$lje imc0, New Bloomftcft, )a.
Miss Fortescue the Seamstress,
OB
FORTUNE'S CHANGES.
CONCLUDED.
IT cannot be denied that Alice enter
. tained the most favorable sentiments
towards this gentleman. Gratitudo, at
first, was the predominant feeling. Sho
folt that to him she was indebted for her
situation in the choir, and indirectly for her
success in obtaining pupils, inasmuch as
her singing in church had advertised to tho
public her musical capacities.
Again, Mr. Stanley's porsonal appear
ance and address were very prepossessing, j
His form and features bore the impress of
true manly beauty. Of the man himself,
or all that constitutes tho man, the mind,
we have already, briefly spoken. Altogeth
er, be was one eminently calculated to
make a deep and abiding impression on a
young and susceptilble heart.
Ilad Alice's heart been thus impressed ?
She would not, perhaps, have acknowledg
ed It; but certain it is, she would not have
anticipated with bo much pleasure those
musical reunions, or looked forward to tho
evenings of rehoarsal with such unabated
interest, had it been mado known to her
that young Stanley would not be presont.
, In regard to the young gentlomau's sen
timents towards Alice, there could be but
little mistake. He had been taken cap
tive by her , voice, and the ' porsonal ac
quaintance that followed only rendered bis
captivity the more certain. It wo not for
her personal beauty merely, preeminent as
it . was, nor for her wonderful accomplish
ments, that he felt drawn towards her.
He had learned her history. .Tenderly
reared and accustomed to all the refine
ments of a high social position, ho bad
witnessed ber brave endurance in adversi
ty. He had observed, how, under circum
stances calculated, sorely to test her for
bearance, she bad steadfastly retained ber
equanimity, and preserved unruffled the
sweetness of her disposition. He bad
moreover, in bis intercourse with hor, dis
covered that she possessed a mind of more
than ordinary depth, rare judgment and
discrimination, and a heart brimming with
geutle And affectionate impulses. In a
word, be saw that she was endowed with
every noble and womanly attribute, and
that she was eminently fitted to adorn
whatever station in life she might be called
upon to fill. . . ;:!
Viewing her in this light, be resolved to
secure, f possible, this rare prize. That
she bad been a sewing-girl, that she now
sang in a choir and taught ' musio for a
living, , did not in the least shock bis so
called , aristocratic feelings. , That which
degraded her in the eye of the Gates and
Dunbar of the world, ennobled ber in his ;
what they accounted a disgrace, he esteom
ed an honor; and his great desire and
cherished design were, to place her in a;
station , where she would not be subjected
to the sneers of , the ill bred, but. rather be
come' an object of envy to that vulgar fash,
ionable set who affected a superiority over
her,.,j . .,, .,,,. :, t i .
As . a matter, of course, the partiality
evinced by Stanley for Alice did not escape
'the lynx-eyes of those whose sole business
seems to be to pry into the affairs of their
neighbors. ; ... ,, , ;, , ,.
As usual, the tongue of gossip was busy
in arraigning them Alice for ber folly and
presumption in seeking to win the atten
tion of one "so much above her," as they
worded' it, and Stanley, for the something
worse than folly, in endeavoring to entrap
a young girl's . affections. , That he would
" stoop to marry her," they did not for an
instant suppose. ' -'.'.'' " ';
" Alice and Stanley were happily ignorant
of these remarks, although, if they bad re
flected, a moment, they must ' have known
they could not escape them.' Tot Alice,
in her happy innocence of , any design on
Stanley, did not dream of such animadver
sions, and the latter was too high-minded
to bestow a thought on the subject. By
some i means, however, Mrs. Fortescne
caught a whisper of these reports, and in
bar motherly anxiety she brought the mat
ter to tho notice of Alice. " '
" Who came home with you last night)'
ray daughter ?H , she asked one morning in
an apparently careless manner.' - .
"Mr. Stanley mother," was the reply, a
slight, blush rising to the respondent's
cheek wif; . ' - '
i" He generally accompanies you home
front tho, music parties and rehearsals,
does be noj;?'.' j , . ,, .
' Yes mother.'1 The blush poroejitibly
deepening). i '. .. .
L " Has , it every occurred to you, my
daughter. . that these attentions, not the
least reprehensible, may give occasion to
ill-natured remarks ?" , i v.- : ..
M Itj iad not entered my mind until this
moment,";,. Alice frankly replied; "but I
now am aware that they may." ' -1
" Is it not best, my child, to avoid, if we
can, giving rise to tbera 2'1 , ; .. i . ,
," Certainly, dear mother, but how ean I
avoid it 1 It would be veryrude in me to
decline the . gentleman's civilities without
assigning some reason.": , .1 . .
" I fully appreciate the situation in which
this idle talk has placed jou, Alice. It is
an experience - which, sometime in their
lives, most girl are forced to encounter,
and many a friendship ,iu jjonoquence has
been sacrificed on the altar of gossip. If
people generally would follow out poor
Richard's maxim, ' Mind your own busi
ness,' we should , bo spared many annoy
ances.". s : "j
"That is the truth, mother, But unless
I greatly err In my ostimate of Mr. Stan
ley's character, thore will be no sacrifice in
this case. I roe but one course loft to me"
continued Alice, after a momont's reflec
tion; " it is to state frankly 10 Mr". Stanley
the whole matter. It is a delicate thing to
undertake, but I feel sure that his good
sense will see the propriety of my action,
and approve of it." '
" It is what I would have suggested, my
dear child," said the mother, with a smile
of pleasure. "But your task will bo a
delicate one, and I hardly see hew yon can
excoute it Without great embarrassmont."
" Trust to mo, mother," said Alice,
whose spirits, for a moraont dashed, had
resumed their elasticity. "I shall throw
aside all circumlocution and, as the law
yers say, ' speak directly to the point.' "
After Alice bad retired she thought the
whole matter over. The extreme delicacy
of the task she proposed to undertake be
came more apparent to ber, and she passed
many sleepless hours in conjoctunng bow
she could best accomplish it. Tho more
sho revolved the matter in ber mind, the
more difficult and distnscful it appeared. ,
To say to the gentleman, ' Mr. Stanloy,
I must decline your civilities for the future
because they give occasion to public scan-J
dal," was simple enough, but bow would
such an avowal bo received ? Would he
not infer at once that she considered his
attention too pointed, unless he intended
to make an offer of his hand ? Or that she
regarded this idle talk more than sho did
his friendship ? If she assigned no reason
for declining bis civilities,, would be not,
on the other band, suppose that they were
disagreeable to ber ?" '
"Mother," said Alico, the next morning,
"if it is necessary to say anything to Mr.
Stanley in regard to this miserable tattle,
I must beg of you to do it. 1 thought last
night I could do it myself, , but I cannot.
After all, what necessity is there of men
tioning the matter to him? He tells pie
that he shall soon start on a long contem
plated tour in Europe. ' When he is gone
all this scandal will cease, and the busy-
bodies will seek in some new quarter food
for gossip."
" That alters the case materially," said
Mrs. Fortescue, "and perhaps it will be
well to lot the matter drop. I was not
aware that such was Mr. Stanley's inten
tion. How long does he expect to be ab
sent?"
" He told mo about a year," said Alice,
with something like a sigh.
"You will miss him very much," said
Mrs. Fortescue, . wishing to ascortaiu, if
possible, the state of Alice's feelings in
regard to Btanloy. , ,
"Yes, but a year soon passes away.1'
" And when the year has passed nnd he
returns, what thonj my .child ? Will the
intimacy be renewed?", . . ,
," I perceive what is in your thoughts,
mother, said Alice,'' with a faint smile,
" but do not press me op. that point. What
may happen in the future I cannot say. Of
one thing be assured, dear mother, that in
no evout shall I fail to seek and be guided
by your counsel. , ,, , , ,, , ,
From this conversation and what follow
ed, Mis. Fortescue waa fully satisfied of tho
real nature of her daughter' . sentiments
towards Stanloy. The discovery waa un
welcome to her; not that she objooted to
the gentleman, but . because she was igno
rant of his sentiments and of his intentions.
Had she known that the love of Alice was
reciprocated, and that the dearest wish of
Stanley's heart was to win ber for his wifo,
her, joy would, have been great, for she
believed that he possessed every quality of
mind and heart to rendor a woman hap
py. , 1 i - ..:!.
In ber state of uncertainty on this point
Mrs. Fortescue was very glad to learn that
Mr. Stauloy was going abroad. If his in
tentions in respect to Alice were not " se
rious," the parting could pot, ..take place
too soon; for his presence would undoubt
edly foster the incipient love of her daugh
ter into a strong and enduring passion.
On the contrary, his absence, and. with
nothing on which, to feed hope,, tbo im
prcssion be had made would, u very likely
soon pass away, as has boon similarly in.
stanced time out of, mind, : Evjeu if their
love was mutual, a year's absence, Mrs.
Fortoscne thought, would do no barm,
but serve to test the constancy of the young
oouplQ. , ; . ! '. i ,.!. .. 5
On the next Saturday evening as Alice
and Stanley were on their wayi as usual to
ber home, after the rehearsal, the latter
remarked that, that was probably the last
evening, at least for many months, when
he should enjoy the pleasure of acting as
her escort.
" Do you leave m soon ?" asked Alice,
with a slight flutter of the heart. ' ,' "'
"I propose to leave In .Wednesday's
steamer. , I assure you, Alios, I shall look
back upon these evening walks with pleas
ant memories, and forward to their renew
al with fond anticipations."'"! . .. )..
Alice said nothing iu roply,'' nnd they
walked on in silence fo'rsonio time. "'
" You do not 'appear in your usual
spirit this evening, V at last! said Stanley;
"are you not feeling wo1I?"jj.' -u. 1 1 ,
" I have been revolving a very unpleas
ant query in my mind," replied ,' Alice,
slightly hesitating; "whether or not I
should sty something to you particularly
distasteful to myself, and, which I fear
would be vory disagrooable to you."
"Then with my whole heart I conjure
you not to say it I" laughingly rejoined the
young man. " On this our last walk to
gether, let there be nothing distasteful or
disngrecablo betwoon us if it can be avoid
ed." .
u Alloa had almost worked herself up to
the point of speaking to her companion on
the subject ahe and her mother had lately
discussed, but her courage failed her at
the last moment, or rather she could not
find fitting language in which to express
herself. , , .
" I should be very sony, I assure you,
Mr. Stanley," she said, in reply to bis re
mark, " to have any unpleasant associa
tions connected with our parting hour."
" But I trust this is not to be our part
ing," said Stanley, as they paused at tbo
gate-entrance to Alice's home. " I shall
soe you to-morrow evoning, and on Tues
day I shall call and leave my adieus. To
night permit mo to say, aurevoir" 80
saying the young gentleman took his
leavo. , : . ' '
It chanced the next morning as Stanley
was passing Mrs. Fortescue' s on his way
to church it was remarkable the rounda
bout way he had of late taken that lady
was gathering some flowers in the front
yard.' Ho learned from her that Alice bad
already gone to church, and accepting her
invitation he entered the house.
Mrs. Fortescue thought that their being
together was an opportunity not to be
slighted, and very frankly, but with some
little embarrassment, she mentioned to her
visitor the stories current respecting the
courtesy be had shown her daughter, and
alluded to tho unpleasantness of such re
ports, etc. Stanley received the informa
tion in good part, remarking:
" This accounts for what your daughter
said to me last evening, whether she should
say something that was distasteful to her
and might bo disagreeable to me." '"
- Improving the occasion so unexpectedly
offered, Stanley then openly declared bis
love for Alice, and solicited the liberty of
paying his addresses to her, for the purpose
of proffering his hand. Mrs. Fortescue
suggested whether It would not be bettor
to postpono that event until his return ;
that possibly, iu the course of his travels,
be might meet with some one whom ho
would prefer ' for a wife to Alice, or in the
interim of bis absence there might be a
chango in his mind.
The young man strenuously objected to
the postponement. As for finding a com
panion more suitable to his taste, there
was not a woman in the world to be com
pared to Alice and as for changing his
mind, time would only establish more sure
ly his love. The 1 ardent suitor carried his
point. Mrs. Fortescue gave her joyful
consent, and the youth, took bis leave in
blissful ecstasy!
When Alice returned from church sho
was not a little surprised at the unwonted
spirits manifested by her mother, who had
remained at home oh the plea of not feel
ing very well. She was still more surprised
in the cou 1-80 of the afternoon, whon her
mother remarked: '
" My daughter, we will .have some of
your nice preserves for supper, ' also some
of that boasted cake of yours; Mr. Stanley
will take tea with us." ,
' " Mr, Stanloy ' take tea with us !" re
peated Alice, in open-eyed astonishment, '
" Yes, my dear; he happened by ' here
this morning after you had gone to church,
and as he was about leavlug us so soon, I
thought I would invite him to tea. I hope
you have no objections to it.
Of course she bad none, but she was in
a complete state of wonderment all the
time she was making preparations for an
event so entirely unexpected. This state
of mind, however, she did not permit to
interfere with her housowifery, which she
never displayed to better advantage, you
may be sure, , than on this important occa-
A very pleasant, cosy, homelike repast
it proved to be, With admirable tact Mrs.
Fortescue at once placed her guest nt his
ease, and from the absence of all formality,
it really seemed like a suug little family
party. " ' " .. . . .', . , .
The vesper sorvioos that evening must
have been , unusually prolonged, or the
young couple must have, strangely loitered
on their way from church, for it was nut
until long beyond her accustomed hour
that Alice arrived home. , ,
As she entered the room where ber
mother was awaiting hor, .Alice approached
ber and holding' her in a warm embrace,
said, in a choked voice: ,.,.,,' , , .
'; JJothor, I am very happy, !'' her eyes
overtlowiug .in thp . excess of her fueling,
But thank,. God there was uq bitternoss in
those tears! , . , , ,,,,, , t , ( ,.. I' .'
' And I, too, am happy, my dear child,"
responded the mother.' "Everything, I
presume is satlsfaotorialy arranged ?"
"'Yes, motlior; but at my request' be
consented that the engagement should not
be made known. ' O mother, I' little d roam
id of this, this morning ' And oga'iu the
surcharged heart found vent Iu tears.'
1 On the following Wednusday Stanley
started upon his tour, .We , pass over, his
parting with Alice, mentioning an incident
merely that occurred as he left her. Just
as he stepped out of tbe gate be encounter
ed Miss Dunbar and Miss Gatcsj to whom
he politely raised his hat. Miss Dunbar
acknowledged tho salutation with A cold
now, Due uer companion scarcely recog
nized it, as in her astonishment she ex
claimed : , , ,
" Did you ever, Miss Duubarl the idea !"
About six months nfler Stanley left,
there came rumors of his meeting with a
beautiful young lady among the mountains
of Tyrol, where he chanced to bo ramb
ling, and that he was particular attentive
to her These wore followed by another
that ho was journeying in company with
her through tbe Alpine region, and rumor
told the truth, for a rarity. Ho bad fallen
in with an old friend and his sister, and
their routes being the same, they had trav
elled together. All these stories of course,
reached the ears of Alice, witli all the ex
aggerations that petty spite could invent ;
for the attention of Stanley had 1 not been
forgotten, as if it had been a crime iu her
to receive thorn, these blessed Christians
adopted this method to punish her for it.
Wolf-like they eagerly turned to rend the
wounded.
Presently the report was that Stanley
had arrived at Paris, still in company of
tho young lady, to whom he was "postivcly
engaged." The next report was that he
was immediately to bo married and to re
turn home with his bride. These multi
plied rumors did not soem to have auy
marked effect on Alico, although some con
jectured that she grew pale and thin, and
exhibited an unwonted air of Badness. -
Whon, however, it was announced that
Stanley would arrive by the next steamer
and be at home on a specified day, and
that orders had been received to have the
old family mansion in readiness to receive
him and his now wifo, to the surprise of
all, Alice sent in her resignation of the
plpce she hold in the choir, and gave up
her musio class, while Mrs. Fortescue of
fered her place for sale, and in a few days
she and her daughter left town. '
It was immediately surmised that the
return of Stanley with his brido had some
thing to do with this sudden removal, and
many well-meaning souls gravely shook
their heads as they spoke of Alice.
" Poor girl!" they said, commiscrating
ly. It was very wrong for Stanley to show
her such marked attentions, but it was
very weak in her to build any hopes upon
them !',' t .
"She is served just right, the proud
minx J" said the more ill-natured ; "and
it is just punishment for hor presumption."
A week or two after the Fortescue left,
and people had ceased to talk or think of
them, Stanloy arrived home with his bride.
Tbtre was a larger gathering than usual
at the station when the train that bore the
newly-married couple came in. Many were
drawn thither, no doubt, to catch a glimpse
of tho long-talkod-of bride. Their curt
osity was, however, baffled, for the , lady
was closely voiled and not a feature could
be seen; but ber graceful form, well set off
by a neatly fitting travelling dress, excited
their highest admiration as her husband
handed her to tho carriage in waiting.
The new brido was the prominent theme
of conversation among a certain set. She
hnd kept so provokiugly retired that no
one as yet had seen her., But it soon be
came known that on a certain evening Mrs.
Stanley would have a reception, and every
body was on tho qui the for an invitation.
The evening assigned for the party camo,
and tho Stanley mansion was early the
ceutre of attraction to a gay and expectant
throng. Curiousity overcame even tho pique
of Miss Dunbar, or she was determined to
show to the world that she had pot takon
to heart Stanley's defection, for she aud
her inseparable friend, Miss Gates, were
among tbe earliest callers.
Whan they eutered the reception-room
the throng was so great that the bride was
completely hidden frjm them, and it was
pot until almost the very moment of being
presented, that they caught a full sight of
her. They could pot prevent a start of as
tonishment as they .behold before them,
richly arrayed, with orange blossoms In her
hair, her face radiant with happiness and
beaming smiles of welcome, Mrs. Alioe
Stanley, nt4 Fortesoue ! ... . . . '.
Miss Dunbar quickly recovered from ber
embarrassment, and went through tho
usual formalities with muoh tang froid,
but her oompauiou was so completely as
tonished by 1," tho idon,'' that she could
not preveut one or two awkward move
ments, not marked enough to attract gen
eral notice, but which the .bride at ouce
detected, and, It may lu, enjoyed. '
We need not speak of the . surprise gen
erally manifested when it was known who
the new bride was, for the roader cut best
imagine it. To the credit of the.' good
people of Ilia place be it said, that the con
gratulations showered upon Alico were atf
sincere as they , were hearty f If any were
false mid hollow, they wore from those to
whoKu good or. ill-will she was in a roeos
urs.lmluTuroufe, . . ., .k ' .
" What poHtiesscd you,, Frederick,",- said
Alice, alter the company had departed,
nnd they wit talking over the , incidents of
the evening, "to have those reports circu
luted of your falling in hive abroad. I heard
them all you may be sure aud then mys
tifying everybody by making them bolieve
that you were bringing home b foreign
bride?" ; i
" O," said Stanly, laughing heartily, " I
knew that it would afford such food for
gossip to particular friends of ours J aud
you cannot imagine, Alice, how often I
have chuckled over 'The idea 1' of Miss
Gates when the truth came 1 out. By the
by, did you notice her when she first rec
ognized you this evoning ? It was all that
I could do to keep my countenance."
But little of interest remains of our story.
Notwithstanding the goneral outcry against
mothers-in-law, Stanley insisted that Mrs.
Fortescue should make her home with
them, and never had he occasion to regret
ho did so.
Wo need not speak of the happiness of
Alice, nor of tho pride of her husband,
when she saw with what graceful dignity
she took hor place in the circle to which
her marriage with him had introduced hor.
To his dying day Frederick Stanley will
bless the chance that brought about his
acquaintance witli tbe sewing girl and the
fair singer ; while Alice gratefully acknowl
edged that the chango of fortune which
compelled her to rely ou hor own exertions
for a livelihood, has proved to her the
greatest blessing that could have happened.
, , How Mutscll was Trapped.
Speaking of Mr. M. brings to my mind
another little story in which he figures, and
which is told by the New York Sun as
follows :
Mr. Seth Gcer, who resides at the St.
Charles Hotel on Broadway, is an old rail
road man. In 1852 he was conductor on
tho New York and Erie railroad, now
known as the Erie Railway. It was his
duty to tako the night express from Bing
hampton to New York. I On one occasion
he visited Elmira to see some friends, and
returned by tbe night express to Bingham
ton as a deadhead. In those days
there were no' sleeping cars. When
he entered the car ho found two passen
gers to every seat except one. On that a
stoutish gentleman was soated, with bis
leg up.
" I think there is room for another here,"
said Mr. Geer, pointing toward the part of
the neat ocoupied by the passenger's leg.
"Tbe passenger glanced at tho speaker a
moment, and then went 611 talking to two
gentlemen behind him in an utterly uncon
cerned Way. ' ' "
" I'll trouble you to move your leg, sir,"
said Mr. Geer to the passenger, at tbe samo
time making as though he was going to sit
down. , 1 ,
"This seat's engaged," said the passen-
8K" , .
."I don't see that," said Mr. Geer, who
wanted a seat badly.
,"I tell you," replied the passenger, " I've
got tickets for two seats, and you can't sit
here." , ',
" O, if you've gottwo tickets," Mr. Geer
said, " that is another matter,", and forth
with he retired. ' ,11
When' the train reached Binghamtou,
Both Geer took charge, and put on his of
ficial coat aud hat. '
"Say, Jake," he said to the conductor
who was about to retire, " who is that man
seated thore with his log on the cushion ?"
v,'Why, don't you know him?" was tbo
reply. " That is Matsell, the Chief of the
New York police."' :
Beth gave a low whistle, and for the next
ten miuutes a queer Bmilo was on his face..
A quarter of au hour after the train left
the depot Beth went round to look after
his charge. When he came to Chief Mat
sell, the latter handed up one ticket, ., ,
"Tho other ticket, please," said. Both.. ,
" What other ticket?" the chief ex
claimed. ,
" You told me a short time ago that you
had a right to occupy two scats, as you
held two tickets,", Seth replied. ,
"Told you what?"' asked Chief Mat
soil, slowly, staring at tbe conductor.,
" Whon I wanted to sit down here some
two hours ago, you said I couldn't do it, as
you hold twp tickets. , It is my duty to col
lect, two tickots, and I want the other tick
et, please." , ' ;; .. ,' , l, It
Chief Matsell looked at Seth from top to
toe, and then hauling out bis pocket-book,
said :,., ,, , ., i, . . .
" I guess I'll surrender. What' to pay V"
"Four dollars and fifty cents," was the
reply. . , .,; ... ;., ., r . : ' . .
' ' A Saving Clause.
English papers tell this story of a law
yer's clerk and tho young lady who would
fain have sued biiri for broach of promise.
He had paid hi? address chiefly by letter,
and iu the most tender and poetic strain,
to a protty girl, whp, when hi affection
grew less, was too 'prudent and energetic
not to demand : golden 'comfort ' for her
wounded heart. ' Her' lawyer' heard her
case with pleasant' anticipations of dama
ge; bur, alas ! when ho examined the love
letters of tho lawyer's 'clerk,' he fonud Jiis
client was pnt by them entirely out of
court. 1 The ingenious yonng man had 'in
variably signed himself "Believe 111c, my
own dearest, divines!, duckiest ' Angelina,'
your fondest, most dovoted (but without
prejudice) Tommyi" The legal ''phrase,
which the goutle "Angelina didn't under
stand, had saved him. "" "' ' '
,:')..!'!' -i ); .."'.