Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-05-11

"But shirtsl Who ever heard of
shirts?" said Gertrude. "However,
we must all try. A rich old bachelor
is worth few pinched fingers, ch,
girls?"
But Erminia Bruce, who had no
liking for plain needlework, looked
with disgust as the Wamsutta muslin,
the card of buttons and the compact
| paper patterns on her table.
81 haven't time for it, said she to
herself, 1lf practice that sonata for
the Thursday evenings musical. I'll
put it out, and the major will never
know that didn't make it myself. A
shirt, indeel! Why, he'll be expect.
ing us to scrub floors and make soft
soap next. The Brown House is very
nice, but mean to be lady of it, with.
out any of this odious d1udgely."
SO Miss Bruce, who Was tall, with q
superb complexion, flashing black eyes
and figure like Dianas own, rolled
up the obnoxious materials and
carried them to little house
around the corner, where pale, dove
eyed young woman, no longer in her
first youth, sat at her sewing.
agatha" said Miss Bruce, curtly,
81 want shirt made. Very nicely,
now. And you must make it cheap /;
do you hear? ?"
Agatha Fontaine looked up wist-
fully.
"But, Erminia," said she, "I am
very much h1rried just now. If you
could wait Il week."
every WE'LL" said Miss Bruce, with
a toss of her imperial head. "Then
I'll take my material elsewhere. It's
always the way with you suffering
poor! If one takes you work, you
won't do it, and then you come and
toll us all sorts OF stories about your
privations. But, mark my words,
Agatha, if you refuse to oblige me now,
I'll never employ you again !"
Miss Fontaine sighed softly. Five
years ago she and Erminin Bruce
had shared the same room in Madam
de Froulignacs fashionable boarding
school, and were inseparable friends.
But poor Harmon Fontaine had failed
in business, and recillessly drawn a
razor across his throat, and here was
Agatha toiling for her daily bread, no
less than to support delicate mother
and a little brother who was alling
with spinal complaint. And Erminia
had listened with patroniZlng air to
ASGtha's humble request for work.
I'll see what L can do for YOU"
she had said, slipping the rich rings
carelessly up and down har fingers.
'But amateur needlework is never
quite up to the mark. However, if you
will consider that in your charges"
Il will endeavor to work well and
cheaply," said Agatha, meekly.
Aud after she was gono Erminia
laughed exultanlly.
'lts a regular stroke of good luck
for us, mamma" said she. "Broken
down gentry always work well, and at
quarter prices !"
And SO, when she turned coldly
away upon this occasion, Agatha made
haste to detain her.
''Leave the work, Erminia," said
she. cit is true that am very much
hurried iusS at present, but you have
been very kind to me, and l would not
Willingly disoblige you"
''It must be hand made" said Miss
Bruce, unrolling her parcel, "and
very neatly, mind, and I will pay you
fifty cents"
FIFTY centsl" echoed poor Agatha.
"Our usual charge is"
81 don't care anything about your
/ Il oh
tiently, "lf you can't do it for fifty
cents, you needn't do it at all"
Aud she rustled out of the room,
leaving Il strong odor of "Bouquet dc
Caroline" behind her.
"Isn't it stranger" said Agatha to
herself, in n sort of sotto voce.
"Isn't what stranger" said Il pleas
ant voice from the adjoining room,
where Major TriXon was sitting by
Hal Fontaine's sick bed.
''Ihis is the third shirt have had
brought me to-day to make" said
Agatha, "and ali in n hurry. I shall
have TO sit up until midnight every
night to finish them"
'Indeed p said Major Trixon.
"One is from Miss Ida Hedge and
one from her sister Bertha" said
Agatha; "and now Miss Bruce"
miss Bruce, eh?" said the major.
"Can't she make her own shirts, with
out bringing them here?"
"I don't knowr" sighed Agatha.
"'5ho was the naughty young wo-
man, suppose, who was domineering
! over yor iutt now 81