her
thoughts were anything but pleasant
ones.
"How could / ever have made such
a mistake ?" she thought bitterly. Il
never can make up for being SO rude to
her. To think that L ordered Miss
Tanner around as IL she had been a
seamstress, and had nothing better to
do than to wait upon me. And 1 never
eve said thank you, to her. Oh, what
an idiot l have been 7" and she fairly
groaned as she remembered her imper-
ious n If it had been anyone
else, but Miss Tanner whom she had
treated so badly, for now that would
end all her hopes OF the friendship
which she had hoped to form! Her
mother found her in her room, q little
later, shedding bitter tears over the
irreparable mistake.
"Why, what'is the matter, dear ?"
she asked in alarm, as she saw the
tear-stained face.
Marjorie vas too wretched to try to
shield herself in any way, and sobbed
out the story of her mistake.
81 am very sorry for you, Marjorie"
her mother answered, "but / think
you are feeling bad over the wrong
part of it ALL"
"Why mother? ?" and Marjorie look
ed up in surprise.
Tanner so rudely that troubles me-"
her mother answered. "This is COM
paratively o small matter. She is used
to attention and courtesy from every
one, and can eXactit when people know
who she is. Your rudeness Of this
morning will not make her unhappy
nor add a burden to her life. If it had
been really one Of Madame's girls who
had had to bear your rudeness because
she couldn't resent it, and who would
have been hurt by a lack of courtesy,
then I 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 SO, it was proba-
bly, only q source of amusement to her
that q double mistake was made, that
you were undeceived as to her being
one of Madame's girls, and she was I'M
deceived in any impression that she
might have gained from your appear
ance that you were a lady"
ooh, mother" exclaimed Marjorie,
Indignantly. 81 am q lady"
I" You seem to sadly lack the first in
stincts of true refinement" her mother
answered. THAT courtesy which is
only rendered because it can be exact
ed by wealth Or social position is worth
very little. The real courtesy is that
which is gracious to all, which will
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 I am sorry
that the brightness of your birthday
should be overcloudel, yet l cannot
but feel that you deserved all the NOR
LITIGATION hat you have brought upor
yourself, and | am deeply grieved that
you could forget to show courtesy tc
any one, whether you consider hel
worthy Of it or not"
1t had been indeed a mistake that
could not be atoned for, and as Mar.
jorie had foreseen all hopes of becom'
ing IL special friend of Judge Tanners
daughter had to be abandoned. AL.
though Miss Tanner did not bear any
resentmentc concerning a mistake which
had simply amused her, yet she could
not feel that she desired any acquain.
lance with a girl who could show such
rudeness to any one whom she had sup.
posed to be an inferior.
Marjorie remembered and profited
by the bitter lesson, but she could never
focget the modification she had
brought upon herself, nor the fact that
no regret could alter the impression
she had made. The remembrance OF
her mistake had a salutary effect upon
her in the future, and she strove tc
prove herself courteous to all, whether
or not they could eXac consideration,
but she never forgot nor outgrew the
remembrance which had cost her a
coveted friendship.