South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-10-13

make over my blue, groS grain silk, and
you know she Is noted genius for renew
ing worn ball-dresses; but if, after it is
done, it looks antediluvian, and smells mus
ty, I'll do penance by staying at home, said
Berths.
do just as you prefer but think your
father would give you n new one if YOU
wished it, said her mother.
Lena purchased the new dress and had
It made up without regard to expense, and
it was exquisite when done, and extremely
becoming to the young lady, who had been
c)rgratulatiug herself on the success she
was determined to achieve.
Bertha's dress came from the mantua-
makers hands as beautiful as it could be
aud none would ever have suspected that it
had already been thrice worn, unless she
had been seen with it on 1t harmonized
admirably with her hair, blonde complex
ion, forming vivid contrast to Lena's more
brilliant style of personal attractiveness
and bright, orangecolored robe.
The day previous to the ball, Clara Ain
sley called, sister of Hugh Ainsley, who
was the fixed, central star, around which
the feminine luminaries had ambitiouslv
beamed for the last two seasons, each fond.
ly hoping to be the finally favored one.
But, to the secret chagrin of each. he
still maintained the same quiet courtliness
of manner towards them all. He seemed
quite as indifferent to their heart affairs as
he would have been to the pyramids of T.
gypt. This was the gentleman Lena was
bending all her energies to ensnare and
bring to her feet, before the present season
closed
Clara was an intimate friend of both the
girls, and she was invited up stairs to see
the dresses, which had Just been sent home.
Their beauty she warmly expatiated on,
( but Lena would not allow her TO leave un
I'll she had told her Of Berthas wonderful
( fit of economy, and laughingly said she
should certainly take her opera glasses with
her to the ball, that she might descry some
interesting, poor young gentleman, with
whom she knew her sister must have a Sc
cret understanding, and for whose benefit
she was carrying out this within of pru-
dence
The combined entreaties of all the trio
could not induce Mr.. Gregory to accompany
them to Mrs. Ian gdon's He pleaded
headache and fatigue. This was a cover
to the real reason. His business affairs
were daily becoming more eDtaDgled, by
means of several heavy failures Of parties
owing him to great extent, and all he
could see before him was ruin and disgrace,
but he would keep his forebodings to him
self until after the fcte was over, when, il
he found no means of extricating himself
be would make a clean breast of the whole
thing to them.
Hugh Aiusloy was quite attentive to
Miss Lena that night, who looked very
| queeuly in the gay throng and his atten-
tons were received with deep satisfaction
to herself. Nor was the less Interested
Bertha, who had laid no sege to him, over
looked
He Inquired at once where her father
was, as be had not seen him there. To
her reply that be had resisted all eutreaty
to come, from great fatigue, be uttered a
prolonged An and fell Into a reycre
Hugh was thinking Of the vague report
he had heard on Wall Street, that morning,
that the Commercial House Of Gregory &
20. was fast lettering towards bankruptcy.
The next morning, at an early hour,
Hugh called at Mr. Gregory's counting
house, and offered him loans to any amount
to help him through the financial crisis that
was upon him. Mr. Gregory had done the
same deed, years before, for Hugh's faith
er, and he, (Hughl kindly pressed the ia
yor back upon hun, which was accepted
with tears OF gratitude in the eyes Of the
panic-stricken merchant
As Clara and Hugh sat at dinner, the
next day after the ball. discussing the cos-
tunes brought ont there, she related what