The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-08-30
In his True Colors.

LnlDS Iual L cnenceO 10 happen In to-
day, of all days in the year
Miss Medlar, in a suit of dyed sllk,
with muff and boa of portentous size,
and cotton gloves, stood IN the middle
of the room, and beamed smilingly on
her two cousins The two cousins
sat aghas., with their bright brown
hair in curled papers, and their slim
figures enshrouded in huge aprons of
brown holland. Yet Kate and Dora
North did not belong to the class of
fortunate young ladies who, when they
give entertain ments, have but to Issue
orders to confectiouer. decorate, and
wine merchant. With them a party
meant considerable exertion Of their
own, much beating of eggs and sliceing
of lemon, and frosting of cakes. Dora
herself had been to the foweris.'s and
perchased the yards and yards of
smilax and running fern which Kate,
purched on the highest round of the
stepladder, was now engaged in
wreathing around the chandelier.
Dora bad taken down the brown crash
daneing-cloth which covered the roses
and lille of modest Brussels Carpet,
and the girls themselves, with the assis-
tance of the maid d-of.all-work, had car
ried the heavy furniture into thu back
kitchen, to make room for the disciple
of Terpsichore.
Mrs. North was laboriously turning
the handle ot the ice-cream freezer in
tue cellar. and little Billy was cleaning
ha - ha
midst o. it all, whe should make her az
pearance, with carpet bag, a blue cot
ton umbrella and two band boxes, but
old Miss. Medlar,
How dye do. girls?' said old Miss.
Medlar. untying her bonnet strings,
and proceeding to draw off the objec:-
ional gloves. Don't let me put you
out =
we are very glad to see you, cousin
Melissa, said Kate feebly.
oh. know that. said Miss Medlar
But don't you think added Kate,
you could be more comforta BILE at uncle
Elias for day or two, until all this
confusion is over?'
'Oh, dear, no = briskly answered Miss
Medlar. i like party of all things;
and amt too old to stand up in a
Virginia Reel. myself. Fortunately l
put my salt-colored pongee gown into
the bag, and AM artificial rose or two.
I'll just 60 down into the kitchen, and
take q cup of tea with your mother, so
as to freshen myself up a little, and
then I'll have bit of nap It's so
lucky that didn't wait until the day
after tomorrow, as Ebenzer wanted me
to
Kate and Dora North looked blankly
at each other. as old Miss Medlar's pre-
posterous- trimmed bonnet disappeared
down the basement stairway.
oh, Dora! gasped the elder and
prettier of the two, what shall we do
With Mrs. McAlpine coming. and Miss
es Kimberly
And Mr.. Fitz Alan = groaned Dora.
with uplilted hands.
And all our stylish acquaintancss!
Look here, Dora, couldn't we put an
opiate in her tea. so that she'll sleep
over until tomorrow morning p
In our best bedroom like the Sleep
ing Beauty laughed Dora, in the
midst of her vexation. No, no, Kate,
that would never do She's here and
we must make the hest of her, salt-col-
ored pongee and all.
If it wasn't for Mortimer Fitz Alan'
sighed Kate. The idea of his knowing
that we have cousin who kept a
mechanics borading- house in Albany
for forty years For she'll be sure to
tell of it-she always does !
Look here. dear. said Dora care>sing-
ly, It's dreadfully mortiying, to-be-sure;
but don't you think that there's sort
of Miss Medlar In all families? And
if Mortimer Fitz Alan really cares for
y0u-
oh. Dora
And / think he does, Katie, with
soft kiss on her sisters crimsoned cheek.
He will not love you the less if you
had forty vulgar old cousins, instead of
one.
But she'll be telling every one of
Zephaniah Bolder, up in Rensselaer,
County. who wants to marry me
What if she does, Kate 1t will be
only for one night: and. after all, she is
an old lady, and she was good to mann
ma when mamma was girl. There's
no help for 1t. kate-we've just got TO
endure 1t as best we may; and now
twist the rest of that smilax, or we shall
be to late 10 see about the decorations
of the charlotte russes for the supper
table.
And it was nearly dark before the
two girls found leisure TO pause in their
sll-engrosing Avocations, and say to one
another how pretty it all looked.
So one of your girls is to bc married,
Phebe: said Miss Medlar, whc was peel
ing oranges after fancy device for
the big glass bowls at either end of the
table, while Mrs. North, faded; soft
eyed little widow. of forty odd, prepar-
ed notices and white grapes TO pile
upon the great central epergRs.
IL isn't quite settled. said Mrs. North
meekly; but
oh, / know. interrupted Miss
Medlar. That's what people always
saw. Is it Catherine or Theodore:
1t is Kate, reluctantly admitted the
mother
Dear me, what . pity said Miss
Medlar. if she only could be coutented
to marry Zephaniah Bolder. who owned
that froit farm up in Rensselaer, County