Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-01-11

O., THURSDAY
closing the door after him as he moved away.
Mechanically she advanced, glancing around
her new domain. The room she stood in was
elegantly fitted up as boudoir, furnished in
blue und silver. A Persian carpet covered
the floor; sofas and ottomans, of the most
inviting description, we're scattered about /;
polished statuettes cleaned from the corners,
and superb flowers, tastefully arranged in
costly vases ofSevres china, filled the air with
their perfume. Beyond this was sort Of
anteroom, hung with pictures, and contain.
ing piano and harp and two sets Of shelves
filed with books also a quaint-looking cabi-
net of ebony, with glass doors, revealing sun
dry curiosities within. From this, side
door opened into another narrow passage or
hall, crossing which, she entered spacious
chamber, almost as richly furnished as the
boudoir, and containing every appliance Of
luxury and comfort. Here, the drapery was
pale rose color instead of blue, casting a soft,
delicate tint over the whole apartment, and
curtains of fine lace shaded four large win
dows, looking West and South, upon the most
picturesque portion of the grounds. As she
parted one of these lace hangings, to gaze out
upon the view thus presented to her, slow
step approached, and turning, she saw dig
niied looking person advancing from the
dressng.room, who saluted her with q formal
reverence.
"If you please, I am your ladyships maid"
she announced in solemn tones. "Shall as-
sist you to remove your travelling dress,
now?"
"Yes, I will lie down for little while, for
am very tired" replied Geraldine "What
is your mamie p she added. as she followed her
new attendant into the dressing room.
my name is Meredith, you please, nay
lady"
"What an automaton," thought Geraldine,
as she watched her prim 6gure and stiffmove'
ments. However, the woman's face was hon.
est though almost stern in its gravity, and
she hoped that in time she might find some
thing of companion and humble friend in
her, desideratum in this splendid but lonely
home, where she foresaw that she would be
thrown chiefly upon her own resources for
amusement.
She was glad to stretch herselfupon couch
in the dressng-room and seek brief.rest of
body and mind, though the latter was not so
easily attained. In the mean time her femme
de chan,bre moved about with noiseless steps,
unpacking her trunks and disposing of her
wardrobe as she thought fit, in the various
receptacles destined for its accommodation.
By and by the dressing bell rang, and she
started up. Meredith was ready to attend
her, having selected dress of delicate blue
for her dinner ~ear-just what she herself
would have chosen, as the most becoming one
she owned, and not too fine for the occasion.
"Have you any special wish in regard to
your hair, my lady7" asked the maid, as she
drew q low chair in front of the elegant mir.
ror that surmounted The dressing table. Il
can arrange it in any style you fancy"
81 think 1 shall leave it to your taste for
the evening"" replied her mistress, curious to
ascertain if her taste in hair-dressing would
equal that which had guided her selection of
apparel She was not disappointed in the
result. Soon Mrs. Meredith's deft fingers, af:
ter brushing out the long silken tresses ofpale
gold, over which they fingered with gentle
and almost caressiDg touch, had woven a
structure of braids, heavy and lustrous, in
simple yet most stylish form, about her we'll
shaped head. And she was fain to confess to
herself, as she contemplated the effect, that
she had never seen her image so pleasingly
reflected before. Quietly and without parade,
as she had accomplished this, the maid pro,
ceeded to her other duties. She was evidently
au tait in her profession, and Geraldine felt
perfectly safe in her hands.
"Shall you wear these, my lady, or these I"
she asked, laying down two sets Of jewelry-
one turquoise, the other pearl-open before.
her when she had finished dressing.
"Neither, I think" replied Geraldine.
There is no company expected, is there :"
Mot that I know of, my lady,"
"Tben just get me flower instead"
1t was not for Meredith to dispute her mis-
tress' TASTE In fact, she rather approved of
it, than otherwise. Silently she replaced the
jewels in their respective cases, and then going
into the boudoir, selected from one of the
Sevres jars, two half.blown roses, one crimson
and one white, and cluster Of geranium
leaves. These she wove artistically together
and fastened at the side of Geraldine's luxu.
RANT braids, allowing the rich crimson bios
som just to show against the white curve OF
her throat. Nothing could be more success
ful than the effect, and Geraldine almost Won
dered, as she took last look in the mirror,
whether the Earl would think she looked we'll;
but then, she reflected, with a sigh, as she
turned away, what mattered it if be did
Even at her best, she never could be pretty
enough to satisfy his fastidious taste.
Punctually, as the second bell rang, Lord
Desborough knocked at his wife's door, and
offered her his arm to conduct her to the
dining.room.
81 hope you found your attendance salts.
factory?" be remarked, interrogatively, as