The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-01-30

mother a deal of good I VIII only say
frankly. what you certainly know. that II
Is impossible for your sisters dressmaker
to accept such eourtesies from you L
have no doubt Miss Borden has expressed
her views on the subject. She made them
sufficiently clear to me yesterday. IL -
only what her world and yours naturally
feel about such a thing. We can't make
the world over as we can a dress. and we
must conform 70 its judgments"
who cares for the chatter OF that sort
OF cattleg' he exclaimed. hOtly. Il shall
DO as / please, and not ask my neighbor
how he likes il or whether he viii approve
OF II. / thought you were strong enough
TO do the same" he added, in softer
tone"
81 am not" she replied. quietly. my
dear mother does not appreciate this. and
l have 10 take this step without any help.
Pray don't make Il harder for me by re-
fusing to look at 1t in the same light
know you do not doubt our gratitude"
well. you will allow me 10 call some
times, surely?" he asked. with an ag-
grieved air
Sometimes" replied Miss Swift, rather
| reluctantly. Her eyes fell. for his gaze
| was fixed earnestly upon them.
He did call two or three times within
| the week. His manly simplicity. perfect
| respect. and eager attentions TO the girl
! somewhat thawed her distant and con-
| strained manper. and he was beginning
to congratulate himself on arousing an in
| terest In himself which he greatly desired
But a few days later when he called
| with big bunch Of Bride roses there
was a change in Miss Swift's manner.
1 She af-flznf1x- al IN her mind
| At last he said: You do not seem quite
! yourself this evening. Has anything I'M
! pleasant happened? Can I help you in
| any way?"
| Yes" she answered, impulsively: "you
can help me very much, and in the only
| way In which you can help ne. l must
ask you to give up coming: here any
| more"
Her lips lTitched a little, and she strovs
TO retain her composure.
"Why?' he exclaimed at once. "Are
my visits distasteful to you? Have I Of
| Tended your
mo and yes" she said, with feeling.
my first impression was correct. Young
| men in your position cannot be friendly
| with poor dressmakers without exciting
comment. l need not tell you that 1t IS
| the woman who suffers most from such
talk. You know this, of course. but 1
honestly believe that you have not given
| It any thought"
''Who has said anything? And what
| have they said?' he asked. excitedly.
| "Your sister, for one. I received a note
| from her in which she said she would no
| longer need my services, though my work
/ was satisfactory enough. There was no
need OF this. She could have simply re-
! Trained from employing me again. But
| she is a woman" added Miss Swift, Bit
| terly. Besides" she continued, a little
| haltingly, "she may be very fond of you
and may wish TO screen you from an I'M
! suitable association"
Like me? She likes nothing but her.
self. Don't mind this vicious interference.
She only does II TO annoy me-"
"Ah, what she does Ii for does not al
ter the fact that her stand is the one
her world would take. She will probably
use her influence 10 prevent other women
from giving me work"
"Oh, she can't be quite as mean"
But Borden stopped. He felt that she
would be fully "as mean as that and
that Miss Swift would see through any
defense he might attempt for Sally Bor-
den. So he took different stand.
"'Miss Swift" he said, seriously, ''you
must know that I have conceived high
regard for you. 1t is absurd that gen.
| tlewoman cannot receive the honorable
attentions of man simply because she
is poor, or because she employs her taste
and talent in any honest direction as a
means of supporting herself. 1t may
seem premature to declare TO you that
have the warmest feeling for you, and
| 4hot 7 ha,
you should return it. Even If you do not
feel that you Know or care for me enough
to promise yet to be my wife, will you
not permit me to come and see you as
your friend until you know yourself bet
ter? Am l disagreeaDle to your
Far from it," returned Miss Swift
quickly, her cheeks suffused with color
you have been too kind and considerable
for me to have any but the kindest feel
ings for you"
Then why will you not promise me to
become my wife?' said Borden, with i'm
pulsive directness. Margaret, love you!
/ know that we'll enough. If you care
enough for me to trust your happiness ia
me, say that you will be my wife. No one
will say anything about the girl / am
engaged to- 1 promise you," he added
with significant force. Can you promise
me this?'
The girl was struggling with her emo
tons and at last broke down. At this very
moment. fortunately or unfortunately
Mrs. Swift entered the room. When she
saw her daughter in tears, she rapidly ap-
preached her, crying out, Margaret, what
is the natter" She looked at Mr.. Bor-
den with a mingled expression of pain
doubt, and surprise.
Nothing, mamma" said the girl, dash
ing the tears from her eyes and smiling
"Only-only 1 got a note from a lady
made a gown for, and she has discharged
me-"
What was the matter with it?" inauir.
ed the mother.
81" put in Borden. 1.-THE gown was a
great success. 1t is my amiable sister who
has done this because she wishes to veS
me. And your daughter wishes to dis.
charge me because l have such a bad-fit.
ting sister, Mrs. Swift" he added sud.
denly, II have just asked your daughter
10 marry me-"
why, Margaret! Why don't your" ex.
claimed the mother, with becoming sim,
plicity and wonder.
Mamma, had not time 10 answer Mr.
Borden" said the girl, smiling. 'You came
in just then"
'Oh! 1 will go right out" said ths
mother, somewhat flustered.
She did so. When they were alone
Borden, with a sunny smile, said to TIA,
hlushing girl: why don't you follow
your mothers advice. You have known
! me as long as she has"
If were sure you knew yourself" she
replied softi5-. 81 am pretty certain of ny
own mind"
And is that al that keeps you from
saying Yes? he asked quietly, rising an(
! approaching her
She nodded her head
He wrapped her in his arms, and, bend
! ing. kissed her On the lips.
Miss Borden behaved very sensibly il
the matter. She knew that il would b
far pleaSanter 10 be on good terms will
| Mrs. Clarence Borden and share in he
social success than 10 ignore and be IL
nored by a girl who had been her dress
maker. Mean people can, OF course. b.
quite clever. Sallie Borden was. So sh'