The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-10-14
Wen, it happened that Laura and /


and we thought we might as well have
them by the time the count came. So
mamma answered Il dressmaker's ad-
vertisement in the Herald, and we
were SO charmed with her when she
called that we engaged her on the spot.
She was quite unlike the usual dress
maker who goes out by the day. Miss
Croft looked quite a lady. She was
tall and pale. and she must have been
very beautiful once. What struck us
particularly. however, was her sad and
spiritless air. Laura was much inter-
ested In her and, of course, invented
romantic story about -. We gave
up our little sitting room mt the end
of the hall to her when she came to
work. for. although the count appar-
emily regarded papa as merchant
prince" l shouldn't call our house
palatial. Laura and took 1t In turns
to help Miss Croft with the work. but
i did not find her very companionable.
With Laura, it appeared. she was diff
ferent: but, then. Laura has way of
drawing people out. In fact, one day
Miss Croft told her history, which
greatly rejoiced my sisters romantic
soul. | confess it Interested me not a
little when Laura told II to me. II
seemed that Miss Croft was married.
but she had resumed her maiden
name, as her marriage had been such
an unhappy one and she wished her
husband 70 lose al trace of her. Her
parents had kept hotel. and once
when she came home for the holidays
from boarding school gentleman
guest much above her in social posi-
tion had paid her great attention and
had eventually proposed to her.
Her parents were ambitious and
were most DESTROYS of the match.
while she herself was much attracted
by him. though the difference In rank
troubled her He overcame all her
misgivings, however. by protests that
undying affection like his rendered diff
ference In birth an empty phrase. So
{, she consented, and her parents gave
her handsome dowry. for her hus-
band was poor in worldly goods. He
gave out. however, that .love In cot
tage" was his ideal. She had a rude
awakening. Her husband ran through
all her money in a year. then III treat
ed her and finally deserted her when
she refused TO ask her parents for
more. Just as she had reached this
point Of the story broke in upon It.
I had been watering the plants In the
drawing room when. to my surprise
and alarm. saw the count walking up
the path which leads TO our front door
You could have knocked me down
with feather. as the saying goes.
few down the passage TO Laura, for
knew she would wish TO change her
froc.. At first she looked a little cross
at the interruption. but when whis-
pered who was there she colored up
with pleasure and managed TO rush
upstairs before the front door was
opened.
We felt so vexed that we had been
taken by surprise In that way, but we
had not expected TO see him so soon
He must have followed us on the next
boat. The best tea service wasn't out
the flowers In the drawing room were
faded, and we hadn't our new blouses
after all. still. things always do hap
pen ''contrariwise," and II didn't really
matter. for the count was just a.
charming and amiable.
He professed himself charmed with
our house, and his compliments wer,
Just as 10 cry While we were a
tea young Peters. a great admlrer Of
Laura's. came In, and the count looked
quite jealous when he called Laurs
by her name. must say that Peter
didn't seem quite at his ease In tn