Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-06-27

= Time glided smoothly along until the 18th
Of December, when the annual subscription
: bail OF Tarnford, the neighbOIing market
town. was to take place. This event, taken
alone, was not very remarkable occurrence,
but this particular ball was to have especial
dlstingu gushing feature. Il was to be graced
BY the presence OF Miss Tabithai TuIstaH,
who was going, s1e said, to take care Of
Mildred Neil Mildred Neil was delighted,
only feeling a little anxiety in addition as 70
her chapeTon's apparel Miss Tabitha's or
dinary gsrb was dress Of brown holland in
summer, and linsey-Woolsey in winter, the
skirt made Of convenient length TO z clear
the ground" according to Miss Tsbitha's
own report It did clear the grOund, Il Ike
wise cleared the tops Of her boots, when that
lady walked alter her energetic fashion.
Out of doors she invariably carried In one
hand q stout umbrella, which served many
useful purposes, notably TO prod up Eeedsas
she peramb uiated her domains, to give force
to her remarks, and to thrust away her pet
animals when they became tO0 demon
stratiVe in their affection. Her gray hair WIS
still abundant; but it was her custom TO
wear q lace cap, which always inclined with
shameful favor TO one ear or the aother;7 =
high linen. collar bueklered her thEoat ee-,
meath which q colOred ribbon was knotted,
and the probabilities were that the tie she
had worn the previous day was hanging idly
down her back; so that In time quite a.
s. bunch Of rfbbon'-not " blue, but OF al
the eolOrs OF the rsinboW-Would be In sus-
pension there. II ,s re
When Mildred Nell first came to the,manor
she made an attempt to reetify sotne OF these
harmless little peculiarities. "Aunt Tabithsn
under Miss Tabitha's orders she hae soealled
her from the beginning" Aunt Tabitha, your
cap is all on one side, let me put It right.h
Mildred would say, leaning over in affection
"No, my dear, thank you; must have
given Il a knock; bysanl-by It will get one on
the other side, md then It win be straight"
"AHnt Tabitha, the tie you wore yesterday
Is stIll fastened 70 your collar. win take. It
"No, nay dear, thank you; it viii come in
handy for tomorrow" - 5----t
Now It was impossible to conieeture what
lady with such Independent views might con-
slider to be appropriate ball-goins costume.
When the subject was first bFesehedJ Mildred
had Inquired point blank Of what her attire
for the occasion was 60 consist, but Miss Ia
bttha had declined te-s satisfy her curiosity,
Therefore, although no Weaker-minded than
the bulk OF mankind, it was not without
certain feeling Of trepidatiOn that Hef6ert ana
Mildred awaited her appearance upon the tIns
p0rtant night Both ready earlys they. shsa
been some time in the ball when as length
Miss Tabitha's brisk step was heard descend,
ing the stairs. -'-2 y
"0hl you dear beautyI" exclaimed MlidrSd.
running forward to the loot Of the staircase to
meet her-and her ecstasy was not uEJHstifed,
for Miss Tabitha was magnificent In rleh1bro-
cade and priceless old point lace, while cap
and feathers crowned her head with mathe.
maticsl precision, at least that Wss its proud
position for the present; the length Of time
that 1t would be retained was question for
the future to solve. - e
Miss Tabittz as pleased IS snY girl st the
compliment stopped aud klssed Mildred's up
raised face. .-s y ,-is .s ~
"You are 3 picture; no one viii look at
me beside you" cried Mildred, surveying her
Gfresh. "BuT where arc your gloves, deaTlisl
"GlOves what do / want with glOveei I
am not gong into the cold to get my hands
chilled, or INTO the sun to scorch them y
q IL viii look curious said Mildred, with
Ettle mournfui shake OF the head, IS she lifted
the members in question with her own small
hands. /" Do put on q pair OF gloves h she
finished, p!eadingly.
" No, shall not; my hands are IS they we're
made" said Miss Tsbtha, with determination.
q No, aunt" said young Tunstall, laughing,
& eg are not. They are as you have made
them with q lot OF Weed-spudding and calf.
feeding, and Heaven knows what beside.n
" And II they show that they have done
little honest work. Mss Tabitha was begin
ming warmly, when Mildred's soft voice struck
In.
"They are beautiful hauds, for they are al
ways ready to serve and to help,p cried the
girl, and she stopped hastily, and, with
pretty, natural gesture OF reverence, prt ssed
her fresh young lips upon the stih old fingers,
which she yet held in hers. "They are use
ful, kind, true, lovely hands, and she shal go
with them as she likes" Mildred ended, and,
lOosing her clasp, she slapped back to her
former position beside the blazing hall fire.
"There, Iherei Run away TO Parker and
get me pair OF gloves, blue, green, red, vel
low, anything ysG Ike ~ exclaimed Miss
Tabitha- brushing q tear from her eyes. 81
0npIfFn making
feet fool OF me In my old age; shall not have
a Will ud my own soun.n
You neel net be alarmed-thst day Is not
very near" said her nephew with laugh.
The gloves brought and assumed, the car
rage was ordered round, IS the time was get
ting on to ten O'Clock, and they had drive OF
four miles before them.
"You will give me the next two dances,n
said Tunstall, possessing himself ct once OF
Mildredis card, upon their arrival st the As
sembly Rooms, and coolly writing down bis
name IN accordance,
"You may have the flFst but not the sec
ond, Miss Nell replied, in her turn taking
out her pencil and drawing 1t through one OF
hls autographs. l|ff
"Wel1, then, when may have snothern
Of the EVENING"
"The eighth, then," said he, with an air Of
resignation; 81 hope that Will satisfy yOu.h
"No, but there is the sixteenth, q waltz;
kou may put your name down lOr thAtI II you
uke.n
Their first dance over, the pair we're stand
ing beside Miss Tabitha, when she said sud
denly addressing Herbert; WHO is the
stranger With your friend, Miss CubiHoni He
Is & great deal better looking than you are,
Herbert, she added, with apparent inconse-
quence, but Mr.. Tunstall perceived the sig
nifeaDce Of the concluding remark.
81 do not see the Apollo, aunt; but why DO
you askln