The Democratic advocate., 1871-04-13

'"V"eu "e' thc hiost exquisite puskeI
Of flowers, from the most elegant hot
house exotic to the simple violet, and
what girl, lovely and at the heart fond
Of pleasure as Nellie, could resist such
Dear old Miss Ellis took as much
real delight in exchanging the plain
brown dress for the coquettesh white
dress, that revealed the most charming
little slippered feet in the world, and
elapped her hands in almost childish
delight as she surveyed the graceful
figure of the flower girl. "You look
just like Maggie Mitchell, now Nellie;
after this never put up those beautiful
curls in nett, aud now 90 and sell
your prettiests boquets to the prince,
who will Of course be there Riding
to the ball in Miss Ellis's carriage, with
Honora the old lady's maid seated be-
side her, Nellie wondered if she was not
dreaming, and when she entered that
great magnificent room and saw the
gorgeous decorations, the masqued fig
ures moving about her, she felt as if
she was indeed in fairy land. She lost
all consciousness of fright or embarras.
meut, and found herself enjoying every
thing intensely. What strange con-
trasts There a dcmure nun, and a
blaekeyed, ferocious looking brigaud
whispered together and herea Queen of
Night" smiled upon "Carthusian
Monk, who seemed to be forgetting his
prayers in the bright glauces that were
directed towards him"
"Ah, pretty maiden, how do you sell
your flowers" said a musical voice near
her. Wss it the prince Nellie didn't
know, but the figure in mask, looked
as it he might be, and the next half
hour passed rapidly and pleasantly, and
she seemed as ii she had met him before.
She wondered where her cousins were,
but saw nothing of them for some time,
when shcrecoguized the voceof Blanch,
talking and laughing mcrrily with
Scottish Chief. who seemed very indif-
Ferent TO all her Establishments. The
hours passed rapidly, and Nellie felt
frightened when she heard some one
near her say at was twelve o'clock"
must 60 home, it is late. 10 vain the
prince tried to detain her, and she was
soon rolling away from the scene Of fes.
tivity, aud sitting by the side of Miss
Ellis who listened well pleased with the
success of her "little plan" 1t was
late hour that night, or rather an early
hour the next morning when her cou-
sins came home. Nellie Of course tried
to appear very indifferent, when they
talked about "that sweet little flower
girl"
But "thc prince" alas Maurice AL.
drise, was still more interested. What
beautiful eyes those were, that looked
up SO pleadiugly ms the sweet low voice
murmured, Twill you buy my flowers,
sir!' decoy blue eyes, they had done,
what all the array of beauty had failed
to do that night-won the heart of the
most eligible, the most elegantman in the
city, but how was he ever to find her?
In vain he looked around at every as.
sembly. No Nellie, the flower girl, was
there, aud sometimes sauutering slowly
on the crowded pare h, would bring the
blush Of pleasure to the cheek of some
beauty, whose blue eyes had deceived
him into the belief that at last he had
found her.
One evening he was passing by
small dwelling that seemed the abode
of poverty, when suddenly the door
opened and young girl came out fol-
lowed by woman who seemed very
grateful for some kindness. eGod bless
you miss, she exclaimed, as the young
girl ran down the steps. "You are an
angel for coming, when everybody
seems to desert as in trouble" As she
turned, Maurice Aldrige saw before him
the flower girl; the beautiful eyes beamed
with the light Of divine charity as she
received the poor widows beoediction,
and she was. just as charming in the
neat walking dress, and unpretending
vocation, as when he had seen her sur
rounded by all the accessories Of luxury.
Nellie Herbert was not offended when
he spoke to her, indeed she seemed
pleased--and when afterwards he called
to see her, to the extreme chagrin Of
her cousins, Maurice was still more
pleased. When alter a month had pass.
ed, he made her his wife and the mis-.
tress Of one Of the finest mansions in
W, the fashionable world had am
pie subject for conversation about
Maurice Aldridge's lovclywife. Bertha
and Annie haze forgiven hor, aud visit
their cousin, and nothing is more agree
able to them than to talk Of "our cousin