The Worthington advance., 1879-01-09

II want you to look very nicely at my
party tonight. Fred Fitch is coming"
II am glad of that" answered Anne,
with charming frankness; Il think Mr..
Fitch is really the only gentleman whom
ever admired"
There was nothing that this girl of
many gifts imagined she could not win,
ana she thought the conquest of ag'n
tleman's heart a very easy matter indeed.
Besides, she had found in Mr.. Fred Fitch
ner ideal lover, and he was quite the PER.
son to fascinate much wiser aud more
experienced Girl than Anne.
His dark eyes could look unutterable
love, the touch Of his white hand was mes.
meric, and every accent Of Lis voice was
thrilling as caress. Miss Anne De
Velin fondly believed that she had found
favor in his sight, and she determined to
sacrifice ambition for lcve, as the most
heroic thing she could do, considering
how persistently blind her new friends
seemed to be of her genius.
She had known Mr.. Fitch some months
when Mrs. Crowley gave another party to
which he was invited.
'Dear Fred will certainly propose to.
night" she thought, as she made her tot
let for the event.
The dress she chose for the evening
was the most expensive she had ever
worn, and would have been a charming
affair if worn by one of an opposite style
of beauty. Miss De Velin was highly
pleased with hsr appearance as she went
down to the parlor and ensconced herself
snugly in q curtained niche where she
could watch the guests unseen until Mr.
Fred Fitch should arrive.
Presently he came, and leaning on his
arm was lovely woman, They stopped
by the window where Annie was sitting,
so close that she could have touched the
dazzling jewels that the lady wore.
Il wonder where Mrs. Crow)y's little
rustic is tonight" observed Mr. Fitch
"Have you met he,, Maud9 No2 Well
she is curiosity. You ought really tc
see her and to hear her talk. It is better
than comedy. She thinks herself 4
genius, you know-fancics she sings like
an angel and paints like prodigy"
rs she really talented, Fred2" inquired
the lady, with polite indifference.
'Talented2" he laughed; "she is one o1
the most ordinary girls every Met il
my life but her system and self-concei
are stunning"
II suppose you found her tiresome, did
you not9" observed the lady. carelessly.
"Unplcasantly So" he returned, more
seriously, ''But of course one has tt
treat her nicely, although no doubt she
mistakes ones courtesies for the partia
attentions of most infatuated admirer
Really, Maud, have fancied at time:
that she believed that loved her"
II hope you have not trifled with her
Fred2" said the lady.
II assure you I have not" answered he
very gallantly; II could not do that, es
pecially as am promised 10 your fail
self, sweet ma belle Maud"
They moved away presently, and the1
poor Anne slipped unobserved out Of the
grand parlors.
She sobbed little when she at length
reached her own room. Her last ILLUSION
was gone, but lad left her much wise,
and much less hurt than might be sup
posed. She was only eighteen, be it re-
membcred; and, after all, her faEcie
!
those of many others who, unfortunate ly
for lack of this sort of salutary lesson
have remained fools to the end OF thei
lives. And she was, quite certainly, no
too much Of an idiot to know how fool
ish she had been, nor to feel womanly
rescntful desire to confuse the elegaD
and vain Mr.. Fred Fitch with some prctt,
and seemingly ingenious sally OF strategic
wit. She thought of noble, manly Jo
Sanders, and smiled contentedly as
bright plan suddenly took shape ant
form in her giddy, egotistiarl brain, s.
rudeiy stung to defensive action. Sh
sprang to her feet, and hurriedly fun:
aside the golden, tinted silk, the crimson
carnations, and the set ofrubies borrowe,
from her indulscnt Aunt Crowly-all o
which fnery had become to her, in he
abruptly-awakened sense Of taste and dis
cernment, correctly and odiously unbe
coming and inccugruous. Then, still
smiling with strage and new feeling o
satisfaction, she put on a plain. prett
dress of white cashmere, arranged an ex
qulsite affair of soft black lace about he
neck and shoulders, fastened pale pinl
rose in her fine dark hair, and so wen
again down to the elegant and crowae'
parlors.
"Auntie, please do introduce me to tina
charming young lady wh,m Mr.. Fitch i
entertaining" she solicited, slipping t
the side of her relative at moment time
! ly chosen.
"Certaulg, my dear child" complies
Mrs. Crowly, st the same time fav0rin
her niece with a glance of sincere bu
surprised admiration. "Really, Ann,
she whispered, "you are looking remarks
bly, we'll this evening. What fairy helpe
you to dress with such exquisite simplici
ty"
The compliment was very gratifying
Annie, but she had no time to RESPOND
for Mr. Fred Fitch and his stylish be
rothed were very near. And the gallan
young gentleman was somehow very a.
tentive to Annie during the hour that fol
lowed. lie thought her very pretty an
graceful in her simple dress, and he bt
gan vaguely to wonder if she were reall
quite as much Ct country simpleton &
he had supposed her to be, albeit her ne,
mood, that was charmingly n1iuc an
shyly coquettisb, puzzled and piqued him
II protest, Mr.. Fitch" said Anne, wit
an arch and saucy smile, when his sol
t1attery became somewhat profused, e
must not listen to such nonsense
}. "Why must you not2' be asked tende,
ly.
"Becausc," she returned, demurel,
"the dear fellow who is t, be nv husban
would certainly object, if he knew
''Ah, indeed,' observed Mr.. Fred Fitcl
dropping the little brown hand; an
Anne smiled and mentally blessed tn
woman wit that had helped her to non
plus him who had ridicu!cd her.
She went home the next day, qui.
convinced that she preferred the rusti
life she had once thought SO prosy an,
inferior. Joe Sanders, the sensible an,
faithful, met her at the station.
"Has my little girl come back to b