St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1878-11-30
will this belle be at Lady Rails

Il know enough 10 coui vi. ieu
erick Seymours ardor," said Maude, t
and ne shall learn the truth. 10 /
think of that girls daring to move S
i'll our set. |
..Well, as to that" replied Cora, {
being handsome, accomplished, re-
fined. and heiress to double your |
fortune, Maude, can not see where 4
the audacity comes in, especially as
Mrs. Hursey has her for a gnest, and
We all know how particular she Is.
The Seymours themselves are not
prouder than the Hurseys. /
"You wait until this evening. L
suppose the girl thinks nobody here /.
knows her. I'll humble her. She
won t attend any more fashlonaoie
parties after I've told my story.
But what is your story IL
you'll hear tonight"
F.! Tell me now, said Cora, coax
ingly.
mo. Let me lie down awhile
and rest, or shall look like a ghost
this evening". -
i A yery brilliant ghost it would
have been to resemble Maude Pier
son. as she entered Lady Ralston
saloon few hours later. An even
inc dress OF garnet velvet, cut to
display the beautifully rounded
shoulders and arms, and trimmed
with rich black lace, ornaments OF
Z diamonds, and cluster of white
i flowers in the jetty brihds OF HAIR
j. all heightened her queenly beauty
S Looking across the crowded room'
q she recognized her rival III tall
g slender girl, who wore white lace
over peach-colored satin, and ornia-
d ments of fretted gold. Mr.. Seymour
n was already in attendance, apparent
0 ly. for he WAS leading. this lady to
b the head of "a quadrille just forming
lie when Maude entered. The sight
IS stimulated anew all the hatred %
Esther Worthington that had beer
n. roused bv Cora's description.
: A cold-hearted calculating woman
D. devoted to dress, wealth and luxur.
!" selfish to her hearts core, carry
N ing the smile of a belle over bite
le envy of all more fortunate than her
TO self-Maude Pierson had never fel
II the touch of womanhood until he
ne heart opened to Frederick. Sey
mour. -
er An orphan. dependent npon a
aunt devoted to the trivohties Z
IL fashion. Maude's education ha
I been superficial, and an uLdue vaiu
NV had been given in her thoughts t
d. the advantages of birth, posltio
and fortune.
oh Miss Pierson was very proud
pr. the blue blood in her own veins, an
IF. Maude's success as belle was
he much a triumph to her aunt as
rs herself. IN :,
a When the ag illness set in tn
ii drove Miss Pi.rson to the secluslt
nd and Quiet of a country home, b
aunt had begun to hope that u
attentions of Fred" were more tina
!! those called for by the ordinary 7
Iuuirenents Of society.
led 1t had been a great blow to her
e?" be suddenly whiried out OF the yo
;tb tex of fashionable gaiety, to
bly buried alive in the little town whe
md much Of her childhood had, be
it'll passed, under her aslnt's care. b
rec she was far too polite to murm
loudly, and when her relative due
tas it was with the firm conviction tt
on all Maude's tender care and de,
tion we're dictated by the warm'
oh. affection. It was siugularly char
ex- ter1stic Of her that in her will $
md stipulated that Maude should !,
o,,y turn to the city six months after !
death. and wear no mourning.
tod one Of their last interviews She 81
iii" to her: Non viii soon be TWEEN
an two. Maude, and you, shall net bl
cnt tyourse.f here next winter. 1t ms
her ruin your prospects of . g
tell match. -. - -,
sor. And NIaude, secretly exulta
be a wept copionsiy as she assured
dear aunt that society would HI
no charms for her were she to