Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-02-10
MRS. DUsENBURY.

st. Maur's great easy chair, half lost among
the crimson cushions, sound asleep, and nev
er dreaming what frown distorted papa's
brows at sight Of her. Mr. st. Maur looked
the image OF shocked dismay and profound
indignation as, coming to the library for a
book which he wished to show to his friend
Dussnbury, ho found the very young lady
for whom he had waited dinner fully three
quarters ct an hour, and not even dressed
for dinner yet. 1t was some moments bs
fore he could srtculate for amazcment.
Upon-my-word, really, upon-my-
word" he managed to say at last.
She started up at the sound of his voice,
her dimpled cheeks pink with slumber, her
dark iringsd eyes bright as the new risen
suns, and her soft black curls in a pretty
disorder.
Why, pepa, is that you ?' she said
yawning behind her rosy tipped fingers, and
lszy dropping her white lids again, as
though disinclined to be reused from her nap
just yet.
Miss--St Maurr'
He never called her Miss St. Maur except
on very extraordinary occasions, and she
reused little at the words.
Are you aware that dinner has been
waiting for you full three quarters Of an
hour?"
=" Has it !! well, I'm very sorry you waited
papa" without opening her eyes.
Mrs St. Maur grew slightly red in the face.
" Disabedlent and contumacious girl are
you aware, Ruby st. Maur. that your atli.
anced husband is waiting in the parlor to
see you?'
"Afianced who" Ruby exclaimed sud
denly, sitting up very straight, and opening
her bright eyes to their utmost dimensions.
:" Mr.. Dusenbury, the gentleman expect
you to marry awaits you in the psrlor. Re
pair at once to your dressing room and Join
US in the shortest possible space Of time"
Mr.. St Aaur spoke in his stcrnest, most
unauswerab'e tones, and left the apartment
IN such a state Of Indignation that he forgot
the book ne came after, and returning for it,
found the contumacous girl still lingerirg q
there. Upon seeing him, she asked very
Coolly:
Papa, who is Mr.. Dusenbury anyhow ?"
" Mr.. Dusenbury is the man you arc to
marry and that is enough for you. OFF with
your
Presently. can dress enough for Mr..
Dusenbury in ten minutes. It's the same
old hunks that dsowned his son because he
couldn't make just such dusky old skele.
ton Of him as he is himself. Isn't it papag"
Papa's brows lowered ominous,y.
Miss st Maur, desire you to repair in.
stantly to your dressing room. Do you
hear ~
"Allors, papa.
She kissed her fingers to him, balancing
herself archly on the threshold of the door
and still lingering in roguish defiance.
Do you know what color the old parch.
ment bundle ia there particularly abomin-
ates ?"
You'd be sure to wear 1t, ell ?" Mr.. st.
Maur said, boiling over with wrath. al desire
that you attire yourself with your usual
care. III put you on diet Of bread and
water, Miss; see if | don't. Dinner has
been waiting an hour tell you, and am
literally in starving condition"
She danced back into the room.
D.ar papa, let me bring you lunch
while you arc waiting
He lifted his cane In mock threatening.
"OH with you. witch viii you 90 ?'
She laughed, made 4 great affectaton Of
dodging the upllted cane and vanished.
Ten minutes after, true to her boast, she
flashed into tbs parlor, a gorgeous enough
little beauty to have turned half dozen
such heads as that Of the antiquated speci-
men OF the genus homo who sat conyersing
vita Mr.. st. Maur, and taking monstrous
pinchss Of snuff between the words
That must have been the reason they call.
ed her Ruby: she was such gorgeous little
creature in herself; all sparkle and fash,
and with an almost barbarous fondness for
rich and glowing colors, which, however
seemed only the fitting setting for her pecu
liar style Of beauty. Her iress now was
ciarct co'orsd satin, clasped at the throat and
wrist with ornaments Of white topaz, and her
curs wore looped back from her face with O
gold Dart set with the same stones. ~. q.
Dinner was served at once, both gentle
men seeming in furnishing condition, and
Ruby presiding in such manner ny to call
forth most approving glances from her proud
and gratified papa. ....... ~. .~.
As for papa's dear friend, Mr.. Dusenbury,
he divided his attentions between the dinner
and Miss st. Msur, and was evidently as
much bewitched as it was possible for him
to be.
Capital, capital matters couldn't have
gone off better, after ALL" Mr.. st. Maur mur.
INJURED to himself after his friend had gone.
walking the parlors and rubbing his hands
together IN great glee. Dusenburys gone
case, that's evident. Ruby, my dear, you
behaved like An angel" -
4" Did ], papa ?" that young lady replied,
demurely, glancing at him from under her
jetty lashcs, while the least Bit of a smile
twitehed threateningy at the .dimpled cor.
ners Of her mouth.
!" N glad to see that ycu haven't got any
school grlish notions In your head, Ruby. /
was not wlthou, fear that you intended to be
perverse in this matter It's a splendid
match, child, splendid. Dusenbury's rich a.
. Jew-nost thriving. firm. really, in the city
--and we're thinking. child. Of consolidating
our two houses, st. Maur, Dusenbnry 4 Co.
do magnificent business, then, perfectly