The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-04-11

WSoi So-h'6u' Wv" JSN
dress
aMy white silk dress z Maude
paused abruptly while q deep
crimson flush spread over her fair
forehead. She rose and crept soft
" around to her fathers side.
"Papa, l am very much obliged
to you-but-but l had rather not
take the pearls
"Not take them, Maude?"
"No, papa-you remember my
resolution"
"Maude p exclaimed Aunt El-
oise, 'you will never be SO absurd
as to refuse that pearl necklace
that a Royal Princess might be
proud to wear, just because of q
whiml"
at is not wh!m, Aunt Eloise."
And no amount of coaxing or
bantering could induce Maude Bry-
ant to take the pearls.
"Give me q bud from tho con.
servatory, papa, or a bit of a book,
such as | used to have when was
a wee thing, and I'll value il for
your sake as long as | live: but /
can't take the pearls"
So the merchant with q curious
moisture in his eyes gave her a
kiss and told her "that would have
to do"
And the weeks and months pas
sed. on and Maude, surrounded by
temptations on every side, thought
of Charley May, and resisted them
all.
"Maude," said the old man, sud.
denly, one day, "when did you last
hear from young May2"
"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?'
"No, papa you told me not to,
and l have obeyed you"
"And has he never written?"
"Never, Sir"
"Then, most probably, he has
forgotten you"
"No, papa-I knoao he has not
forgotten me-"
"You're a curious girl. Maude,"
said her father, caressingly strok-
ing down the bright black curls.
"Never mind, pet, when your year
of calico is over I'll give you q
present that will please you pass
ing we'll"
II don't want any present, papa"
said Maude, wistfully looking up
into his face. ''Oh, papa, there is
only one thing in the world that
| do want"
"And that you know very well
you can't have" said the merchant,
sturdily. And 80 the colloquy ter
minated.
"Oh, Aunt Eloise, what a mag
nifcent silk rea. .gold color, isn't
it?."
"Yes, I think it is rather hand.
scme," said Mrs. Harrington, com
placently. 81 ordered it imported
myself. See, it shines like a sheet
Of gold in the gas light"
"Who isit for?"
"You, to be sure, child--ftr Ori
ana Sykes's wedding reception"
Maude shook her head demurely
"Why, Maude, what will yor
wear?' You must have new silk.
Maude caught her fathers eye
fixed earnestly upon her. In al
instant her resolution was taken.
81 shall wear calico, Aunt El
oise.'
"Calicol To Mrs. sykes's we'd
ding reception
"Why not, Aunt ?"
"You do not dare thus defy So
t ciety."
Dare l not"
/, That was all Maude said. Th
8 year of ordeal was up that nigh
p and she stood bravely to her col
| ors.
: Mr., Bryant did not attend par
ties, but he went to Mrs. Sykes
! that evening without his daughter
' Knowledge, and stood leanin
. against a door casing, watchin
the brilliant devotees of fashion q
0 they entered in glittering, perfun
ed throngs, watching them with a
: anxious eye. M
9 Would Maude waver now? Wa
= her will no stronger than that {
G five hundred other. women?
Presently she caGe, as lovely .
k ever, the throng parting on eitht
side, as she advanced up the rool
s at the sido of her portly, vexe
e looking Aunt Harrington. Whi
o was the murmur that reached b
, ears2
l. Pink calico ! calico l-imposs
BILE | Miss Bryant wear calico, il
?. deed | Giace, more likely, or moi
Y antique! Actually calico? what
l. strange whim | But Maude Br.
% ant looks lovely in anythingr
II Lovely--sho did look lovely.
k the soft folds of the French Gallo
with sweet eye full of liquid ligh
d and her check glowing with SC
2, scarlet.
Mr.. Bryant drew long sigh
r. relief, and then ordered his ca
r, riage for "home."
10 II was late when Maude retur
Il cd, but nevertheless she took
- peep into the library to see if h
ID father were still up.
ll ."Papal"
,e "Come in, Maude Do you kno
pet, your yearof probation is up
l. night?"
ct II don't call it probation, sir"
,n tDorha0c mt Wall do vnu 7