The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-05

and by 8 O'Clock was dressed, with he
skirt tucked up under her waterproof
and on her way to the scene of pleasure
Long before she arrived at the hous,
she saw the cleaning lights through tn
windows, and the colored lanterns hum
throughout the grounds; nearer, sh
heard the preliminary tuning of tn
band, and saw forms passing and re
passing the windows in the upper story
of the mansion.
| At the front entrance cOlored sery
ant in white kids stared at her, thel
showed her upstairs into large from
room, where, as yet, no guest had ar
rived.
She removed her cloak, adjusted hel
hair, and then, wondering how early she
| was, sat down and waited.
1t seemed hours before group of la
dies came in, dressed in such elegance
Of attire that Amy fairly blushed for hel
own simple toilet. They raised theiI
eyebrows in well-bred surprise, ther
ignored her presence entirely, while, ae
their number was augmented from time
to time, they laughed and chatted and
twitted each other.
"DORt tell me you have worn that
amethyst silk for nothing, Belle Maury
Don't l. know what somebody thinks on
that subjectw
Amy wondered who "Belle Maury''
was, of all these pretty girls.
'Don't tease her, Fanl if she wears
amethyst to please Mr.. Conway, she only
shows her devotion to her lOVer-who,
by-the-by, likes yourself in that very
shade of torquoise. Isn't it singular
you happened to remember itp Won't
Mr.. Neal Conway feel delighted when he
sees two fair ones arrayed in his favorite
colorsT
A general burst of mirth followed, and
no one saw the sudden paling of the lit
tie country girls cheeks as she listened
half-bewilderedly, wondering what they
meant, and yet, in her loyal. foolish little
heart, clinging to the sweet remem-
brances he made for her.
Shortly after that the girls went down,
and when no one else remained, Amy
stole quietly down behinu two elderly
ladies who had come latest.
Her head whirled, her hands felt big,
and cold and awkward and so awfuliy
brown as she went across the hall, where
several gentlemen put up their eye
glasses and stared rudely.
Once in the crowded parlors she sunk
into the first vacant chair, wondering
where Mr.. Conway was, and feeling so
sure the moment he saw her be would
come to her at once. Until then, she did
not expect to enjoy herself and was pa
tiently content to wait.
She watched queenly Belle Maury in
her amethyst silk with its elaborate
with her coils OF hair caught
with golden spear, her dainty pink Kid
gloves buttoned halfway to her elbow;
she saw "Fan" in her light blue satin
dress, with n tilmy white lace oyerskirt,
aud a sash halt-yard wide, fringed with
heavy silver. and then, she halt-wished
she had remembered the white slippers
and gloves,
Only, she knew Mr.. Conway would not
care-he had told her he so admired ma
ture's unadorning, and assured her, in
his low thrilling tones, that it was so re-
to find woman untrammeled
by fashions ridiculous harness-Mr.
Conway, nay "Neap" her heart called
him, would be so surprised and de-
lighted.
SO she watched them dance, her own
feet tingling to the sweet, soaring music
Of the flutes and the low shrill of the bas-
,OOns.
She almost forgot her brown hands,
her uncomfortable coitfure, her black
came, by the voices Just outside the
.4
sHave you seen her? she created quite
a sensation, tell you, among the sery-
ants. Rather pretty though, after ALL"
81 don't admire the rural style of arch
itecture myself-wonder what Conway
will say when he sees .herH
Amy felt her ears burn hotly. Did they
mean her, did they? Then, NeaPs own
voice sent the blood leaping along every
vein.
"Whats that you evidently expect
Conway to say? That Miss Maury is
the belle of the evening, OF that Fan
Kelshaw has settled poor Mordaunt tor-
ever"
His magnetic, well-in toned voice was
SO sweet to the girl.as she listened, per-
force.
..Neither Miss Maury or Miss Ker-
shaw happened to be under discussion.
Your delightful little country flame is
here, in all her glory. Haven't you seen
her?"
"The deuce she isl! What evil genius
can have possessed her, the ignorant lit
tie fool!"
Amy suddenly shivered like lily
struck by keen blast.
"Come now, Con, that's rough ON the
little girl, after you've been flirting all
summer with ber. Go i'll and find her.
Pve fancy I'd like to see those eyes
of hers light up"
''Do you take me for an idiot? Pd
sooner face cannon's mouth than es-
cort Amy Lewis through that room. If
women will be fools, and believe every
word that man says, why, let 'em.
Come on, fellows. there's German FORM
ing, and Pm, promised TO la belle
Belle.'"
Poor little Amy it was her first con.
tact with the rough side OF the world,
and the experience was terrible at first.
She tottered up from her chair-hair,
hands, feet forgotten now i'll the one
agonizing desire to get out of the house
where she had received her blow; to fly
away to the peaceful, restlul shelter OF
the home roof, where, on her bed, in the
little room under the caves, with the in
nocent stars strengthening and -pllying
her, she could beg help from a higher
source to conquer the anguish Of her Bit
ter experience.
The Ladies' Cooked Hat.
Believers in the intellectual equality OF
Al. xIal r,<,, 81,