CHAPTER XXII.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 141, 13 February 1886, Page 6

CHAPTER XXII.

SD.ATTERED lIOPES. Annie did not demur when Miss Walde mar gave her a second invitation to spend with her the time that remained, after leaving Lord and Taylors, before going to Mrs Campbells, and it would have been bard to find a group of happier people than the quartet which gathered about Miss Waldemar's dainty table during the next ten'dayp. The city was warm and dusty, but Audrey's rooms were always cool. Mrs Allen knew many a secret for making peoplo comfortable, and one of these was to open all windows late in the evening and early in the morning, letting in the fresh, cool, air, and then keeping it shut in all day. Thus Rich, on his return from his office, found everybody as fresh and bright, and the house as comfortable, almost, as if they had been in some mountain retreat. Audrey and the young girl became deeply attached to each other during those few summer days, while they sat in their pretty rooms and fashioned dainty things for one another. Miss Waldemar's exquisite taste and maturer judgment planned many a lovely garment out of Annie's stored treasures ; while the girl's deft fingers, so long used to such work, would fashion them as if by magic. " I am afraid you are making me altogether too fine, dear Miss Waldemar, for the position I am to occupy," she would say, when these pretty things were tried on to receive approbation or condemnation. "You know I am to be 'nothing but a seamstress ' for a long time yet, and I must not be too gay." " The Campbells have a great deal of company, dear, and I am not sure that she will want to confine you altogether in the pewing-room ; and of course, in case Mrs Campbell wished you to assist in entertaining at any time, she would desire you to make as good an appearance as possible ; while I want my dear boy to find you as attractive there as here, I will not have you hide yourself under dull, prudish dresses." Annie smiled at the tone of fond authority which Miss Waldemar assumed ; but as she was going to Mrs Campbells a seamstress, she sensibly conjectured that any attempt to make herself particularly attractive would be deemed out of place by her employers. The time of Mrs Campbells return arrived, and one morning Audrey received a note from that lady, saying they had arrived at home, and she should come that afternoon to learn more about the seamstress of whom she had spoken ; for there were " piles of sewing to be done," and she was anxious to' get it off her hands as soon as possible. Miss Waldemar quietly slipped this note into her pocket, saying nothing of its contents, while she mentally resolved to see Mrs Campbell by herself when she called, in order to relate something of Annie's history, and to enlist her sympathy. Accordingly Mrs Campbell was received in the parlour with closed doors,and Audrey told her all she knew, of the- young girl's etory ; how interested she had been in tho motherless child who had come to the same Vermont farm-house, where she was stoping, to spend the summer ; how she and

Rich had at once become the best of friends, and he had afterward saved her li f e ; and how he had accidentally run across her again only a few weeks since, , friendless condition, and protected her against the persecutions of a boorish young carpenter, and they had finally persuaded her to come to them until Mrß Campbell should be ready for her. The good woman was deeply interested in the account, and her sympathy was at once aroused in behalf of the gentle orphan. " I havn't the heart to make a seamstress of her," she cried, when Audrey concluded, while tears stood in' her eyes; "poor child ! I'd really like to take her into my home and make her one of ua." •' I am at raid that would hardly do, doar Mrs Campbell," Audrey replied ; " she is a very resoHite piece of humanity, and I do not believe she would be willing to go to any place where she could not feel that she was giving an equivalent for what she received." •' But I wanted a good, strong girl to take hold of the work and reel it off the machine as fast a& the dross-maker gets it ready ; and I don't quite like to pilo it upon this little young thing at that rate." Miss Waldcmar thought a moment, and then she said : "I, too, would rather not have Annie tied down too closely io work ; and you will sympathise with me more fully, my friend, when I tell you that Rich, while he was very fond of her as a-' boy, upon renewing the acquaintance lost His heart to her entirely." The secret was out at last, though Audrey had dreaded revealing it more than she would have cared to confess. Mrs Catnpboll uttered a low exclamation of surprise, and the eyes of the two women met and held each other's glance for a full minute, while each read something of the other's thoughts. Mrs Campbell knew well enough that Audrey had hoped Rich would meet his affnity in her beautiful daughter ; while Audrey know that the proud mother had been well phased to havo Grace favourably inclined toward the adopted son of her friend. Bet there was even more than this betrayed in Mrs Campbells glanco ; there was a quie'e shrinking, as if tvom a sudden blow or thr-isc, and Androy saw at once that it was even as she hml feared — Grace Campbell had already begun to love Rich too well fo" hor peace of mind. Mrs Campbell reviewed the situation rapidly. How could she, receive into her home this rival in the affection of the one whom her daughter loved ? — how could she have her child supplanted in any way? — But this young girl was in no way to blame for it -at least was just as worthy of kindness and protection as she would have been under other circumstances : while if the die were really cast, it would perhaps be better for Grace to learn it at once and have tho spell broken for all time. For a moment, however, it must be confessed that her mother-heart turned against tho gentle girl with » feeling of bitterness and resentment for having come between, though so innocently her idolised child and the grand, manly heart she had hoped to win ; but the Christian principle triumphed. " I will take the homeless girl and do the best I can for her," she mentally resolved, then Fmiled her own generous smile as she looked, into Audrey's face-and said, frankly though with a regretful sigh : " I perceive that you, as well as I, have been dreaming of other things, and let me say, once for all, that it would have been my heart's desire to have had our friendship more closely cemented through our children, but fate flias ordained it otherwise, and we will not vainly repine over what we cannot help. This little protegee of yours shall come to me all the same, and I will make her life a1?a 1 ? comfortable as I can for your pake. I will get some strong person to do the heavy sewing, and she shall attend to the light, fancy work — help shop or whatever elee we can find that will be agreeable w ithout trenching upon her dependence You and T are old friends, Audvey, and I will gladly do this for you, even though 1 1 may suffer a twinge of disappointment over our shattered hopes." " Clara Campbell, I knew that you were a noble woman, though I never fully realised koto noble until this moment ; and you will always be dearer for this little glimpse of your inmost self." " It is a vory faulty selt, I'm afraid," Mrs Campbell rejoined, smiling, but wiping the tears from her eyes. "But, Audrey, I want to see the little girl who has captured your young architect —Miss Hunting, I think, you wrote md her name is " j " Theie !" Audrey said, with a start ; " I have been talking rbouther all thi? time and never once thought; to undeceive you. She calledHhoi self P< nnie Hunting when she came to New York, because her father was so well known hero she was a little sensitive about attraotiin-g attention. Her real name is Annie punting Noble." " Noble ! Noble ! Surely she cannot be Adrien Noble's child?" exclaimed Mrs Campbell, eagerly. " Yes ; her father's name was Adrien Noble," Audrey replied, her colour heightening a trifle. She could never speak that name without remembering that he had once pleaded with her to become his wife. " Wonders will never cease," responded her companion. " Why, fifteen years ago, my husband and Mr Noble were very intit mate. His wife was a lovoly, gentle little body, though an invalid. Her physician ordered a change of climate for her after a while, and Mr Noble withdrew his interest from the business and went South with her The next we heard from them was that Mrs Noble was dead, and her husband had left their child with a trusty nur3e and gone abroad. That was the last we knew of him, until, a couple of years ago, while we were in Germany, we read of his death in one of our home papers. We wondered what had become of his little girl, but supposed he had left her with some friends and well provided for, for we knew he was accounted a rich man. But lam shocked to find that his child is destitute, and has been obliged to work for her own living. Be, was one of tho grandest men who, ever lived— a c Noble 'by name and nature too." " How strangely some events are ordered in this world !" Audrey remarked, greatly surprised by the account to which she had just listened. "And now lam sure you will be doubly interested in our Annie." , " Yes, indeed. Do go and bring her to me. lam impatient to see her." Audrey arose at once and left the room, returning, however, almost immediately, apcompanied by Rich's-pretty fiancee,, "Annie," she said, by way of introduction, " this is Mrs Campbell, and I am sure you will be glad to learn that she was an old friend ol your father." "Did you know papa?" the young girl' exclaimed,, eagerly, while her face flushed with emotion as she lifted it to the splendidlooking woman who arose to greet her. " I did, my dear child, most intimately, and a great man he was, too-, "'returned Mrs Campbell, almost f moved to tears as she looked into the lovely countenance of her old friend's child. "But, my love, the thought of your applying to me for a situation as seamstress almost overpowers me."

" But I will do the very best I can, Mrs Campbell. I have had two— or nearly two — years' experience, and it would be sue% a comfort to have the protection of some one who had known my father," Annie said pleadingly. "Of course you will do the best you can," she said, " and your ' two years of experience ' will be such an advantage to us. I suppose you know how to fashion a great many of those fancy little fixings that help to make up the full dress of a lady ?" " Yes ; I have done a good deal at fancy trimming during the last year. But I thought you merely wished for a seamstress to do plain sewing," returned Annie, innocently. " Oh, mercy, no ! lam not going to put you to that kind of work. I have not forgotten your suggestion, nor the planning you did upon that last dress that was made at Lord and Taylors for Grace, and I intend to make the most of your taste and skill. There are plenty of people in tho world who are only capable of doing plain sewing ; but it is not so easy to find a person who can trim or drape nicely, or has fine taste, which I am sure you have," concluded Mrs Campbell, sweeping an appreciative glance ovtr the graceful figure before her and noting every detail of her tasteful attire ; and then she exchanged an intelligent glance with Miss Waldemar, which plainly said : " You never need fear that I sha'l put anything disagreeable upon this dainty little thing." "Then," she continued, shrugging her stately shoulders, "I dislike shopping exceedingly, and I have a notion that, with a little coaching, you excellent shopper ; so I may wish to send you out with Grace upon such expeditions if you do not object." "I am afraid you are over-estimating my qualifications, Mrs Campbell; but I think it would be very nice to be able to purchase elegant things, even if they were for some one el«e to wear," " Well, if I find you an apt scholar, you may be cent out every day for something. Now, when will you como to me, dear?" Mrs Cambell asked with as much interest as if she had been pressing some noted person for a visit. "I think, perhaps, _ that is a question that you should decide," Annie replied with a smile, "as I am ready to begin my work at a moment's notice, and I fear I may get into bad habits if I, am idle too long." " When have you been 'idle,' Annie?" Miss Waldemar questioned, with playful reproach. Tho young girl coloured, for her fingers had been employed upon some pretty or useful work from morning until night, every day, excepting when they had been out upon Bomo excursion. " Well, if 1 have not been exactly idle, I'm afraid I haven't done much real work I have had such a delightful refit, that I feel anxious to begin my duties in regular earnest." "Well, then," said Mrs Campbell, "I shall set Monday for you to come to me This is Thursday, so that will give you three more days to yourself ; will that do ?" " Yes, indeed ; and I will go to you early Monday morning," Annie responded, brightly, "You will do no such thing, dear; I will send the carriage for you at nine o'clock ; for we never like to hurry in the morning, and T could not possibly attend to you before that hour," said Mrs Campbell, laughing, and then with a friendly farewell she took her leave. But she was very grave, even troubled, on her way home. She did not know how far her daughter had become interested in Richmond Waldemar, for they had never exchanged any conversation upon the subject ; she had only been able to judge by Grace's manner while in his society, but she was pretty sure she regarded him with very tender feelings. She resolved, however, not to tell her anything of what Miss Waldemar had confidediito her regarding his relations with Annie Noble. "Maybe she does not care for him as much as I imagine," phe said to herself, " but even if she does, it will h e better for her to make the discovery herself ; it will hurt her pride less, and she will got over it more quickly if she thinks no one else suspects her regard for Mr Waldemar. I do not wonder," she added, "at his tailing in love with that sweet little thing —she is charming ! and Adrien Noble's daughter, if she inherits any of her father's character, will make a worthy wife for any man," but the sigh which accompanied these thoughts betrayed deep regret for her own disappointed hopes. But at the same time her tenderest sympathies were all alive fer the unfortunate child of her former friend, and she resolved to do all in her power to make life pleasant for her while she should remain in her family. Her husband was as shocked as she had beon upon learning the story of her misfortunes, and grew so newhat excited while talking it over afterward. " Adrien Noble was a rich man, I am very sure, three years ago," he confidently asserted, " and I am inclined to think that there has been some trickery about the settlement of his affairs ; at all events, I shall take it upon myself to investigate matters, if for nothing more than to be satisfied upon that point." Grace was quite elated at the thought of having a young companion, for such the Campbells seemed determined to make Annie.