Ihe NELL'S WIDOWER- The wa'ers of Lake George spark led like diamouds in the sunlight, one August worning. Black Mountain towered toward the sky 10 grim ma- jesty, while the hundreds of small is- ands that rose from the lake were | luxuriant in green, velvety grass, | waving trees and graceful bushes. A young man drissed in a navy blue camp sait, with a white cap on his head, like those usually worn at this resort, sat lszily upon one of the boat poste, on the pier at the Lake View House, enj ying the superb landscape streached before him. His face was turned toward the lake, therefore he was entirely uncon- cious that a beautiful girl of evens teen was gliding toward him on tip- toe, evidently bent upon mischief. Suddenly a handkerchief was thrown over his face, which deft fin. gers proceeded to fasten behind his ears, while a gleefi | voice exc amed; There, sir, you are blindfolded pris: oner! Not a word now for your life You are a doomed man, so stand up and come with me—quick, to, or the Fannie will be here before 1 get you off | Hurk! there sounds her whistle at Bulion. She is just start ing on her return trip, with that prig know, Gente Democrat, on board; but he wont find me, Ob, such a lark! But come, sir! she ad- | ded, slipping her hand through his | arm. go rianing awaay, aod I am | going to take you along. » The victim seemed to enter at once into the fun, for he started off, after one startled laugh, without an effort at resistance, allowing her to lead him whither she would. The young girl never paused ex- cept to lift a light basket from the ground, where she had placed it be- | fore reaching bim. but burried away | toward a small d~ck, made for en- tering rowboats; and around this dock plenty of comfortable boats were | moored. Approachibg one which she had ev- idently prepared for instant use, she said, gaily: Now bea good John. and s'ep right in without a word! There, take | that seat, and do not speak—or stir, | either - uatil I tell yon to, for vou have got to do just as I say, as Mary is not here to help you. Oh, my | blessed sister! won't she rave when she finds that [ have flown away and off her beloved with me! But never mind, she addel, it serves her right. She need not have entered into that matrimoni.l scheme with Aunt Jane. Just wait until I get this boat on the lake, sud I will tell you all about it. While speaking, the girl had seated herself in the centre of the boat, with her back toward the young man, sod seizing two oars, with a fearless and experienced hand, she pushed away from shore. 80 intent was she upon her rowing that she never looked around at her isoner, who had quietly lifted the kerchief, and was gaziog at the back of her golden head and at her lovely profile, when she balf turned, with a most curious expression in his splendid dark eyes. After gazing a few seconds, he re placed the handkerchief, and with a smile resigned himself to the sitnation in silence. There, John now I think we are safe, 80 while [ row J will explain. That wise Mary of yours has leagued with Aunt Jane to make a match for me. Iam just out of school, so will not be married yet. Auntie has a friend, a young man, rich, baodsome, and all chat bosh, who wants to be introduced tome. He came to Bol ton yesterday, where he is going to stay a couple of weeks. He is coming over on (he Fannie to be presented. Bat their plan won't work, for I won't be introduced. Helis a wid ower. The idea of their picking out a widower for me. 1 won't have him, I don’t like secondhand love. They worked hard to fix my hair and make me look well to meet him; but I slyly interviewed the housekeeper, and made ready for a picnie—cold chick~ en, cake, nuts and raisins, fruit, all suug in the basket at my feet. Then I spied you and carried you off for company. Ooe don’t want to picnic all , you know. I am going to the loveliest island, almost a mile away, aod there we shall spend the next few hours. Won't they tear? Poor Mary will have to entertain his royal highness, Mr. Ensign, herself, sioce we will both be missing. You don’t mind, do you, brother-in law lect?! I told you not to poi, bat you may say just yes er no. If say ho, re td you the bi Jud of chicken and cake in the et. Bpakt=to ou care! Not I. y Jobo, you are a trump! Bat your voice sounds queer, Rae the hand kerchief a little to breathe. I don't wish to smother you; but must not uncover your until I show JG a0 in fit for faries to live on. obu the Fannie is at Lake View; now just i the fun—~Mary run. ning all over, calling, Nellie—Nellie Isler! where are you! and echo alone will answer; then, John, John; do help find Nellie, wou't you there is a darling! and no darling will anewer Never miod, we will have a good time without her. Runaways always | {off a | after obeying every | back are you? | this time must bave joined do. Stolen walers are sweet, you But I never stole a thing but you, Here we are, hall row up elose 10 land, then yon unmask, jump out enteh bold of the boat, and help unload. Isn't this gplendid? Taking off (he bandkerchi f quickly | the young man jumped over the seat ther side, As did so she raised her eves then recalled so suddenly that ! «he would have fallen overboard had he not caught her, Surely you are going to spoil our fun by falling into the lake, are you 7 he exclaimed; then added softly, there don’t be frightened; it is all right. Oh, what shall 1 do I am frighten ed. here ? These words issued from lips with a half sob. her pale You ask that? Why you brought | me yourself, and called me by pame —John | Ob,oh! I have made a [fearful mistake. I thought you were a friend of mine—John Browuley. dressed in a blue suit just like his, and are just his size. I did not see your face s0 I have stolen the wrong man, These last words were uttered with a little hysterical laugh over her own stupidity. Exactly ! I could bave. told you, but you forbade my speaking and it was to be a lark, you know. But, come let me assist you eut, Oh, no. What, ! go back to be introduced to that widower ? Oh, dear, how stupid that will Yet I must go back, for I never saw you before. You were not at Lake View ? No, I row 1 over from—from the Mohican House, and was looking around a little, when you carried me prisoner, promising chicken, other nice things. Now, order, you are tarning me adrift hongry. Is that fair ? The young mau ssked with a quiz- zical shrug of his shoulders, and as he turned beseechingly toward her Nellie saw the bandsomest face and hazel eves she had ever met. " You are in no especial barry to get That widower by in the cake and search, and it would be too phbant to fiod you so soon. Let us sit down in the boat and talk this thing over. Bat first let me assure you that | am a respectable gentleman— single, and off on & vacation, such as clerks usually take. My name is John Woodbridge. I felt quite lone ly on the pier, and was wishiog I koew some ove, when you so kindly took charge of me and invited me to your picnic. I thivk you might let me stay. Bat I don’t know you. Yes you do. 1 just introduced my- self. lotroduction always wade peo- ple acquainted. Lake George is vot a formal place. Introdactions here are sometimes omitted Miss Ishler, Yousee | know your vame. You told it while rowing. Come can’t we have our picnic, and forget wi. takes in the fun? He lsaghed good-natured’'y as he spoke. The laugh was infectious, Smiles dimpled the rosy lips thea gay laugh rippled over the whole face, fan ? Yes, it was. Jolly fun? T-, ing to steal Sister Mary's John wn stealing some other Mary's Jobn vul out knowiag it. Ob, deur, it was a!. surd !| Bat, yes, let us set our table and have our frolic. We might as well ! exclaimed John as he sprang out fastened the boa, and then politely handed ashore lady and basket. I will not linger to describe that picture. It did not take long to get acquainted. Gay laughs floated out on the breeze, as, seated on the grass, with a table-cloth spread before them on which was heaped the contents of the precious basket, they chatted over the chicken, told jokes over the cake, pelted each other with the almonds, and after demolishing every good thing, they gathered up the cloth, stored in the basket, and that in the boat, then set off on a ramble over the small island on which they pase ed a pleasant time. After exploring every nook and corner, they returned to the vicinity of the boat, and sitting under the shade of the tall old onk, they sang several , in which their voices blended delightfully. At length Nellie looked at her watch, and finding it passed three, ro returni ed John as she an- lindfolded ? nounced the time. No, indeed, what is more, you are not to be rowed, but must work your own passage. [shall play lady this time, I assure you. 80 John rowed the lady to Lake View, receiving at parting what he wished—an invitation to call on her and be presented to her relatives. Nellie was at once questioned about her “hence as wi: been anxious over her strange disappearance. Uncle, aunt, sister and John Brown- ley enjoyed a hearty laugh at her ex- , a8 she told of her mistake and ta ooviequenet. wage suppose you ma to enter. tala his 4) highness, Mr. Ensign, without ro oar: g ie tow did Yul bppea! ever came We da net Fanw: newer was gt ind te Fannie dil wot Loimng hom, Essy now, 1|fur nothing, Who are you how came you You were | ‘Strange ! then I had picoic and fan Yes, Jolin, 1 do belive it. Then you do not regret that pienie, darling? You never will regret it either; for did you know, my own, that you took a prisoner for life on day? 1 shall Yes perhaps he will come to-mor- | row, said Mary. May heaven forbid! 1 shall not gee him if he does replied the willful | that bright eveniful Nellie, (strive to make your life happy that, That evening Mr. Ishler went to though we live to be old and feeble, Bolton to inquire after his friend. On you shall never regret our pienie. bis retnrn he informed Nellie that | Aud she never did, circumstances had sommoned him 4 A— immediately elsewhere, as von as he | [0p CREAM AND STRAWBERRIES | | drived, | So Nellie was free to enjoy herself in her own way. Mr. John Woodbridge helped her [small church up town last week. in his way also. ! He rowed over every day. Moon. light sails on the lake, tramps off af- ter ferns in the woods, and excursions from one island to another, took up a | elated, good deal of time. Then lake trout ||ooxed very preity. { abounded and they most try fishing. | 4 . ratiande Hucklcb rries were plenty on the | Eat an shores, 80 they must go berrying. | hung sll around, los of flowers and Then camps around had to be visitea, : pretty girls in clean white frocks at and Huddle Bark had an ice cream | the flower booth, and an Oriental look: {and confectionary store, and that | must be patronized, and so J ho and Nellie were constantly together, while the sister devoted herself to her be They had a strawbrey festival at a It {was a great success, and they made a | great deal of money for the Ladies’ Missionary Society, and were quite The room was crowded, and They had Chi- green nese lanterns, and ing Rebecca in a piciuresque costume | dispensating pale and emaciated lemo nade from a very bowery well, and ] the | woman we had engaged disappointed | had known I had this to do, bat ve. Tho other ladies have had just as | much trouble as | had, You | see that one over there with tha flush: bad the worst of it, for she's had to make the change linve ed, harrassed face? Mhe's The girls that are waiting usally bring her the wrong money, | They are a good deal distracted’ by | their flirtations and their appearance I had to mage her cap over three times be You Yes, that ane is my davgiiter, fore she was satisfied with it see theyr'e counting the money, that's | what makes the She can‘t make it come oul twice alike, and the ladies are all treasurer lock 50 worried, saying they thooght it would be a great deal more than that, sand they can't see what has become of t. They don’t think she has stolen the rast, bat she feels as if they did. She's very seusilive, She will probably ery herself to sleep snd wake up with the sick headache. We must go right back. | be. | boarding | trium- | loved, and wvocle and aunt were strangely oblivious to what was trans’ piring. Nellie, said John, one day, as we row, let us visit our picnic island, As the girl acquised, they were soon sitting under the oak that had | sheltered them on that never to be | forgotten day. By-the-wey, Nellie, what ever be [came of that widower? | He went home I suppose | York, said Nellie. | Where will you meet week, ssid John, sadly. I shall not, I detest the whole batch of widowers. 1 will have nothing to | do with the prig. I told you so that day when I ran off with you, “on’t remember? Yes, | remember, Nellie, 1 met the only girl I shall only Did you know I fell love to New him next then love, in theo? Darling, [ loved you from the first | honr. We are goiog home soon, but { we must not part until | know wheth er you love me a little in return. Do you, Nellie | Do you a little? No, sir. | Oh, darling, exclaimed the young { man, turning pale, as the emphatic No! 80 unexpectedly fell on his ears, | | do not tell me that I love in vaio, I | could pot bear it. Will you not try [to love me a little, after all these | pleasant hours? No, indeed, has the low reply. | will not try to love Fe a little; It would be nonsense. Why, Joho, you ridiculous fellow I love you now, but not a little. No, sir; a great deal— more, | balf believe than you deserve, You darling exclaimed tue enrapt- ured lover, as he caught her to his bosom and was about to kiss her will jog lips. But that kiss was not taken. her aud say, hurriedly: Nellie, | bave a confession to make before | ake the kiss I long for. boy, and be forgiven, said Nellie, srchly. Darling 1 did not give you my full boat talking over the mistake, I de- of my nime. Toat much was true, I am not a clerk, ss I led you to sup- pose, bat a rich mao in Ao Po for myself. But the worst remains to be told. Dear st, do not despise me, but | [ am what you detest—a widower! John! cxclaimed poor Nellie, shrinking away from him. Don't Fo that, dear, said John, en- desvoriog to draw her back. I mar- ried when ouly twenty, a young girl whom I truly loved. She was with me ouly four short months, when she died of pneumonia suddenly. After that I was lonely and ssd for eight long years. I did not go into society being devoted to business. 1 had however two dear friends, who seemed ardently attached to a madeap niece. I bad never seen her though often with them, as she was at rdin school . I often expressed the wish that we might become acquainted. A trip to Lake George was planned for all, and here we were to meet. They came, and I followed when business allowed, st Bolton, from which place I was to seek them. One morning I rode over in my blue camp suit, not expecting to be "es at that Yume, but So fetta, dtm Spiess on Fano regu tion style, As I was looking around on the pier, I was taken \ Ob, John, can it be! Are jou really— Yoo, really. I am John Wood. ward , that of a widower, And I did meet him, after ali? Yes, I explained things that even- ing to your uncle's satisfaction. I also left Bolton for the Mohican House to be nearer you. Y all promised to keep pny ie, will you forgive love me still? pr od his he spok ohn o| arms as spoke, and as she glided into their go brace she murmured: 8o I'll have tolig a second wife, all leave this charming lake to'mor- | A sudden thought made him release | Then c wie at once you naughty | cived you in afew things, 50 must Xovisin al Open | J bu Woodb e is the first half ie . . ; She's subject to raking in the nickels with genuine , | Israelitish shrewdness. There | plenty of beautiful tidies and whisk -holders and duster {painted milking stools and rolling them. Oh, no; we can't go home for were plash | sup; that's the worst of all. Well, good and Tell she couldo’t come and hel bags night, vour wife we were sorry y | pios, and they went off with gratify- ling briskness, All the young men —— CLOTHING FORTHE DEAD | sportively wore al least two button. { hole bouquets, and the pretty wait . With weary fingers and worn |resses, with their coquettish toilets hy dh rs With eyelids heavy snd red, A woman sal jo unwomanl Ply ng her Stitehd and dainty imitations of caps, were vy Tags, needle and thread - | kept flying with trays of ice cream, | Stiteh ! in poverty, hunger snd And still with a voice of de pitch She sang the wig of the Shir Bays the New York News: There is less weariness of fiogers, less heavi ness of . . i . Niteh ! cake and strawberries till their friz th | A number of dirt, HOTOUSs i zes eame out perfectly straight wi the heat and exercise. a 5 ud pleasant matron, all looking very | nice in their new summer silks, were | | presiding over the refreshments and eyelids, less of unwomanly rags taking in the money, | less poverty, hunger and dirt . working for the dead than the liv- ing. There are over 1,000 well fed, | dressed, well-paid young women in earn their living mak- The* Song written for songs with At last there was a lull in the h The erowd was begin. ! ping to thin out, the ice cream was rus f ) i ons, 1 busines well pretty well exhaosted and there was | this city who ing shrouds for the dead. {of the Shirt” was not them. They sing no few calls for more. A gentleman ap- | proached one of the matrons who was | sitting down to rest and | buoyantly: remarked . . | they have very little 1eason for doing | Delightful occasion ! | 80, " Their #O0gs are as merry as the | success, hasn't it? | day is long and are sung to the busy Yes, said the lady dryly; very | hum of sewing machines. Less dole great. | ful melodies it would be hard Ww find. Made lots of mony, havens {| The ehroud makers of New York Lhe ; | form a distinet class of bread -winoerr, went on the cheerful gentlemen. | They differ from other needle p yers Yes, said the Indy bitterly, I may as essentially as silversmitha differ say, we've earned it. from locksmiths. An experienced Why, of cure, repli ber iad. rood maker may know hoo | The ladies bave dove wonders. They | little or no knowledge of how a shroud [always do. Are yeu tired? | should be constructed. This part is Yes suid the lady camly, | may |emphasized wheoever a dress-maker y 1. (secures employment in a shroud : a Botup easly this | factory. Before she is able to earn | : sod it was a preity hot |, recular wages of her craft she | morning. I went down in the kitchen | must serve an apprenticeship, the | and made a cocoanut cake: The 10a | length of which depends solely upon learn the pecualisr | cerials oust me about 75 cents and it er Aptitads oh teades ‘That : ‘pack of this strange trade. ere are kept me about an hour and a half over | Live well-known firms in this city | the bot range to make it, a $l. Been a great you? | say I am tired. morning Then as soon as I could leave | and it is in their factories that all the wae (hat dy, when we sat in the | home I came over bere and bave been | WOrk is done. The wages are well | | moving chairs and clibming ladders, | Snitiny, sthwagh, Bag | and hanging garlands, and fixing |e year through, for the sale of | dishes and tablecloths, ete. all day. | shrouds is pot marked by any of the | We got our table all fixed and then | fluctuations which are noted in some | : : other branches of manufacture. [the girl Shat yay going to be Rebecea The workshops of shroudmaxers {came in and said if she couldn't have | 4.0 sitanted as & rule over the ware | that corner for the well she wouldn't | rooms of their employers. Several of | have any well. We dido't wan't to | thos uta Bliabments are in fhe Bow offend her, for she was going to give | *'Y" e daily production of shrouds | the lemonane, so we hoi all PH | will exceed 3,000—.more than caongh bd : {to clothe the dead of New York for a | things over here and fixed it all over | month, These are sold to local under- again. When the girls from the flow. | takers and to the trade in adjoining er table came and said if we had gar. [States and the west. New York is lands over our table their's dido't |the recognized headquarters for the look like anything. So I got up on clothing of the dead as well as of the : living. There is nothing about a the ladder again and took our gar-|ghroud factory to indicate the charac- lands down. I am not so young as | ter of its product. Even the rows of once was, nor so light, and it fatigues coffins aod enticing varieties of me to climb ladders. Then we found we in he wanb sobs below ten we hadn't little tables enough, and I ong %0 another bhnsiness a went over home to tell the boys to gether, The show ceses which are bring ours. 1 brought back with me visible from the head of the stairs, with their display of the latest styles for the strawberries my cut glass dish that I wonldo't trust them with, and in shrouds appear to have been left there, perhaps by some previous ten- my best tablecloth. Yes, this is it | 20% aod bear no possible relation to with the fi uit stains a!f over it that won't come out. I could’t raise my the use the rooms are now being put. Itis difficult to imagine that parasol and I thought I should ha es er machines, are t an ve r ure: » sunstroke, but I didn't. Thea [I [08 0ut burial robes by the doz.n, but found that the man had sent the joo- | CR it She cass, and 10 them the cream without the spoons that he had promised, and, as I had ordered it, I bad to go downand see about. Yes I know where mine are. They are all in the dish pan. You can't see it from bere, but I have seen it. It was pearly full of greasy, lukewarm water, and there is a thick scum of ice cream on the top of it. IfI want my spoons I suppose I will have to take them out. I do not wind my hands now after hulling so many strawberries, but I do my dress. I have been culting cake and diggiog | machines ice oream all evening and I have spilt a good deal on it now and it is the only dress | expect to hava this enact, Tow oalda’t have worn ib if | 2 igs $358 ¥ > § g dil £ 3 Fil : : 4 Aiars analy fis, At tha thor on the ,0 mares vor © oantees wating an hour or two yet; we've got to clear | far less | | voices of dolorous pitch acd indeed | Itsold for | engaged in the manufacture of shrouds | a qusdeangle. Within his doz nu youn: women and sewing, while a 1a] motherly woman 8s By aare chaviog middle-aged out of vards $l a Lupon yards of black white aud b own chh puterns of shroads with bing skirts, shrouds with short skiris shrouds with vo kirts at all { Bhirouds for the rich and shrouds for {the por. And such paterns they are, This elaborate design in white 1a io with soft 1a around the neck and floecy raffles around the waist Bands is modeled after a wedding gown as nearly as it is possible con, {sidering the different use it is to be {put to. To will grace the funeral of some rich patron of a fashionanle un dertaker. This pl uo black garment with a false shirt b 8m snd a collar which ties behind with a cord, Is pat- erned after It is quiet and emioently respectable, It Lis intended for a male middle age | and costs quite as much as a suit worn in life, shroods ing a0 evening sult, ‘ i“, robes of brown and combinations of brown and black 1 with satin, some with silk and others plaio even to | severity, These the cheaper | grades of goods and are worn by men or women of advanced VERB, The white robes ure intended for the young. Some of these are mary lous pre es of wrk and, if e nbrod: red by hand would co« a small for une This lutle gown would hardly reach {Ir sm your hand to your elbow, The tiny kelk band is ruffled and tied to- | gether in front with a white satin bow. | Tha litle sleeves are covered with | embroidery and the skirt 1s elaborate- ly trimmed with lace It a baby | shiroud and is the smallest size that is | made, | The styles in shrouds are continually Every sd by the living coniribates to robing { of the dead has its spec al even be- Sent ‘es these there are 8 sme faced form is fashion © the Each large factory and competition chaugiog. designer, not death can still the tween them At ono of the counters giving out these patterns to an undersizad er- rid girl standsa plump young woman | whose front hair is done up in corl | papers, preparatory to a party later on io the day As she continues her labors no thouglt: of dismal charac. ter of the goods she is handling cross | her mind. ‘ | Jenaie, the called to one of the fair | sewers who sat behind her, when did you see Jim last? Last week. Is he golog to take you there to-night? | No, I'm going with my brother. All | right, Miss Brown, this latter remark to the forewoman. [I've rua out of vumber sixes. Won't those fives do today? Shrouds go by vumb pot by pames. This simplifies matters and saves much uoovecesssry Ilsoguage. Another pretty girl , who is runoiog au embroidery wachioe, stops her work a moment 10 inquire of her near- est neighbor how much she paid for thatsilk she wore last Sunday at church? Did you like it was the evasive re- ply. a I thought it was just lovely. How | did you make that pretty collar? | I warned it over like this, illustrat ng with the skirt of a costly but plain robe intended for some aged person of means. tucked it in like like this and then sewed it over. Mary thought it was to for anything. Over one of the counters written in an obscure place on the wall, probably so as not fo offend the sensibility of any person of mournful tendencies, is penciled the observation, “Merrily we jog slong.’ And on another space equally hid- den from the public gaze is inscribed the truthful but slightly inappropiate sentiment, ii This word is bat & song These is little in a shroud factory of a dismal character other than the robes themselves, Many a gorgeous wedding dress aod many a costly party gown has seen far more of the dark side of life than these garments for the dead. Bless my soul, exclaimed the fore: woman, why should my girls be gloomy at their work? r hours are short. They begin work at 8 and finish at half five. They have an hour for lunch. They do not work bard. They sre well treated, have employment the t-hearted girls who chat so | gi fun men’s The thot of hor Wie Lily an K va sin
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