The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-26

erOnt NOT gay, nor rOSe-cnSekeu now
but slender, pale and still very dainti-
ly fair to look upon. She wore a
black gown. A beautiful child clung
to her hand
s'Oh, Mrs. Rycliffe!' she cried.
The sight of the dear old face was
precious after her long exile among
strangers. She kissed her guest, drew
her in, took off her bonnet, and made
her cup of tea, all the time full Of
words of welcome, and of inquiry, but
not once mentioning her own poverty,
which everything in the room pro-
claimed.
How are you getting on, is what
want to know" the old lady said,
straightforwardly.
sob, I manage. I do splain sewing,
you know. Sometimes I find it hard
to get all 1 can do, but a week ago q
lady called and left me an order that
has kept me busy since She asked
my prices for making plain garments,
and L mentioned them, but the ma
terials were accompanied by directions
for much elaborate work. OF course,
I have no doubt she will pay me what
my labor was worth. You may see it. -
She displayed four nainsOolx dress
ing-sacques, having insertions of Tor
chon lace, clusters of tiny tucks, and
pressed her admiration.
what do you ask for them?''
s.When they are quite plain, twenty
five cents each, but as these have 50
much work, thought fifty would not
be too much to ask
s.Well! 1 should think that pretty
cheap. Harkl''
There was a step in the passage
without
THAT is my customer, 1 suppose.
She said she would call to-day. Don't
STIR
But Mrs. Rycliffe vanished behind
the cretonne screen that partitiOned
off the oil-stove and few cooking
utensils from the rest OF the room.
There was a tear in the cretonne,
however, and she saw the person who
entered, large, horid woman, attired
in a furred cloth skirt, coat of many
capes, a faring hat on which black
birds bobbed, and yellow kid gloves.
''Ah! the work is done. Yes, salts
factory-quite. Really, shall rec
ommend you. A dollar, believe.
There it isl
''Mrs. Pugh," demonstrated the
seamstress, II said 1 would make
those with only ruffles at neck and
sleeves for the price named. These
are worth at least fifty cents each.
The sewing on them has taken me a
week.
Her patron turned from the door to
freeze her with stare.
''Ahl impoStor, L see-lilce all Of
your classl You make one contract,
and demand pay that was not stipula-
ted. shall not again employ you"
With which appalling threat she
swept away.
behind the screen, white and trem-
bling.
What a wicked woman, Elsiei'' she
cried.
Elsie smiled family.
ssThey are not all so unjust" she
said, trying to speak cheerily.
Dusk was closing in when Mrs.
Rycliffe reached the house of her
niece, a snowy, imposing house. Her
mistress, the servant said, was at the
matinee. Would the visitor waltz
Mrs. Rycliffe sat down in a chair in
corner of the parlor. waiting, nodded,
fell fast asleep. She was awakened
by a mans angry tone, demanding
with an oath, if he was ever to
have any supper. The next instant
Medora's voice admonished him.
"You must wait. I've just got in
from the matinee. Don't scold.
didn't buy my ticket out of the
grocer's money A woman did four
dollars worth of sewing for me.
paid her, and had a good time out of
the amount saved. Why, Aunt-is it
Aunt Mary?"
Mrs. Rycliffe rose with stiff effort.
She was cramped and tired.
81 think it isl she replied, dryly.
For four days was Mrs. Rycliffe the
guest of Mrs. Pugh. And she saw
more than the interview with Elsie,
to convince her she was under no OBJ
legation to give money or its equiva-
lent to Medora. She saw an extrava-
giant, ill-regulated household, where
prevailed all manner of schemes to
make a show of opulence, and all
kinds of petty subterfuges to evade
responsibility and payment of just
debts. She saw a selfish man and
woman, both devoid of any sense Of
rectitude and honor. When she an
nounced her intention of going home,
Medora said:
"As soon as the weather gets a lit
tie warmer, we shall go down to Grass
nook, and spend several months with
you and dear John"
''I'm afraid 1 sha'p have room, 1.-THE
elder woman declared. elsie Payne
is coming home with me-"
Elsie = Payne!'' she repeated,
blankly.
"Yes-you've heard Of her as Elsie
Cameron. She's been doing some
PLAIN sewing for you, believe. was
there the day you called and paid fo1
those sacques."
John was at the train to meet his
mother, Elsie, and the child. He