Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-12-26

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who have been talking commonplaces 10
each other, and thinking they are very
confidential friends, answer back heart.
fully and honestly
They made a very bright, pretty picture,
those five girls, standing there. under the
brilliant chandelier that hung from the
blue. lrescocd centre arch in the old
church on ID. street.
Lutte Wharton. the little blonde in blue,
was first IT, sa, but"
You said that dreadtully in earnest.
Biethen Meers. else I'd laugh at such
Sunday School-book speech But I'm
sure, aren't YOU going to show your good
will hy giving presents? Why I've bought
elegant ones for Ma aud the girls and
! I'll remind Pa TO give u barrel of flour OF
something to the poor. But how foolish.
child, To think of sticking up lots ol ont
,iicls in our tablcaux AT Bohscl's. just
because they are dying 10 be, but never
wcr, aud never will be. our set. There's
Allie Lyon wouldn't her chalky iace aud
iAy colorcd crimps look beautiful As
Ben Dayton and that stupid sober ret to
oar nays o. dear. do lets he gcnleel
enough not to 90 outside ol our own cir
clc :" Aud nay ladl Lnie tossed her little
head scornlnliy,w with The proud conscious
n,.> That I'VE" are in the first society,
aud we" have the bc>, partners in the
dances, The incest tables IN the lairs. and
the fro1H galicy4 seats ut every concert
rhat Is EuiIic Buri, ihat plain laced
richly dressed girl who i, speaking now.
Its not a question of good looks, Lutte.
else YOU wouldn't dress me up in u Grim
son CLOAK. and call me 'Boudicea.'" And
her sallow checks flushed slightly I'VE
may aS we'll confess. girls, that we have
hern terribly selfish, this winter. in keep
my things to ourselves. 'Ii>n't that we
are any pretiier. or weslthier. or more
accomplished than Dita and Alle-it's
because we happened to get into the
well, the front galieyy seats Besides.
girls, what butterflies NC arc getting to
be ? Don't we, now, Just dress up, and
ride, and dance. and then talk about it
together cvcrlaStingly ? Do YOU remem
Der what we promised when We were in
nocent schoolgirls ? how We would never
frt, never smile on these same gay and
lazy gallants that take Us to the opera,
now how we would be such angels in
our homes. &c. ?"
The four girls WINGED at this last, and
little Jay sighed, rs she played with
Bleihen's muff tassels. and whispered:
I'm ashamed of nVsei. It's fact that
hardly see father and the children from
one weeks end to another; and there's
my poor little mother, at home. crying
her eyes ont, because she thinks I'll
20 and get married, some day. 10 one OF
our dear, old, sood-for-uolhing boys
Now. Bletheu. you've broken the ice and
| want to say something. We pretend 20
he sensible girls. not vain. shallow flirts
and do YOU think that we ought To give
or time and parlor sofas 10 men. who
are not men who haven't any ambition
10 be manly. and whom we've no idea Of
ever marrying We girls AL sing, %,
tor knight like Bavardr and wish that
man once more were manly aui then
( hy turning right round. sighting all the
/ brave, honest fellows. who are too Spunky
To spend al their lime aud money on Us.
foolish girls and smiling swcetly on fast
horses and soi spec cheS. we are just Civ.
/ ing our influence to extravaganza and
iazincS>, and night against honest indus
Try. And say. lets accept Blethcn's
| thought, and be generous with our nice
tablcaux and see If Ben Dayton and
Harry Dane are stupid, when they lave
something to dor"
Lutte was going to object, but the lights
were burning dimly in the church the
girls were almost alone, and looking anx-
iously towards the church door, she clos
cd the discussion by saying:
"Well, I'm slro don't care, if you'll
take The responsibility, Blethen. O, moth
er says she'll lend you her Grape; and,
Jay, if you'll come up tomorrow night,
well make our Spanish caps together.
Come Emile"
Blethen saw her father talking with the
minister. and giving Jays hand parting
squeeze, she whispered hurriedly:
"Thank you. dear, for that speech.
mean to get acquainted with nay father
and mother, and I'm going to begin by
going homo with Pa-wont he be sur
prlsed? What do you suppose he'll say ?
Say. indeed? why the poor man was
twice as embarrassed as the little figure
that clutched his coat. sleeve, and hoped
breathlessly along at his side. bravely
trying to keep up with his long strides
over The crisp snow. How funny they
must look she thought, trying not to
laugh She should certainly tumble
dowu--lhis was dreadful! She should
faint away. o, wasn't it pitful that she
didn't know her own father well enough
to ask him not 10 take such long steps ?
She could not think Of living thing to
say. Why didn't he talk
"Fa-" why, what Il weak voice she
had ! and instead of bending his head to
catch her lightost word, as Paul and Louis