Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-10-06
Taking Her Down.

beautiful, sat conversing in cOmfOrta
bic sitting-room in q mansion at tn,
West End. The hanasomer of the two
Maude Pierson, wore travelling dres,
of brown merino, and was evidently rest
ing after journey.
In spite of certsin llnguor born o
fatigue, and her unbecoming dress, thu
girl was undeniably beauty, of gor
geous brunette type. Her companion
passing pretty, was of the same darl
tint, but smaller in figure, and far from
possessing Maude's great beauty.
"Tell me about everybody" Maude
said. ~ am fairly hungry for gossip
after,vegetating nearly two years in that
abominable place with my aunt. She
has left me an ample fortune, however,
so the time was not altogether thrown
away"
dead p cried her companion. "You
are not in mourning, anl-why, Maude,
you said you were going to Lady Rails
tons this evening""
$50 l am. Aunt Maria has been dead
six months, and requested me not to
wear black and to return to town in No
vember. But, Cora, tell me the news.
Who has been the belle of our set since
I left?"
"You conceited girl !" laughed her
friend.
"Bah ! What is the use of duplicity {?
For, between ourselves, I should be an
idiot if 1 did not know was handsome.
How is Lord Frederick Seymour
Z" One question at time, though /
can answer these two together. The belle
has been the object of Lord Frederick
Seymour's special devotion since she
made her debut last month. Mrs.
Hursey introduced her. She is niece,
L believe. of old Mrs. Mortimer, who
died three years ago and left her all her
money"
"But who is shop"
"Her name is Northumberland
Worthington.
"Esther Worthington ?" cried Maude,
sharply. "What is she like p
"Tall, slender, very fair, with delicate
features, and Enthusiastically beauty, who
sings exquisitely; and, having been on
the continent with Mrs. Mortimer, speaks
two or three modern languages with
fuency."
How old ?"
"About your age, judge--twenty.
four or five."
Maude broke into harsh laugh.
Mrs, Mortimers niece |" she cried.
"Well. that is rich! And so young
Lord Frederick Seymour is in love with
her p
"He is certainly very devoted. Every
body thinks it will be match"
"a match p cried Maude, in another
burst OF mocking merrimcnt. "Lord
Frederick Seymour and Esther Worth
ington Well, we'll I tell you." she
said, with a touch of sarcasm in her
tones, " it will not be match will
take her down"
"What do you mean ?"
"Will this belle be at Lady Ralstons
this EVENING""
Probably. But do tell me, Maude,
what you know about her ?"
II know enough to cool Lord Fred
erick Seymour's ardor," said Maude;
"and he shall learn the truth. To
think of that girls daring to move in
our set !"
"Well, as to that" Cora replied,
being handsome, accomplished, re-
fined, and heiress to double your for
tune, Maude, cannot see where the
audacity comes in, especially as Mrs.
Hursey has her for guest, and we all
know how particular she is. The Sey.
mours themselves are not prouder than
the Hurseys."
"You wait until the evening! sup.
pose the girl thinks nobody here knows
her. I'll humble her! She won't attend
any more fashionable parties after I've
told my storyl"
"But what is your story,?"
"You'n hear tonight"
"Tell me now," Cora said, coaxingly.
"No. Let me lie down awhile and
rest, or I shall look like a ghost this
evening""
A very brilliant ghost it would have
been to resemble Mauae Pierson, as she
entered Lady Ralston's saloon a few
hours later An evening dress of garnet
velvet, cut to display the beautifully
rounded shoulders and arms, and
trimmed with rich black lace, ornaments
of diamonds, and a cluster of white
flowers in the ietty braids of hair, all
heightened her queenly beauty.
Looking across the crowded room, she
recognized her rival in tall, slender
girl, who wore white lace over peach
colored satin, and ornaments of fretted