The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-03-28

BY TIMOTHY rIrHoUsE

LILLY.
BY rrnorzY r1rnoUsE
Cousin Lilly had gone upstairs to ar
ray her sister, young Mrs. Elliot, for an
evening party. I, Cousin Tim, who am
only . poor old bachelor, and therefore
merit special privileges and because, too,
I am said by kind and partial friends to
have some taste In landscapes and ladies',
am sometimes honored by demand for
my artistic judgments on questions OF
color and contrast. Thus 1t happened
that I was favored with q view Of that
gay and pretty scene of graceful oonfu-
sion, where one might have fancied that
. raid had been made upon q rainbow
and . part Of 1t brought In to deck fair
woman, 90 many were the bright, airy
dresses, and delicate ribbons Of many
hues, which lay scattered over every
av111ibae object.
made my art criticisms, using ~
many technical phrases A. could remem
ber; but after all my fine fiourishes the
quiet Lilly was the supreme judge on
this, ~ on all occasions, to whom every
case was carried for final decision. I am
never at all jealous, but only proud when
she agrees with me, which she
never does on any subject for compli-
ment, but simply because she means it.
Yet Lilly is not over fond of adorn-
ment. She only loves to see everything
and every body beautiful, even to the
brown dog Rover in his red ribbon, which
she ties around his neck.
She never spends too much time in
dress, nor neglects sober duties for it ;
but she thinks that as God has given us
the sense of beauty and also lovely forms
and color, we ought to enjoy all, like his
little children, in this world he has deck
ed for US; and that since he clothes the
meadows 30 gayly, he will not be dis
pleased with US for arraying ourselves
with beauty, il only we do it as the fields
wear their fiowers-to his glory.
I stood patiently waiting with my
cousin Jay Elliot, when his wife, charm
ingly attired, came down stairs.
I Iwished that the sweet dressing maid
were going also, for was an odd one !;
and although, rather than go to the
grand party, preferred going back to
my quiet room at my hotel, or even
spending the hours at Cousin jays,
chatting and reading with Lilly, it was
my irreversible fate to go, for had
promised.
Lilly gave her sister a last admiring
review as she went out. I could not
have refrained from asking her why
she remained alone, nad 1 not already
learned the reason.
As Jay and sit quietly in our office,
taking an hours rest for fingers and
pens, he occasionally tells me his secrets;
and now and then some grave little con-
fidence of his wife is divulged to me
treacherous fellow that he is. This re-
gard as great compliment, for in char
acter he Is as reticent rs general. Well,
as We were sitting thus on the day Of
that wedding-party which we were to
attend, expressed my surprise that
Lilly had declined to accompany U.S.
"I'll tell you, Tim," said he, "why
my sister does not go tonight, and
why she goes 80 little into society, SO
called. She confides to my wife the fact
that the world is beginning to count her
in Its list of old maids, and to wound her
by the slights and injuries which are
dealt to the class on which it has con-
ferred this appellation."
"What, Lilly" exclaimed, 'just in
the beauty of her young womanhood ?''
"Yes," replied Jay, "those very juve-
nile maidens who have just graduated
in folly from our fashionable boarding
schools, say by their actions, II not by
words, that Miss Lilly Clyde has been a
young lady in society for good many
seasons, and that they will not make
their fresh, eventful debut by her side.-
And this not from any aversion to her
oh! no, they admire, and may love hel
how can they help it? but they fool.
ishly and ignobly imagine that, after
moving q little while in that grand pa
rade society, a word which seems to be
the Alpha and Omega Of their vocabula.
ry, their title to extreme youth will be
compromised by association with young
ladies older than themselves.
"And SO Lilly receives many petty
but expressive. slight from them, ane
from sprigs of the other sex too, wht
fancy that only very juvenile bellies hav,
any claims upon their gallantry."
my sweet, wise sister does not Lay
these small things deeply to her grea
heart, she would scorn to do SO; bu
they make the home-nest where W,
cherish her more pleasant than the sci
Ash world without, with all the false anl
foolish ideas which govern It."
~ am astonished at all this, Jay
Lilly is as charming as fresh wilt
flower In the woods, and never though
Of putting even to myself, the question
how many summers she has grown.
II know that am getting to be al
old fellow, This morning when I mad