Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-12-10

carved coral, whlcn nau Octn htf iaNc-
rites in girlhood, the pure pearls. the
aunt whose name she bore had present
ell; brooches and bracelets innumerable
besides turquoiS. enamel. garnetS. and
the Ralston diamonds. Yet the bandeau:
and it could not be had without the full
set, that she well knew il " would be vain
TO ask it. The struggle went on silently,
for the same underlined feeling kept her
from consulting her husband. She ir-
srinciively felt what his advice would be-
Sill, the money was her own /; he had
told her sO-tO spend as she chose, OF
even to give away Sc she reasoned, as
she counted the remaining bills, and
found she had just hundred and sixty
/ five dollars. To be sure, fifteen was a
very small allowance for two months.
and she would not dare apply to Morti-
mer; but then she would be very, very
economical. and she could not think of a
single thing she should be obliged to
purchase.
+ Her carriage was again drawn up al
Bailey's, and she fingered some minutes
at the cases before she would ask for the
ornaments; but other ladies came in and
examined them, exclaiming as fashiona-
bic women will over novelties; and she
hesitaled No longer.
Send them TO the carriage, if you
please, she said, little impatiently, lest
even then she should fail TO secure them;
and the shopmsn smiled sill More com
placenlIy, as if he had already antici-
pated her decision.
She did not say anything TO her
husband of The purchase, nor ask his ad
miration, as she habnually did, if it was
only a beautifully fitting glove or gaiter.
Once, as she stood examining the cases
herself, sic heard his foot upon the stairs,
and pushed the drawer to quickly. as il
she had been in danger of detection. Il
was a new feeling for hel in his presence,
and covered her face with conscious
blush as he entered the room.
The evening for the wedding reception
came. 1t was 10 be a very brilliant af-
fair, for both parties were fashionable
and wealthy, visiting and visited by
everybody worth knowing. Mrs. Raj
ston felt more anxiety about her toilet
than she had done since h own bridal
evening. Her dress of pearl-gray moi e
d'Gntiqae, and the rich Houiton veil, a
part cf her costume then, and now trans
/ formed into scarf, were laid out by
/ Clara before her mistress entered the
dressing room the pearls were lying
near them, and. in truth, would have
been the most fitting choice but she
swept item aside, with a See this Clara!
and displaying to the eyes of the admir-
ing girl the-new set, for the first time
taken from the cases.
There, Clara! did you ever see any
thing TO compare with that bandeau? 1t
will be the wonder of the evening, you
may depend. Now dress my hair 10
perfection, that's good girl, and you
shall have ;hat ribbon you admired SO
much
If Mrs. Ralsion was guilty Of one point
Of personal vanity above another. it was
in favor of her beautiful hair nor could
this be wondered at, for it was family
peculiarly, and every care had been
taken in her childhood to preserve it,
until The important time OF her coming
out Clara's skill was unquestioned in
arranging it, and many a coveted ribbon
aud collar had been her reward. Now
she drew out The combs and pins, letting
il fall in It's full and glossy length, over
the elegant dressing-gown. with more
than usual alacrity, for her quick eye
comprehended the effect of the new or.
nament, and she was as impatient as her
mistress 10 uy it. The interior of the
dressing room was picture in itself; the
swinging mirror rejecting the costly car
pets and furniture; the fair figure Of the
young wife half reclining in a crimson
velvet chair; the fair throat and delicate
outline Of the features, shaded by The
ungathered ripples of her hair. as she
sat admiring her purchase; while behind
her the trim waiting maid was plating
the shining biaids.
The last one was finished, and woven
with the bandeau, the diamonds flashing
as she moved to get the effect, which
more than equalled expectation. The
dress could not have been improved,
save by the soft fall of the lace, which
corrected any air of stiffness in the rich
rusiling material. But how was il, that
though Clara said twenty times Mr.. Ral-
sion would be TOO pleased she did not
challenge his admiration. II was chilly,
she said, SO the opera cloak and hood
were thrown on before she descended 10
the drawing-r room to meet him.
what! already he said, without my
assistance. No, here are your carriage
boots,' and he bent down with all the
gallantry of olden times TO encase the
satin-slippered foot in the warmer COW
ering. l dare say you are looking quite
perfect, Notwithstanding you go to yield
up the palm Of bridehood 10 Miss But