Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1899-03-23
and let in the radiance of the early
morning Tia am had ,;.e into

tree tops stirred in the gentle breeze,
and fo~wer-scents and bird.7oices
filled the air. It was just the morn
ing to I'LL ones heart with a pleasant
p%remonition OF coming good.
Il feel as if something nice was g.
ing to happen" said Miss Ferry to
herself, as she looked out into the
beautiful, fresh world. "But there.
What am I thinking OF? It'll be
buttonholes, or maybe Janell want
me to tend Willie through one Of his
collie spellsr"
Breakfast over, Miss Ferry sat
down in her little sewing chair and
took up her work; but for some rea-
son the needle would not go, and her
thoughts would wander far from the
little garment she was ~fashioning.
She was gazing at the swayiDg ELM
tops, and her work had fallen from
her hands, when a rousing rap ut the
door started her into the conscious.l
ness Of the present.
Good land. What's Gomez" she
exclaimed, s%pringing up, to find that
it was only Colonel Heath's coachman
with a bundle.
"The work Mrs. Heath promised
me-" thought Miss Ferry, as she laid
tle big parcel on the old lounge. 81
don't believe I'll open it now; some
how I don't want to see more work to-
day"
In a moment, however, she changed
her mind. "Mrs. Heath's real good
to me; maybe it's something she wants
done right up" and she proceeded to
undo the numerous wrappings.
"5eems to me it's done up mighty
careful for just being sent down here.
What under the SUI is it, anyway?"
she said aloud, as she took off the
cover of the long pasteboard box and
unfolded a pretty dark blue dress, all
made and finished.
"Something Miss Florence wants
Mrs. Heath. Here's the directions"
sue continued, as al envelope fellfrom
the folds Of the skirt.
AS she read, her thin face flushed
and she laid the note down with a
gasp. ooh. I can't! And after all
I've said to herr she whispered. Then
she read it again.
Dear Miss Ferry-I was In the city yes.
terday and saw this dress, which made me
think Of you. thought that as you were
so busy taking stitches for other people.
| perhaps it might be n little help to have
: something all made up. and I think 1t will
At you. viii you accept it with my love:
Please don't mind my sending it, dear Miss
Ferry, for you share so much with others
, Won mlSt LET others share with Won come.
times.
Mamma wishes me to ask you if you will
come and spend this beautiful day with us.
We are going to drive In the afternoon to
: Pine Point, and it will give US SO much
pleasure to have You with US. Please come
! and YEA the new dress. James will cal
l for you at eleven. Yours very truly,
FLORENCE ". HEATH.
"The good Lord bless her." said
t Miss Ferry, with q little sob. ct
seems as if. I couldn't take so much
from any one, but it would be down
: right ungrateful not to-" And then
!, the Joy of possession entered into hel
Q soul.
She examined the dress with the ap
probation Of q skilled seamstress
+ Gust see those silk facings; and it,
d finished elegantly. never expected
] to live to see this day. And after al
my complaining, too! I amt deserv
q ing. But, oh, even Miss Florence
$ can't know what it means to me t.
Il have a new dress!."
Promtly at eleven James, impress
k sive in dark blue livery and shining
buttons, helped the fnttering littl'
q woman, in her trim new suit, into tn
soft-cushioned carriage.
,, am not going to describe the wei
= come Miss Ferry received at til
Heaths' nor the long day of deligh
,e she passed in that beautiful home.
d It is needless to say that the da!nt
lunch bore no suggestions Of bein
x warmed over, and that beans and has
II played no part III the elaborate dinner
es like unto none that Miss Ferry ha
ever sbefore tasted. 1t was such
ii satisfaction to rise from the table wit
?" a feeling Of luxurious leisure. Nc
If even her kind hostess could appreciat
what it meant to the little woman
leave the d~ining-room with nc though
$. Of unvashel dishes on her mind.
After lunch came the drive. I'll
tfOCMy EiCLOFlt tOiiGu OFCl tAe IOut
1t with delightful ease, and the slice
L., horses, that tossed their heads 81
Ell shook their glossy names, bore the
b, load along at q pace that was pleasu
It to their well-exercised limbs. The
at drove through pleasant wood road
and the fragrant breath OF the pin
was like balm to Miss Ferry's tire
he lungs. They drove by the beac
bordered bay, aad the sea sparkled al
It; danced before them.
is It seemed to Miss Ferry that tt
out-of-door world was never SO brig
ole and fresh aud clear as it was that
ce. ternoon. She lay back in rapt EMO
II ment. abandoning herself to the pre-
ent. knowing that seams would be lie
ler mo4otonous and buttolnoles not
much c nightmare when ~Eghtened
the memories Of that drive.
j. When the long day was over o
S.. Miss Ferry babe the Heaths good /