Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-28

little woman, party unfolding the veil
that hides her dimpled chin and rosy
mouth, that she may speak with great
er effect. How can you wish that there
was great stupid young man instead
of that dear, sweet girl? for she is a
dear, sweet girl, though you, can't for
the life of me see why-nelther can
Fred-choose to be angry with her."
"I didn't wish for 3 great stupid
young man in her place." explains
Harold, with short laugh. "That he
would necessarily have been great and
stupid only feminine logic can prove;
it's beyond me. But If ALBERT had
came first and Alberta, by some other
name, second, she wouldn't have been
angonly child, as she is now, petted and
tndulged in every whim and fancy,
until she imagines herself queen and
all the world her slaves"
"You said q princess few mo-
ments ago." says Cora, demurely.
"And perhaps she wouldn't be smil-
ing on that grinning idiot, Dan Van
Rensselaer-they say she's gong to
marry him, his fortune equalling her
own, and his great-great- great grand
father having been one of the very first
Dutchmen that landed on these shores
and turning away from the fellow
she has known from her infancy, and
who has-Whoa, Ned, keep still Why
in the deuce don't she and her train
make their sppearance?"
They don't make their appearance,
and Cora begins to talk again.
"Harold you wrong Alberta; indeed
you do. 1t is you that are foolishly
proud, not she When she went abroad
she left us rich; when she came back,
she found us poor; and yet she had
only been home two days when she
thought us out. And how did you re-
ceive her? In the coolest manner;
and then raved and swore when she
was gone-you needn't contradict me;
! distinctly remember two very wicked
words you said-because she didn't
rush into your arms and kiss you at
meeting, as she did at parting three
years before. Can't you understand,
you horrid, splendid old boy, that what
is just allowable in a girl of fifteen
would be highly improper in a young
lady of eighteen? And you've only
called upon her once since her return
once in six long months; and pray
what did your lordshlp do on that oc-
casion? Scowled and growled and
snapped at Louis Vance in such q
| ferOcious manner that he told my
Fred-poor Fred! what q pity they're
taking count of stock to-night!-he
actually thought" with little chuckle,
"yOu were losing your senses. And
what's more, Mr.. Harold Brown land
the dimpled chin is thrust forward de-
family think, and so does Fred,
that it's your duty to apologize for the
way you behaved that evening. And
I don't believe she's engaged to Dan
Van Rensselaer, at all. That was only
q rumor that foated over here from
Paris, and [ see no reason why you
should accept it for the blessed truth
any more than you do the thousand
and one idle reports that are always
floating about. And, Harold, if you
really love her, whyadon't you tell her
SO? Fred told me the moment he
found out. But there! I sha'n't talk
any more; it's no use.'
cit is not" declar es Harold, with
emphasis; "for unless, by some I'M
forseen turn in the wheel of fortune,
she become as poor as myself, and l
don't believe the wheel contem plates
any such turn, I shall never speak of
love to Miss Alberta Lee"
Crude, obstinate, wretched boy :"
scolds the little sister; 81 wash my
hands of you. If you insist upon be-
ing unhappy, be so. Not another
word do you hear from me tonight,
for my breath is all frozen on my veil,
making it stiff and uncomfortable, and
I've reason to think, notwithstanding
my promise to the contrary, my big
brother, I'm going to sneeze."
"My darling" cried the big brother,
fumbling in his gre at coat pockets,
GIVE another sky, or moon, or cloud,
or whatever you call it, here-bought
it as came along for fear"
"Har," interrupts Cora solemnly, eff
you wrap another thing about me,
even if it be the finest gossamer, 1
shall cease to breathe;" and she twines
the veil she had unfolded about the
lower part of her face again, and re-
lapses into silence.
"Here she is-and time, I think, !"
| says Harold, his blue eyes flashing
with no less pleasant light, as laugh
ing party ran down the steps of the
Lee mansion and crowded into the
empty sleigh. And, thunder and
Mars that Internal Dan Van Rensse-
laer is at her side. G'lang, Ned !" saw
agely. And away they all start, laugh
ing, singing, and shouting as only
young people sleigh-riding on fine
moonlight night, can laugh and sing
and shout.
An hours ride, and then stop of an
hour or two at an old-fashioned country
hotelEwould there were more Of
them for a dance (the sole music for
which was furnished by a very old vio-
lin, played by still older darkey, who,
the dance ended, proceeded to display
his musical skill with much rolling of
the eyes and stamping of the right foot,
by performing a composition of his
own, the theme being the "Queen Bees
Visit to the Garden of Roses" and the
most noticeable point in which was a
hum-um-um," commenced pianis-
simo, crescendo to fortissimo, and then
diminuendo until the Queen Bee flew