The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-11-18
MY E1IZABETHIAN
=. -. PERIOD.
BY AUGUST. BELL.

=. All the old fashions are coming back,
they say, hair cushioned and powder
ed, patches, pointed waists, ruffs, aud
high.heelod boots. I am glad of it, I
know they will suit me. Sometimes I
almost fancy that I have had life be-
fore this, aud was a court lady hundreds
of years ago, with wardrobe of stiff,
quaint magnificent dresses. I saw an
old: portrait Of Queen Elizabeth ouce in
an English gallery, and it had look
in the eyes that seemed natural to me.
I felt as If my eyes could look the
same, cold, unfeel,ng, with just a little
uncertainty in their heartlessncss to
show that love might have been once
possible. When the old fashions have
=all come back complete, I shall put on
a stiff broeade, and build my beautiful
hair up high above my forehead, and
wear quilled:rutf six inches deep about
my neck; and I: shall hold receptions
twice a week and try to be queen of a
little court ii my own, Poor Elizabeth,
proud, lonely queen !: There was re.-
son for the hardness: of her heart, for
there arc things told in her history
such as have happened to me, and they
made my heart hard and cruel too.,
II am MT beautiful, but I have a
commanding air and presence. Lam
not . gentle nor sweet-tempered, but
neither am I fretful. I have simply .
will 50. strong that neither persons nor
things stand long iuits way. Yet it
has happened to me to love and to be
loved.
Once, it seems now like ages since,
and yet it is not so very long ago as We
count years. Nell Ridley andsI were
up in my room together getting ready
for the ctncert: My brother, who was
engaged to Nell, and Guy strathmore
were to be our escorts. had not
known Guy Strathmore very long then.
I was studying him. - =: .-"1
As ! was pinning a black barbe on
Nelps hair, she startled me by saying
suddenly, !: H.,
& o"Wbat big eyes the Str,thmore makes
q YOU Oh! don't prick SOP
" .stPerhaps they're like yours aud see
what isn't to be seem" I retorted. but
inwardly was not offended: i:
''1"0, L see, and 1 see, and l seeW
said the damsel, nodding her head sage
y. ,4::t, e. 80. :. .,.:....s u
/; Sand what do you see, little midge?"
"a eA'proud, handsome, chivalrio gen
'tleman who dom { know his own mind,
and a:Proud isdy who, could make
him know it, if she wasn't 50 awfally
proud" '.::~,:1 :,i
I'd Three pro,.ds in one sentence :! You
had better leave of studying hearts,
and learn what tautology MEANS" I
said severely - T. - -" =
70 She pouted and said no more, twist
ing her engagement ring on her finger,
az II forsooth she knew more of hearts
by that token thun Iwho had played
with q score And l was not disple.s-
ed, I always rather liked to hear it
suggested that any gentleman cared tol
me e-aud more than all, Strathmors. !
cast 1 little glance Of satisfaction at my
regal face iu the mirror, and then as my
look fell lower on the reflection o1
:Nell's face, l saw her peepiog at me
Through her syelashes..>o' >o,, i !: !: :...1.I ~;
Icis.When, We reached the concert hall
We found that our tickets took .us 4
! the foremost seats il, the body Of til,
house, and there was, not more than si1
IlEfsst between The high PLATFORM wher,
tho eiorchestr.; aud the chorus sat. Th,
music vs. To- bc" grand-thea vioIin'
we've grouped 10 the center, nearly :fftj
If, Them, for strioged instruments wor'
pzedomin,te; !; chen 6th'e, !, other = *n,,ousi
clans were = little behind them. I'll,
/, t,four ,oiees5that we're to it.ke. solos ver'
directly Id front, and the chorus sing
eli filed ap the sides, perfectly m,sse,t
together; thy were 50 many. All thi
| We 1aH': .t'. el.n'cs 4 = ! { V composed our
solves sin our seats, while close abov'
" Tho conductor was already turning
tho leaves and raising his baton
sssss'l III u ~ Z moment more the soprauoi
lyaiea slef. ths .if,' aud up' : Won't ;Nell'
ready glaas to her eyes. It was a blon,
vho s,,nn 9TH ,,nnf;no, Nona1 Nra anl