Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-01-10
an 0rigiual Storg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
MARIPOSA:
OR,
THE HEART OF A BALLET GIRL.
CHAPTER III.

lodging.house, in one of the newly.settled
towns springing up throughout the Western
portion of our continent, woman and q
child were one day seated together. The
woman was coarselooking, and bore the
marks of dissipation ard reckless living in her
face, which had probably been handsome in
her earlier days. erdress was curious mix
ture of poverty and finery, being threadbare
and scanty, yet adorned with faded trim
mings and tinsels, while mock-gold bracelets
encircled her wrists, and large hoops of the
same material hung in her ears. She was
sewing, awkwardly enough, piece of gay
colored braid on worsted frock, apparently,
from its proportions, designed for the child
before mentioned, who was watching the op-
Grafton with great interest.
No greater outward contrast could posi-
bly have existed, than that which was dis
cernible between this child and her surround
inps. On her fair, delicately-hued face, and
in her whole nien and bearing, was the unmls-
taxable imprint of native refinement; strange
" at variance with her coarse dress, which,
like that of her companion, was both poor
and gaudy; and at variance, also, with her
speech, which, though uttered in the most
musical of accents, was sadly deficient in
grammar and pronunciation.
"Oh! amt that awful jolly?' she exclaim.
ed, claspiug her small hands, in an outburst
of enthusiastic admiration, as the woman,
having completed her task, held up and
shook out the garment with satisfied and
relieved air. "Say, nanny amt goin' to
put it on now right away?"
mo, Posy, not yit," was the answer, with a
shake of the head "You might spile it in
some way, and then 'twouldn't look nice
enough for your visit Git your hat now, and
let me stick them flowers in. You'll be real
smart when I've done 6xin' you up; won't
your
"Won't I? I guess so" answered Posy,
with gleeful laugh. Skipping to a closet,
she took from thence sort of turban, of ma
roon-colored velvet, much the worse for wear,
with some dilapidated cock's-feathers sticking
in one side of it. These the woman plucked
out and threw aside, and proceeded to replace
them with bunch of artificial flowers, cheap,
but quite new, which promisedto have a very
gorgeous effect, indeed.
"Say, Posy, where's that ERE pink gauze
veil of mine? I guess I might twist that
round here, some sort O way-the velvet is
wore out at the edge. I amt much of mil
timer, but kin manage it if sry.-see'
don't you think that would look nice 7"
Posy stood on tiptoe, with her head on one
side, and her hands behind her back, survey
ing the turban with critical and not wholly
satisfied expression The contrast of the ma
room velvet and scarlet flowers with the pink
gauze, struck, even her uncultivated taste, as
painfully inharmonious and unlovely.
mo, nanny" she said, slowly, after some
deliberation. II don't b'lieve like that ere
pink stuff, much. 1t looks nicer without"
think so2" The woman removed the
gauze, replaced it, twisted the head.dress
around; examining it first in this light, then
in that. 1t was evidently momentous affair,
this arranging Of Posy's costume. 1t was
difficult for her to arrive at decision but
Posy. on being appealed to again, adhered to
her original verdict, and the veil was again
laid aside.
"The hats yourn, and III fix it any way
you like" said the woman in regretful tone; !;
"but 1 like the gause nightly. Hows'ever,
it saves me my veil, so I shouldn't COM
plain. Now, does that suit your Amt the
flowers pretty2" she continued, holding the
final result of her labors up to view.
"The flowers are Splendid rejoined Posy,
with restored satisfaction. Now, nanny,
mayn't dress? 1 won't sple my things,
not bit. 1t must be most time to 60"
"Well, go ahead" replied the other; "but
FIRST must comb out your hair, it's got all in
a muss. Twon't take me long to fix up."
Posy brought comb and brush, and stood
still while her long hair, glossy and fine as
silk, and curling in rich profusion over her
white shoulders, was arranged by the rough
but nimble hands, evidently well-accustomed
to the task. 1t was with manifest pride
and admiration that the woman discharged
her Office of femme de-chambrs; and when
the beautiful hair was in order, and the child,
arrayed in coarse tinery which she so highly
prized stood ready and eager to set out, the
hearty kiss she imprinted upon her smiling
lips was no less token of genuine affection,
than of appreciation of the winning lowell
ness which could not have failed to attract
the notice of even casual observer, in spite
of the dis6gurng garb it wore.
Smoothing her own abundant black hair
at cracked looking-glass, and. assuming
shawl and bonnet of as tasteful description
as poor Posys habilmeuts, the woman de-
clared herself in readiness to 60. and taking
the child by the hand, the two descended the
rickety stairs together, and made their exit
through the front door into the street. A
short walk brought them to the entrance Of a
second or third class hotel, at the private
door of which the woman rang the bell, and
asked the servant, who opened it, if Mr.. La
combe was in. On receiving an affirmative
answer, she handed in soled card bearing
her name, requesting that it might be shown
him and after waiting a considerable time,
was presently informed that she could now
enter, as Mr.. Lacombe was ready to see her.
Posy, with a very serious and important
face, followed, on tip-toe, up the carpeted
stairs, into an apartment, which, though Or
dinary enough in its appointments, was far