Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-06-05

your being out visiting so early conyinces
me you possess those traits. Medora ana
mad not got up when you were announc.
ed. | don't remember having seen the
sun rise in years"
indeed" said L; ''then you have lost a
daily pleasure. There is no sirht in
nature more inspiring, more refreshing
IMAM cloudless dawn. 1t is like a great
rose unfolding on grand scale,n | con
tlnued, thinking of Tennysons
God made himself and an awful rose Of dawn ),
"Ah, madam, see you are poetess; I
must shake hands with you again. | con
graduate myself on having the good for
tune to know you"
felt myself flushing to my ears, and in
my embarrassment rose to leave; but Cap
tam Dorsey insisted so strenuously on nv
waiting to form the acquaintance of his
daughter that felt compelled to resume
my chair. At length the young lady, af-
ter being repeatedly summoned, came
haughtlly in, with disdainful step and
ianguldly Indifferent air She was tall
and well formed, deliberately dressed, but
she was so stiff and repellant in her man
ner that | could find very little to say to
her, and that little | uttered in so con
e0IlfclE
unlike my own. Indeed found she was
my antipodes in all respects, and for me
to lind pleasure in her society was simply
impossible.
The morning following my visit, An
gelica came to request the loan of the
dress and mantle l had worn, as Mrs.
Dorsey admired them so much she wish
ed her milliner to cut by them a duplicate
suit for Miss Medora. The dress was a
handsome silk--a black ground, brocaded
with purple roses and green leaves
the mantle of silk velvet heavily
fringed. l was quite fattered by my
neighbours high appreciation of their
elegance, and readily loaned them
The end of the week came, and the
articles not having been returned, as
needed them for my Sunday wearing,
had to send Lucy for them. After keep
ing Lucy waiting so long that | had to
put on dinner myself, she was at length
sent back with the elegant dress hastily
rolled up, not even wrapped in paper,
tumbled into a hundred creaSes, while on
the rose colored silk lining Of the mantel
was large grease spot, apparently dropp-
ed from a tallow candle. Lucy said She
did not think Mrs. Dorsey knew anything
about the plight the things were in, as
when she delivered my message that lady
was lying in bed, reading ycllow-baclcd
book, and merely raised her ewes for an
instant and referred her to Angelica. AS
| examined these chef d. doucres of my ward
robe, upon which | had been won't to be-
stow so much care, not only on account
of their elegance, but from knowing my
husbands limited income would not allow
me to replace them in case they were
spoiled, tears Of veXatiOn sprang to my
eyes, and it was with look of silent an
noyance, instead of my usual noisy JOY
BUSINESS, that met my husband when he
came home from the store.
"What's the matter, dearie?" said he;
you are not as sparkling as usual"
ooh, Ed! I'm so provoked Ny beau
titul lowered silk is one mass of creases
I've just got it home from Mrs. Dorsey's,
and you ought to see how rumpled it is
1t will never come smooth till take all
the stiffness out with hot iron"
ooh, well, never mind, pet, Don't be
Come, see what a splendid
pair of black Spanish fowls I've brought
YOU" and with the eyes | loved best smil-
ing into mine, the arm [ trusted around
me, | soon forgot my silk dress, and was
as merry as usual.
The week succeeding, | had a visit from
my neighbor and her daughter Mrs. Dor
sey assumed the air of an old friend, and
talked during the whole of her stay in
low, tireless, confidential tone, vein of
t1attery running through everything
she said. She assured me my huS-
band was one of the handsomest men she
had ever encountered, and a perfect
gentleman. While mother stepped
in the next room to slice some cake and
prepare some lemonade for Lucy to hand,
my neighbOr expressed surprise at her
youthful appearance, and remarked on her
urbanity and intelligence. She even
praised the manners Of my servant, and
dwelt on the excellence of my furniture.
Evidently t1attery was her forte AS she
rose to leave she informed me that she in
tended to give party very soon, as she
was anxious for Medora 20 become ac
quainted with the young people of the
village and fancied that the most eXpedi
tiOus way to bring about such a result
Il will depend on you, my dear neigh
Dor" said she, with an insinuating smile,'
''to make Dora feel at home with her new
friends. You have such an easy way
with you, one cannot help being sociable
where you are"
Mrs. Dorsey departed, leaving on my
u1lHu SUCH al agreeable III preston DIS
banished every unpleasant "reminiscences
The night of the party was balmily
beautiful, the sky wearing a full set of
star jewels. | had lent so much assist
ance to my neighbor in her pre-
partitions that | felt almost as much
interested in the success of her party as
she did. She had borrowed sugar, flour,
eggs, butter in large quantities, and my
one servant had spent four entire after
Moons baking for her. | had so far for
gotten and forgiven the injury to my bro
cade as to lend my white bridal silk "a
shining gift from rich uncle of mine to
adorn the elegant figure of Miss Medora.
Mrs Dorsey's parlor presented most in
wiling aspect to the guests who thronged
it, brilliant with light and fragrant with
the odor of flowers and perfumes. The
host and hostess were most gracious, and
even Medora condescended to play the
agreeable to Colonel Miggs a rich old
widower, who was understood to be on
the lookout for wife. The supper to
which we were invited at midnight was
elegant and costly, and the long table gilt
tered with plate.
Notwithstanding my dissipation, | was
up early as usual the next morning, and
having loaned my biscuit oven to my
neighbor, with innumerable other articles
of pottery, glass, and china ware, had to
stir up some waff1es for breakfast | saw
Ed comfortably off to the store, and
concluded to try to get relief from Sc
we're headache by taking long nap. | lay
l~r,-l