The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-11-07
Old Heads and Young Hearts,
look nica Anntie o.

"DoI look nice, Auntie?"
The speaker WAS standing before a
full-length mirror, her pretty head
twisted to one side to survey multitude
nous Aounces of white tulle over pale blue
silk, constituting the elaborate evening
.lress covering her slender, graceful fig
ure. Clusters of blue flowers with
snowy leaves caught the dress at the
puffed overskirt, formed bouquet de
corsage, and were twisted in the profu-
sion Of golden curls.
"You look very nice, my dear"
Miss Della Merriman had taken long
survey of the exquisite face before she
spoke, and was satisfied with the appear.
ance or her young and lovely protege.
every nice" she repeated, "Hortense
has fitted you perfectly, and the dress is
most becoming. Now, if you will get
my jewel case, you shall wear my
pearls"
"Thanks /" cried Elsie, carefully lift
ing the heavy casket, and putting it on
table beside Miss Merriman. II am
20 sorry you have such cold! This will
be a splendid party, I know. All!
Auntie," she continued, opening small
box in the jewel case, 81 never saw
this!"
She held up as she spoke a slender
chain, from which depended gold lock-
ct, upon whose surface cleaned one
pearl of great beauty, pure and large.
"Oh, how lovely" Elsie cried, clasp
ing the chain around her slender throat.
"May I wear it?"
Miss Merrimau was moved, as the
locket was held up before her. Some
strong memory stirEed her usually placid
features, for the soft brown eyes grew
troubled, and her lips quivered.
Would you rather took it off, Elsie
asked, gently. ~.. -
Ono, dear, you may wear it. Put in
the solitaire pearl earrings. I hear the
carriage. Do not keep Mr.. Jameson
waiting"
81 wish you were going" Elsie said,
as Miss Merriman wrappeda warm opera
cloak over the delicate dress. 81 never
feel 40 happy if YOU are at home"
"Thank you, dear. Now run along.
So Elsie, already forgetting the locket
and the troubled face, kissed hers o-called
aunt warmly, and fitted away.
For Miss Della Merriman, who had
inherited thirty thousand pounds from a
second cousin, greatly to her own
amazement, was not Elsie Garman's s
aunt. Nineteen years before, she had
closed the eyes of the girls dead mother,
lifted tweek-old babe to her.own bosom,
and taken her home. Not to such lux.
uries. as now surrounded her-not to
ball dresses, pearls and gaiety-but to g
| small room in lodging house. Here
for twelve long years she had denied
herself every lnxury of life, many com
forts, to provide food for the child, te
clothe her comfortably, to send her tc
school. She was bat girl herself
scarcely twenty in those days-earnine
her bread by making artificial flowers
and working early and late to keep the
room tidy, cook the simple food and dt
the necessary sewing, when she was mo-
working at her trade.
But wh-n wealth came. suddenly anc
Unexpectedly, flooding Elsie's life witt
sunshine, Miss Della altered little from
her former self. True, she had leisure
time, ouldopenher kind handsin CHART,
where before she had cnly given hel
warm, tender sympathy, but as she hae
been il poverty qniet, gentle and evel
sad, so in prosperity the same calm
gravity rested upc. lip and brow, th'
same deep sadnec lurked in the sof
brown orbs.
Though but forty, her hair was some
what streaked with gray, and premature
age was the fruit Of toilful life and sor
rowful heart. Yet she was lovely still
and goodness ever beamed from her sad
After Elsie had left her she put aside
the jewel case and sat musing before th'