Middletown transcript., 1878-03-30


she futtered away like some snow
white bird.
The next morning small triangu
lar casket Of amethyst velvet lay be
side Maude's plate at the breakfas
table. She took it up with an inquir
ing look at her father.
"Your birthday, my child" he said
simply.
She opened the casket with a lov
exclamation of delight as her eye fel
on the white CLEAN of magnifcen
pearl necklace.
"Oh, papa! how splendid this is
Don't they look like drops of frozer
moonlight? And 1 have always Sc
longed for pearls?' y
Mrs. Harrington looked eomplacent
ly on.
"They will be the very thing tc
wear tonight with your white silk
dress"
"My white silk dress!" Maude
paused abruptly, while deep crimson
flush stole over her fair forehead. She
rose and crept softly around to her
fathers side.
Papa, am very much obliged to
you-but-but | had rather not take
the pearls"
Not take them, Maude?"
"No, papa-you remember my res
olution
"Maude!" exclaimed Aunt Eloise,
you will never be so absurd as to re-
fuse that pearl necklace that a Royal
Princess might be proud to wear, just
because Of a whim -
ct is not a whim, Aunt Eloise."
And no amount of coaxing OF ban
tering could induce Maude Bryant to
take the pearls.
"Give me a bud from the conserva-
tory, papa, or bit of a book, such as
l used to have when was a wee thing,
and I'll value it for your sake as long
as live; but I can't take the pearls"
So the merchant with a curious
moisture in his eyes gave her kiss
and told her that would have to do.
And the weeks and months passed
on and Maude, surrounded by temp
tations on every side, thought Of Char
ley May, and resisted them all.
"Maude," said the old man, sudden
ly, one day, "when did you last hear
from young May?"
"Last hear from him, papa? Never
since the day he went away
"Do you mean to tell me that you
do not correspond with him?"
NO, papa you told me not to, and
! have obeyed you"
"And has he never written ?"
"Never, sir"
"Then most probably he has forgot
ten you
"No, papa know he has not for
gotten me"
"You're a curious girl, Maude,"
said her father, carressingly stroking
down the bright black curls. "Never
mind, pet-when your year of calico
is over I'll give you a present that
shall please you passing we'll
Il don't want any present, papa"
said Maude, wistfully looking up into
his face. ooh, papa, there is only one
thing in the world that I do want"
"And that you know very well you
can't have" said the merchant, sturdi-
ly. And SO the colloquy terminated.
"Oh, Aunt Eloise, what magnif-
cent silk real gold color, isn't it p'
"Yes, think it is rather handsome"
said Mrs. Harrington complacently.
Il ordered it imported myself. See
it shines like sheet of gold in the
gaslight.'
s.THThe Y lie is is It It fer fter2o
"You, to be sure, child-for Oriana
Sykes wedding reception
Maude shook her head demurely
"Why, Maude, what will you wear?
You must have a new silk
Maude caught her fathers eyef fixed
earnestly upon her. In an instant her
resolution was taken.
"I shall wear calico, Aunt Eloise."
"Calico! To Mrs. Sykes wedding
reception r.
"Why not, aunt?"
"You dare not thus defy society"
"Dare not?"
That was all Maude said. The year
of ordeal was up that night, and she
had stood bravely to her colSrs.
Mr.. Bryant did not often attend
parties, but he went to Mrs. Sykes
that evening without his daughters
knowledge, and stood leaning against
door casing, watching the brilliant
devotees Of fashion as they entered in
glittering, perfumed throngs watch
ing them with an anxious eye.
Would Maude waver now? Was
her will no stronger than that Of five
hundred other women?
Presently she came, as lOvely as
ever, the throng parting on either side,
as she advanced up the room at the
side Of her pertly, vexed-looking aunt
Harrington. What was the murmur