The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-08-27


wanted new blouses for the autumn,
and we thought we might as well have
them by the time the count came. So
mamma answered a dressmaker's adj
| vertisement In the Herald, and we
were so charmed wit 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 her. We gave
up our little sitting room at the end
of the hall to her when she came to
work, for, although the count appar.
emily regarded papa as a merchant
prince" I shouldn't call our house
palatial. Laura and I took it 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 a way Of
drawing people out. In fact, one day
Miss Croft told her history, which
greatly rejoiced my sisters romantic
soul 1 confess 1t interested me not
little when Laura told 1t to me. 1t
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 to lose all trace of her. Her
parents had kept a hotel, and once
when she came home for the holidays
from boarding school gentleman
guest much above her in social posi-
ton 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
however, by protests that
affection like his rendered diff
ference m birth an empty phrase. So
she consented, and her parents gave
her a handsome dowry for her hus-
band was poor in worldly goods. He
gave out, however, that Glove in a cot
tage" was his ideal She had rude
awakening. Her husband ran through
all her money in a year, then i'll 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 l broke in upon it.
7 hoI Ton Y,Io 30 In,
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 1 |
knew she would wish to change her |
frocK. At first she looked little cross |
1T the interruption, but when l whis-
Dered 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
aiken by surprise in that way, but we
lad not expected to see him so soon.
lie must have followed us on the next
boat. The best tea service wasn't out,
he flowers in the drawing room were
AIDED, and we hadn't our new blouses
Ifter all. Still, things always do hap
zen ''contrariwise," and it didn't really
natter, for the count was just as
and amiable.
He protested himself charmed with
ur house. and his compliments were
ust as flowery. While we were at
ca young Peters, a great admirer Of
4aura's, came in, and the count looked
uite jealous when he called Laura
y her name. / must say that Peters
idn't seem quite at his ease in the