University of Virginia Library

10. CHAPTER X.

One forenoon, a few weeks after the
events just related, a young girl was seated
in the elegant working-room of Mrs. Wharton,
at No. — Girard Place. Mrs. Wharton
had some gala dress to be cut and fitted, and
being a little indisposed, sent to Mrs. Carvil
for her `best hand.' Caroline Archer was
sent. When she reached the door and recognized
the number, she remembered that
it was the same that was in the pocket-book.
She hesitated to enter, lest she should encounter
young Astley, whom she had not
seen since the day before she had found it.—
But she was not mistress of her own will,
and ringing the bell was admitted. In the
interval between the time of the foregoing

chapter and the present, Caroline's domestic
happiness had much increased, by means of
the costly price she had paid to secure it.—
Her mother's health was improving, and she
had numerous little comforts of which she was
before destitute. A private school teacher
of great celebrity had also written her a note
saying that arrangements for three years tuition
of her eldest son had been made with
him by a young gentleman, and that his seat
and place in his classes were waiting for
him. This was gladly and gratefully accepted
by the mother. Caroline still continued,
however, at Mrs. Carvil's, but returning
prosperity and hope had restored to her cheek
its bloom, and to her eye its brilliancy, and
to her lip its smile. So well had Dr. —
done his part, that no one, save himself and
her mother, was possessed of her secret.

She had cut and fitted the waist of the ball
dress upon which she had been at work, and
it being of a new and showy fashion, Mrs.
Wharton wished to have Percy's opinion—
aware that in female dress gentlemen have
unerring taste. She sent to the library for
him.

`What do you think of it, Percy?' she inquired,
after showing him how finely it fitted
her magnificent bust. `Is it not a rich pattern,
and of a superb fashion?'

`I know not which most to admire, the perfection
of the fit or the skill of the artiste,' he
said, looking with admiration at the beautiful
milliner. `This must be Frank's inamorata,
for she is just such a divine creature as he
described,' he added to himself. `I will soon
learn.'

`You may go now, Percy, I don't want you
any longer,' said the bride, with a meaning
smile, observing his admiration of the maiden.

`I want Frank to see your dress; he has
perfect taste in such matters,' replied Percy.
catching her eye and laughing, as he showed
that he understood her ruse. `He is in the
library, poring over Ovid's Art of Love. I
will have him here in a moment.'

`Don't bring Frank here!' she said, glancing
at Caroline.

`He must come.'

When Frank entered the room, Caroline,
with a throbbing bosom, instinctively shrunk
within the window recess, her services not
being immediately in requisition.

`A superb fit, sis,' said Frank, `but let me
tell you it is the least in the world a little too
low in the—neck—I mean bosom.'

`Not a bit, as the fashion is.'

`If it were the fashion to—but I'm mum.
How are your new teeth? Do you believe
me, I think they are more beautiful than
those you lost!'

`Sh! brother!' and Mrs. Wharton directed
her glance warningly towards the recess.

But Caroline heard every word the young
gentleman had uttered. With an involuntary
exclamation she turned from the window and
was gazing, when he looked, with surprise
and curiosity upon Mrs. Wharton.

`Caroline Archer!'

Caroline was overwhelmed with confusion
at the recognition and his ardent exclamation.

`I knew it,' exclaimed Percy, half-aloud.

`Do you know her, Frank?' asked Mrs.
Wharton, suspiciously.

`Look there!' he answered. And opening
his pocket-book he displayed the miniature
within. `Do you remember when I bought
this in Paris.'

`I do. It is perfect.'

`It is only through this likeness I know
her then, sister.'

At this instant the door bell rung, and the
next moment Dr. —, the dentist, entered
the room.

`I called as I was passing, Madam, to see
how—what—my noble little heroine here!'

`Do you know her too, Doctor?' asked
Mrs. Wharton, with surprise

`Pray let me look at your teeth, Miss,'
cried the Doctor, without replying to her
question, and walking directly up to Caroline—`I
have wished a hundred times to see
how they answered the purpose.'

Caroline retreated in embarrassment, and
felt as if she should sink upon the ground.

`Do not be alarmed! you were courageous
enough a few weeks ago. Well, Mrs. Wharton,
so you have found her out and taken her
as a protege.'

`Found who out! Pray explain, Doctor.'

`Why my brave, beautiful heroine!'

`Whom do you mean?'

`Why the pretty `advertisement girl,' as
I call her.'

Mrs. Wharton turned pale.

`You do not mean to say that—that—' and
the lady finished her sentence by a look directed
towards Caroline.

`That she is the young person who—'

`No more, Doctor—I beg of you to e silent.'
she cried imploringly, sinking upon an
ottoman near her.

`Pray, what is this mystery, Doctor? demanded
the astonished Percy.

`I see I have been led into a sad blunder
by taking things for granted. But it is better
to explain than leave things in mystery.
This is the young woman who sacrificed her
front teeth to supply the loss of your lady's.'

`Emily, is this so?' demanded Percy, with
indignant reproof. `Were not those manufactured
teeth you obtained from Dr. —?'

`No, Percy,' she answered, hiding her face
in her hand.

`Good God! have you had the cruelty to
bribe a young creature like this to make such
a sacrifice to your vanity! Alas, my dear
Emma! you have fallen, fallen far in my estimation.'

`Forgive me, Percy!' she cried, throwing
herself upon his shoulder—`I confess my
error—I have not been happy since!'

`First make all the reparation in your
power to this young creature, whom nothing
but dire necessity could have driven to make
such a sacrifice; and of this necessity the
bride of Percy Wharton has taken advantage.'

Mrs. Wharton burst into tears.

`Nay, sir—pardon her!' cried Caroline,
with generous feeling for the contrition of
the unhappy lady. `The sacrifice I made
was voluntary on my part and with Heaven's
blessing was the means of saving a beloved
mother from misery, and making a
destitute family happy.'

`And did you make such a sacrifice, noble
girl, for a mother?'

`Indeed, sir, we were very much distressed—and
if Providence had not opened
this way of relief to us, we should have been
houseless wanderers of the streets.'

`Emma, I forgive you, inasmuch as good
has been permitted to grow out of this evil.
Yet it does not exculpate you.'

With great delicacy and tact Percy Wharton
then drew from the blushing girl her
whole story, save that part that transpired in
the dentist's room, which Doctor — related
with touching eloquence. Francis
Astley also on his part related the loss and
recovery of his pocket-book, and increased
the admiration of Percy and his wife to the
highest pitch. When the tale was ended, he
asked if her father's name was not Henry
Archer, formerly an importer in Front street?'

`It was, sir,' answered Caroline.'

`Then he did my father when he was a
young man a great and important service.
It shall be my pleasing duty to repay it to
his child. Give me your mother's address,
and I will call on her early to-morrow.'

`And permit me to say, Miss Archer,' added
Mrs. Wharton, approaching her and taking
her hand, `that I shall insist on taking
you henceforth under my protection, and
from this moment request you will make my
house your home, and look upon me as a
sister.'

`You are a noble creature, Emily, when
you let your heart take the lead of your head,'
said her husband, kissing her. `You have
my consent to whatever you will.'

`And if my good brother will give me his
consent—and my generous sister will transfer
also her proffered protection of this gentle
girl,' said Francis Astley, advancing and
taking Caroline's remaining hand, `I will
with her sweet consent, cheerfully give my
hand where weeks since I gave my heart.'

He bent gracefully over the fair hand as
he spoke, and imprinted upon it an ardent
kiss. Caroline, overwhelmed with the sudden
and unexpected crowding in of events,
and with her full heart gushing joy at this
reward of her long and silently cherished
love for the handsome stranger of the gloves,
stood with drooping eyelids, blushing like a
peony, while her young bosom tumultuously
heaved as if it would burst its confinement.

It is two months since Caroline Archer left
the boarding school of Mrs. —, Chesnut
street, where she had been fifteen months;
her betrothed husband, Mr. Frank Astley,

being too impatient to be married and sport
his lovely wife at the Springs this season, to
wait the three years he had promised Percy.
Therefore, yesterday there appeared in the
Gazette the following notice under the Hymeneal
head:

`Married this morning at eight o'clock en
costume des voyage, Francis Astley, Esq., of
this city, to Miss Caroline Archer, daughter
of the late Henry Archer, Esq The happy
pair started immediately for Saratoga via
New York. There is an on dit that some
more than ordinary romance d'amour was the
foundation of this union of the parties.'