The workingman's advocate., 1866-06-23

swell, Flory, you are certainly bent on
conquest tonight. ! never saw your sober
lAdyship look half so charming before" said
my sister Alice, dropping me a very playful
courtesy as | came towards her, and very
sincerely returned her compliment.
Vanity apart, and judging ourselves by
the standard Of each other, think may
say that we were q very presentsble pair OF
for our first ball. We were twin sisters,
just II years Of age, although / was gene
rally distinguished as the elder, on account
of my more "sober" character. Alice's
golden hair, violet eyes, and rich warm
color, were all reflected in my case in pAler,
fainter tints. We were alike, but she was
far more brilliant than was ia every res
pect. She was the MONDAY, and the even
ing As stopped to arrange the wreaths
of trailing ivy whicf looped up the delicate
white tulle dress, she whispered, half laugh
ing, half blushing, "Wilfred Anderson viii
be there, Flory. Do you think he will re-
collect me-that is, usr'
''Do you think he will forget us-that is,
your" retorted. "You have the advan-
tage Of me, Ally-one more pleasure to look
forward to among the ma0y we are antici-
pating. Now, | expect DO old friend, NO
Wllfred Anderson to turn up for my espe-
cial benefit tonight"
"Aha we shall see, sober Flory," said
Alice, dancing about For my part,
should not be surprised if"
"Are you ready, childrenS" interrupted
my mother, approaching the door in her
rich black silk and point lace cap, looking
as Alice protested, "lnuch prettier than
either Of as )" and in Ave minutes more we
were on our way to the ball
My father, though by no means one Of its
wealthiest inhabitants, had long held good
position in his native town. There be had
married my mother, the daughter of highly
influential landowner, and there he had re-
sided throughout an active and energetic
career, following the profession Of phyS.
clan. We, his only children, had seen little
Of the world beyond the immediate neigh
borhood of our home; and to this day my
brightest and most enduring memories are
clustered around that dear, quaint little
town, with its gabled streets, over the very
shop windows Of which grape vines wreathed
with proud luxuriance, It's noble church,
and its anciently endowed grammar school
On the latter institution Eldoun was especi.
ally wont to plume itself and ind aed the
groups Of gowned and trencher-capped
youths lettering in the sunny market place
or congregated under the fine old walnut
trees which overhung the cloistered walls oi
the grammar school, added not little to the
responsibility as well as to the picturesque
character Of the place.
Three years previously to the date Of my
story, Wilfred Anderson had been q senior
scholar at Eldoun, and there had somehow
sprung up sort Of boy and girl liking be.
tween him and my pretty little sister fol
our father, who had q rare sympathy with
all school lads, and who especially regretted
ha ring no sons Of his own, would frequently
4 q those boys whose manly, healthfnl
interest in outdoor sports accorded with his
peculiar tastes, home to his house, where
many an ardent discussion on angling,
cricket, etc, took place round our cheerful
ea-table; the doctor holding forth like an
oracle, and his young guests drinking in his
words as eagerly a z hs had really been
such. Wilfrsd Anderson was always q
Us good bye, before going to Cambridge, II
was not my fathers hand he held the long
est, nor my fathers lace be looked at last.
The lad Of 10 went away, firmly believing
himself the most sorely tried Of constant
lovers, and Ally's bright eyes were clouded
for at least thres days after his departure.
II has been questioned whether any of the
pleasures OF our lives cone up to the expect
atoms we had formed of them. think,
however, | may safely say tina. our flrst bali
did. Everything appeared to our enchsnt-
ed eyes eeuleur de ross. As for Alice, be-
fore she had been five minutes in the room,
Wilffed came to claim her hand, looking nj.
together no manly, handsome and happy,
that il was no wonder she felt proud Of his
evident admiration, and Ia her own frank,
innocent manner, showed thst the Pleasure
Of their meeting was mutual. Presently
Wilfred came mp tome ~ s'1
'Miss Gilbertf' be said, in low voice, "a
want yoa 10 take pity on q friend Of mine.
He 10 my college tutor--an excellent fellow,
though be has nothing to boast of either as