The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-07-09
IN AN ELEVATOR.
Where My Romance Commen

Where My Romance Commenced.
"Mrs. James Alsop at home on Thurs
days of December from 2 TO p. N.
Hotel Kelleran, West Roylstan street.
1t was the last Thursday of December,
and quite little throng of fashionable
people had assembled at the Hotel Kel-
leran in response TO this card. The
preceding Thursdays had been wet and
stormy; this was a model winters day,
crisping with frost and sparkling with
sun. Carriages drew up before the door
in long double rows; a mob waited on
the sidewalk TO watch the ladies going in; F.;
the elevator was on the wing continually,
bearing gorgeous danes aloft to the third
story. 1t was busy afternoon for the
porter and the elevator boy; but as that
functionary, a youth of some fourteen
summers, remarked TO his confederates,
Weddings is weddings, and it amt
every day we has a bride in the house,
specially such n sumner rs this one.
CORY amt she a beauty neither I'd
like to be a-takin of her up all day"
Estella Blodgett had always been called
a beauty. Why, was not so easy TO
say; for, as she herself once candidly
remarked, "When you come TO look at
me, I'm not so very pretty-in fact, no
prettier than other people" This was
quite true. Beauty often consists in a
certain nameless charm; brightness, tact
and sweetness combined; and these Es-
teIa had. For the rest there were dark
hair and eyes, clear, brilliant skin, a
dimple, white, slender hand ; but, as /
said, she was no prettier than American
girls are apt to be, only people persisted
in thinking her so. She wore those un-
merited laurels gracefully; success did
not spoil her; her list of friends num-
bered as many women as men, which is
test TO the qualities of a beauty. But
never, people agreed, had Estella Blod-
gett been sweeter than was Estella Alsop
that afternoon, as she ghded about her
pretty new rooms, greeting and making
every one feel at home.
:" How happy she looks :" observed
Mrs. Dalrymple.
"Well, who wouldn't be happy, with
the loveliest French trosseau that ever
was, and such nice husband as hers 2"
asked Constance Ferris.
Two or three people laughed at the
unconscious warmth of Constance's tone.
'For my part" put in Alice Ordway,
81 never could quite see that James
Alsop was SO charming. He shuts me
right up; don't get on with him at all.
Estella used to feel SO, too, and i never
understood how she came TO like him at
last. "
"Ah, you never tried him on an ele-
vator," said Mrs. Dalrymple, looking
funny.
"fn an elevator! What do you
mean !"
"Oh, thereby hangs tale"
"Who is that lady in gray that Just
came in 2" inquired Constance. See,
Estella is speaking to her now."
"How pleased Mrs. Alsop looks.
Estella was looking more than pleased.
She had kissed the lady in gray twice,
and now stood holding her hands, speak
ing rapidly.
"You brought your bag, Ernest ?
You are going to stay I've set my
heart on having you christen our spare
room"
Z" Yes, the bag is outside. Never mind
il now, or me. We shall have time for
all that by-and-by, and you have your
ether friends to see TO.
"They are beginning to go. II is
almost 8. Run into my bedroom, Ern-
est-the one near this-and take off
your bonnet.
1.-THE elevator do tell me what you
mean by that" persisted Alice Ordway,
OBTAINING Mrs. Dalrymple.
"Come round for tea tomorrow, and
you shall have the full history" prom
ised that lady. 4" 1t is too late for story
telling now. mustgo."
The last guest departed, and Estella
ran back into the drawing-room.
Now, Ernest, dear old Ernest, / have
you to myself at last. Come and get
settled, and make believe you have lived