Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-29
DECEMBER %. 1866.


81 think so toO," he said quietly. .r..u .
"Stulf and nonsense J" angrily exclaimed
aunt Eloise. "Rlchard Bryant's daughter
In white muslin, with paltry roses in her
hairl You should have worn pink satin
and diamonds" r
II shall wear no more silks and jewels,
aunt" said the little lady, very decidedly.
snow, Richard" said Mrs. Harrington,
turning to her brother, "are you going to
allow this? She will set half New York
"Maude shall do as she pleases," said the
merchant, quietly, and Maude gave him a
bright, grateful glance as she huttered
away like some snow-white bird.
Next morning small triangular casket
of amethyst velvet lay beside Maude's
plate at the breakfast table. She took
it up with an inquiring look at her father.
"Your birthday, my Child" he said sim
ply. .lV. ~
She opened the casket with low excla-
nation of delight as her eye fell OH the
white CLEAN of a magnificent pearl neck
lace.
"Oh, papa, how splendid this is? Don't
they look like drops OF frozen moonlight? |?
And l have always so longed for pearls !"
Mrs. Harrington looked complacently on.
"They will be the very thing to wear TO-
night with your white silk dress" .i
my white silk dress! Maude paused
abruptly, while deep crimson flush stole
over her fair forehead. She rose and crept
softly round to her fathers side.
"Papa, am very much obliged to you
but-but had rather not take the pearls"
mot take them, Maude?" ......
"No, papa-you remember by resolu
ton"
"Maude !" exclaimed aunt Eloise, "you
will never be so absurd as to refuse that
pearl necklace that Royal Princess might
be proud to wear, just because of whim T"
"It is not a whim, aunt Eloise."
And no amount of coaXing and bantering
could induce Maude Bryant to take the
pearls"
"Give me a bud from the conservatory.
papa, or bit Of a book, such as | used to
have when was wee thing, and I'll value
it for your sake as long as l live; but
can't take the pearls"
SO the merchant, with curious moisture
in his eyes, gave her kiss and told her
that would have to do" g l Odd.
And the weeks and mOaths passed on /;
and Maude, surrounded by temptations on
every side, thought OF Charley May, anu
resisted them all. EH|F..
"Maude," said the old man suddenly, one
day, "When did you last hear from young
May?"
Last hear from him, papa? Never,
since the day he went away"
"Do you mean to tell me that you do not
correspond with him 2"
mo, papa; you told me not to, and have
obeyed yOu."
sand has he never written ?'' - r
,"Then. most probably he has forgotten
YOU"
mo, papa, kno,o he has not forgotten
me-" t .i v
you're curious girl, Maude," said her
father, caressingly stroking down the
bright black curls. "Never mind. pet
when your year of calico is over III give
you present that shall please you passing
we'll" ..- ..-,--
81 don't want any presents papa" said
Maude, wisttully looking up into his face.
"0h, papa, there is only one thing in the
world that do want" ra'-,rt
"And that you know very we'll you can't
have" said the merchant sturdily. And so
the colloquy terminated. ' ''
ooh, aunt Eloise, what magnificent
silk! Real gold color, isn't it?'. rrr
"Yes, think it Is rather handsome said
Mrs. Harrington, complacently. 81 order
ed it imported myself. Sect shines like
asheet of gold in the gasslight." p
"Who is it for 2R ~ ,..1 ..- .. ..Ir
"You, to be sure, child-for Oriana Sykes
wedding reception"
Maude shook her head demurely. n
-"Why, Maude, what will you wear? You
must have new silk" r o.. ..9a,.
Maude caught her fathers eye fixed
earnestly upon her. In an instant her res
olution was taken. i' H
"I shall wear calico, aunt Eloise." M
"Calicol To Mrs. Sykes wedding recep-
tion?" ..'.r ....
"Why not, aunt?"
"You dare not thus defy society,"" ...7
"Dare L not?" l ..
That was all Maude said. The year of
ordeal was up that night, and she had stood
bravely to her colors. f
Mr.. Bryant did not often attend parties.
but he went to Mrs. Sykes that evening
without his daughters knowledge, and
stood leaning against the door casing,
watching the brilliant devotees of fashion
as they entered in iglittering, pe rfumed
throngs--watching them with an anxious
eye. -........ .,.
Would Maude waver no,oP Was her will
no strongerthan that of five hundred other
women? .Frer .r
Presently she came, as lovely as ever, the
throng parting on either side, as she ad
.vanced up the room at the side Of her port
ly, vexed-looking aunt Harrington. What
was the murmur that reached his earsP
"Pink calico! Calico !-impossibel Miss
Bryant wear calico, indeedl Gldce, more
likely, or moire antique! Actually calico!
what strange whiml But Maude Bryant
looks lovely in anything l''9iaiceigg 80. u.
Loyely--she did look lovely in the soft
folds of the French calico, with her sweet
eye efull Of liquid light, and her cheek glow
ing with soft scarlet. 40l4 ID
Mr.. Bryant drew along sigh of relief,
and then ordered his carriage for 's.home."
1t was late when Maude returned, but
nevertheless she took peep into the
library to see if her father were still up. fo
"Papal" r. ,.....-....
"Come in, Maude. Do you know, pet,
your year of probation is up tonight 9' all
~ don't call it probation, SIR" ,SS-aarser
perhaps not. Well do you remember
my promising you apresent if you adhered
to your odd nOtions?' ei"2
"Yes, papa; but told you l did not
want present" sl- ttHi' 9ggqEHsi -.ufft
"Yon'll find it in the drawing-room,
child" ,ef t..+..,,-,'-.., '''''.
Il won't take it papa" 47Fo'J q bl1's
wont youp Suppose you just take
look at it fifst.p y ~ bns .ansyiiig t,r.,-as,t a
And Maude went slowly up stairs, obedi-
ent to her fathers gesture. ~.
II will not take it, whatever it is,e she
thought, as she opened the door, efor L---.-
my goodnessli Charley Mayl"ai 4eft Fae
''Maude-rmy own true lovep sr
And Charley's bright brown eyes were
looking into her's-Charley's chestnut
moustache was close against her cheek. n
rs What do you think about taking nv
present noU, Miss Maude?" demanded Mr.