Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-03-15
complexions and eyes like hazel

complexlons anu eyes like hazel
stars.
The next morning Aunt Keturah
and Ellen went shopping again, in the
snug little claret-colored coupe which
Aunt Keturah hired ly the month
from a neighboring livery stable.
II need sewing silk" said Aunt
Keturah, '.and you're always want
ing Java canvas or worsted, or some
such fol-de.rols, and the good fresh
air won't do either of us any harm,
I'll go bail!''
''Let's go to Leigh & Balcombe's,
suggested Ellen. "They always have
the prettiest and newest shades of
everything there?"
'Tm sure am not particular where
we co." said Aunt Keturah.
They chanced to 60 to the self.
same counter where, hardly more than
week ago, they had purchased the
rose-colored fan, and pert miss, with
profusion OF mock jewelry, came
forward to wait upon them and receive
orders.
You're not the girl that belongs
here," said Aunt Keturah, bluntly.
''The pale girl that coughed so.
Where is she?"
The pert miss tossed her head.
"Oh, said she, ''you mean Eliza
Lowe! She's gone.''
"Gonew Aunt keturah laid down
the spool of silk she was examining.
81 hope she's not ill. That cough
sounded to me exactly like consul p.
tion.'
81 don't know whether she is i'll o,
not" said she. "But it wasn't on
account of ill health she left. She
was discharged for tearing lace fan
"a point lace, over white satin, W worth
$25. She was compelled to pay the
full value besides. Mr.. Balcombe is
very particular about such things"
Ellen Purple colored deeply.
'But are they quite certain that
she did tear it?' asked Ellen.
'Oh, she denied it, of course" said
the girl. ''They always do. But she
was responsible for the goods under
her charge. of course-and if she
didn't tear it who did? That's the
question.
~ can tell you." said Ellen Purple,
quietly; 81 did,"
"You, miss" The girl looked at
Ellen as if she thought her partially
insane. Aunt Keturah was almost
equally amazed.
"My dear child" said she 81 don't
think you know what you are say
ing"
"Yes, I do" said Ellen, peremp-
torily. She has allowed herself
through lack of moral courage, to fall
into an error whose consequences
were more serious than she had
imagined, and she was determined to
redress it as far as possible, 81 was
looking at that fan week ago." she
went on, land through my careless
ness in shutting it one of the sticks
tore the lace. Where is Mr.. Bal
combe? l must explain matters to
him. If anyone should pay the $25
it is 1. And Miss Lowe must have
her place again"
''Quite impossible, miss-the latter,
1 mean." said the pert girl. "Her
place is filled. There is always plenty
of girls glad to get in here"
Ellen wrung her hands.
''Oh, auntie!" said she, "what shall
I do? How shall l undo the mischief
I have wrought"
Aunt Keturah turned to the shop.
girl.
Cant You give me her address?"
said she. ''We can at least go aud
see her.
And the upshot of the interview was
that Eliza Lowe was engaged as seam
stress and companion to comfortable
Aunt Keturah at salary that seemed
truly regal to her. Mr.. Balcombe
sent stiff note of apology, inclosing
check for S25, which was duly made
good by Miss Purple-and Eliza
thought the millennium was at hand.
And Ellen Purple carried the point
lace fan, skillfully mended by an old
woman who made such needle-lore her
business, at her wedding with Fir.
Middleton.