The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-10-16

an appealing expression in her large
soft gray eyes few could resist. Well
made, though rather under the ave-
rage size, there was something mug
nonne about her irresistibly taking.
Elderly ladies called her "a sweet
| girl; :" and men and women, young
and old, invariably summed up any
commentary upon her by saying, and
so different to her mother.
Maud, whose disposition was gentle,
| humble and afectionate, regarded her
| mother as the type of all that was
| beautiful, and herself of all that was
insignificant and common place-if,
indeed, she ever thought of herself at
all. It had been Lady Laura's policy
background, feeling that so long as
Maud was in the nursery or school
room, she was at liberty to play the
game of life on her own account; and
as she had been some years a widow,
with what. she deemed a very Insult
cient .jointure for her position and re-
quirements, she considered that the
chances of suitable establishment
for herself were by no means to be
overlooked. Maud seldom accom-
panied her mother to pay visits. and
was rarely to be found in the draw
ing-room, much to the disappointment
of many, of Lady Laura's morning
visitors. "a = - -. p
1.-THE dear child is still SO young I
really cannot let her waste her time"
was the usual refrain with which
she accounted for Maud's absence !;
and Maud, herself, was too well pleas
ed to be spared her irksome task of
sitting in the drawing room to enter
tain morning visitors even to raise the
question. lttyE
. On the eventful Wednesday, the
day of Lady Standish's ball, which was
to be the ball of the season, Maud
came into her mothers room with a
note in her hand: J" Mamma, Julia
has written to ask me to go to the
play with her tonight. Uncle Henry
is going, and they will call for me, if
l may 60"
Impossible, Maud; this is the
night Of Lady Standish's ball"
81" Yes, know that. / shall be at
home in plenty time for the ball.
Julia says can come away as early
as 1 like. Arthur Jermyn is just
come, and he is to meet US there
Il don't see how chat affects it..
Your dress will be all tumbled; and
really when gave you new one ex-
pressly for the ball"
| But [ never meant to go to the
play in my blue Grape said Maud,
eagerly; II should change my gown
when came home; it would not take
me quarter Of an hour. / may 60,
mamma, mayn't I?pq1
| Surprised by Maud's q eagerness,
Lady Laura had no objection ready,
and only said, pettishly, You always
contriYe to make difficulties. Maud /
really don't care whether you go or
| not" 800 *
o Maude hastily retired before the
ungracious permission could be can
celled, and wrote the following hur-
| ried note to her cousin: .Nal
DEAREST J ULIA. 100
- shall be quite ready when you
| call; but / must come back at ten, so
don't let George dawdle, but come
very early. ~
| Your own MAUD"
Having dispatched this she felt
| free to breathe and free to smile
| Without any apparent cause she be-
| gan to walk restlessly up and down
the room, wiping away tears that
| would spring up into her eyes. All
very extraordinary results from per-
| mission to go to the play!
She was ready long before her cous-
| igs called Tor her, dressed in a pink
gown trimmed with black lace, a very
old gown, scarcely in keeping with
the wreath of pink roses she wore in
her hair, and the bright look that
| animated her face. = sr-
Law, Miss why you'll never
wear that old thing?" demonstrated
her maid, with face of dismay; why
it was done with last year"
Done or undone, it's a dear old
gown, and l am, going to wear it, !"
said Maud, decidedly.
:" So you are really come, Maud, I"
said George, as she got into the car
riage;s" [ would not believeFit even
after your note.'',- i.frs ...s.. ........s-.i f
"a Mamma did not object-at least
not much; and the carriage is to come
for me at 10 O'clock .uoli.isf-,
81 Arthur is come, and he is to meet
us at the play; did Julia tell you ?'.-
Yes, of course Julia had told her.
Why otherwise should Maud have
taken the trouble to come? But there
was no time to reply to Georges ques-
'ssGtolonsl tB9adeetI1da mpP fmmtset4th them at
the door and put them into their box,
saying he would return in half an
hour. .o,lI
| , The play began, but Maud Tcould