The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-03-16
By Anna Katharine Gssn Author IF G1n %Tns fss

gazing at these dresses and deciding
the most momentous question OF her
life. That it is momentous you can
discern from the absorbed expression
| of her face, and that she 1eSltateS is
equally evident from the anxiety with
which her eye passes from cloth to
velvet and from velvet to cloth, as she
listens alternately to the suggestions Of
her heart and the promptings Of her
ambition.
And not her eyes alone but her hands
betray the conflict that is going on
within her. For they rest By instants
with q loving touch on the humble
material, only to fly again to the rich
er. Where will they finally rest? The
question is between love and wealth.
Which will she choose, which, which?
She must soon determine; the clock
tells Of the passage OF time. Not much
longer can she stand thus, weighing Mt
her ease these two heavy alternatives.
Fear. fascination, awe, tenderness, all
expressions and all emotions show
| themselves In turn upon her face.
That she loves him she knows; that
she will never feel such wild and ccs-
tatic throb for any other man is equally
certain, but shall she sacrifice every
thing for him? Is it right 10 do SO?
Is it wise to do so? Is it safe 10 do so?
She grasps the velvet and Eolds it up
against her throat. How warm 1t
feels, how natural and how suitable to
her face her style and her ambition.
But the plain cloth wooes her glances
aside. and before she knows it the vel
vet has dropped in heap Oh the floor
and she has the cloth dress strained to
her heart and her decision is made.
But Just at this moment knock IS
heard at the door and she fiings the
dress on the bed and stands paipitatIng
like one caught in guilty act 1t is
only the hairdresser who comes every
day, but her presence is an Interrupt
ton, and the young heiress shows it by
the loss of her beautiful color which
had but a moment before tinted her
cheek with roses. Turning her back
upon both dresses she bids the intruder
come in, and tries to hide her agitation
by bending over her dressing table and
unloosening the locks of her long hair.
But the next moment she looks up
in. surprise and drops the curling
tresses from her hand. The woman
she sees advancing toward her is
stranger, pleasant faced French look
ing girl, who, upon meeting Miss RoG-
ers' eye drops a courtesy and says:
81 hope mademoiselle will pardon me,
but my employer is not well today
and begged that would do the hair of
mademoiselle Is it for reception OF
dinner? And does mademoiselle like
it high or low"
Miss Rogers drew long breath and
sat. down with smile. The fresh
voice and lively manner were vel
come: they chimed in so with her
thoughts.
"Dress it low said she. "1 am
going to reception, and l wish to be
dressed simply, but becomingly."
She flushed so brightly, looked so
lovely, that the young hairdresser
could not restrain her admiration.
"Ah! what beautiful hair! so black,
SO wavy. so long. I shall take delight
in making mademoiselle. look like an
angel" And her deft fingers passed
caressingly among the great cur!s
flowing over her hands and wrists.
Miss Rogers continued to smile.
Suddenly she asked:
rs your employer, as you call her,
very sick? What is the matter with
bcrw
II cannot tell, emademoiseic. But
she is bad, very had. Something sud-
den; there were doctors with her last
nightw
"And she sent you here to-day~
Eyes, mademoiselle. She did not for
get that you would expect her. She
has much thought, has madame"
And so ill.,"
"Ah, oui; she may not live till night.
feel very bad for madame"
The young lady made a sudden move.
"It is distressing" said she, but her
bright eyes lost none Of their brilliance.
Indeed, they seemed to scintillate
| afresh? Had she her secret doubts OF
| this same hairdresser, and could she
in any way have shared the fears Of
| Degraw?
When her hair was dressed she dis
missed the girl and prepared to COM
pletc the rest OF her toilet alone. The
velvet dress was before her on the bed.
but she passed it by without glance
and took up the plain brown cloth.
Il will be the artists bride" said she,
and rapidly, joyously, donned the gar
ment which conveyed this decision,
murmuring as she did so His delight
will compensate me for all. / could
not meet his look Of disappointment.
] could not, for all the wealth in the
| universe, see scorn take the place Of
the loving trust that has always
beamed in his face. I love him., and
would risk more than wealth to have
him always near me-"
| If she did not say these words she
thought them, and her fingers flew and
the dress was on, and she stood, clad
and in her right mind, beaming at her
own image in the glass.
"Ah! this is betterp' she now cried,
sinking on her knees. almost in the at
titude of prayer. Il will not regret
this; cannot; whereas" She
threw a mocking glance at the velvet,
and, rising, hung it up in the closet
and brought forth her bonnet and
gloves. Suddenly her hand flew to her