Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-12-29

. and Maud and Brenda held diver
f discussions upon what to wear
a Finally, they brought Hildah, VIII
2 had little gem of room all to lel
self, into the larger apartment
5 they two shared together, and the
: and there plunged deep into tn
mysteries of apparel.
| Brenda and Maud brought fort
: divers dresses, spread them upol
the wide bed, and danced around
deliberatins which would be the mos
becoming.
Hildah had no difficulty in maxim,
up her mind, for she had but on,
dress suitable.
Hildah looked at the silks an,
laces that made the wide bed seen
in masquerade, so decked out was i
with divers colors and foamy laces
sets of jewels and scented fans
What would make a nice match,
and what desirable contrast, be
ing the question most in agitation
Hildah looked and sighed; present.,
laughed, and said,
You have slighted me, girls. Yor
haven't even asked what | am going
to wear
The two looked blank, then flew
at Hildah, pecked her cheeks like /;
couple of doves, and declared in .
breath, You dear little thing. YOU'D
look sweet in anything
Well, that being the case, thinl
! I'll put on my dress tonight laugh
ed Hildah. i should like to look
sweet before 1 go away
Who for? said the other two
making eyes at her.
For your papa, maybe, answered
Hildah; with mischievous look al
Maud; then went to her own room
to dress.
Brenda turned her back on the
bed, bright with silks, and laces,
and jewels. Crossing her white
chiseled hand on her breast. she
turned a firm, decided profile to
Maud.
Maud, are you not sick of this:
| am. Hildah is so much nobler than
you and L.
Yes, said Maud, in a maze; but
there is no use in trying to be too
good. Let us enjoy ourselves
awhile; then we can settle down,
you know
Brenda said no more, put up her
dresses, then going down stairs,
struck out strange, deep chords of
music from the grand piano in the
drawing-room until the bell rang
and DR.. Ives came in.
You are early, DIR. Ives. You
have come to see Maud and myself.
of courseY
'Assuredly. Is Miss Brownway
at home?'
'Ohr said Brenda, significantly.
Il have a mind not to let her know
that you are here
Brenda went, however, but first
stopped in to counsel with Maud.
Maud, DR.. Ives is down stairs,
and am full of mischief, in honor
of New Years Eve, perhaps. Don't
let Hildah know he's here, and let
us go down and teaze him awhile.
He's said sharp thing or two TO
me since I've been here; and I'd not
object to paying him back
A little tap on the door, and Hill
dah herself came in.
See, said she, with gentle irony,
i am in my best. Do not surprise
your
The speaker had on a merino,
fieecy, fine, and of a clear, bright
blue. There was rim of fine lace
about the throat, and the under
sleeves, to match, were also deli
cately fine. There had been a time,
before Hildah left her country home,
when she had thought this attire
grand enough for a queen. She
had learned better since; knew now
that most would consider her dress
plain as pipe-stem;" yet, for all,
an air of content, that had quaint
sweetness about it, invested Hildah
with grace more beautiful than
costliest silk or dazzling jewel.
Wait a minutep said Maud; and
disappearing, presently returned
with spray of lovely roses.
| asked mamma, and she said you
were to have these, with her love-
painted Maud, out of breath.
Brenda took the spray just bud
ding to perfection, and, with skill
full fingers, fastened it against the
gold brown hair. Roses and checks
made a perfect match.
Then the three went down stairs;
Maud and Brenda shining in silk;
ribbon-knots flying like pennants
from hair and shoulder, both riaate
with mischief. Hildah, lovely as a
picture, with her pure child-face,
downdropping lids, and tender gray
ity, that word would break up into
smiles.
Maud, nesting into the velvet re-
cess of tall chair, leaned back her
head, and chattered nonsense to the
group that presently clustered about
her-papa, grave professor or two,
and the rest. Brenda. unlimited,
took her station at the grand piano,
and swept the chords, until the in
strument trembled; anon played
soft, low snatches, and dreamy SON
atas of ilute-lille fineness.
The rooms were warm; some one
had opened the glass doors leading
into the conservatory.
Come said DIR. Ives, let us 90
and listen to that music in among
the flowers there
Hildah came. How beautiful
said she, under her breath.
How beautiful sighed DR.. Ives.
He meant Hildah, you might know;
for she stood under an orange tree,
white with its load of blossoms. The
sprays dropped low upon the slight
ly bowed head; she looked most
like a bride, so standing with the
light flush of roses on her check;
fair she was to sea grace better
than beauty crowning her with most
womanly sweetness.
I had told you DR.. Ives was am
bilious. This was so; he had only
meant to study Hildah. A little
rustic maid was scarcely like to have
won him. You and he had thought.