Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1880-12-30

IN
| Jokes banded among the family Concerning
his visits. Whether he did or did not sus.
pect something 0f this, he was singularly
impartial in his Attentions to Kate and my.
self. We both liked him. We could not be
Jealous Of each other; yet think each would
nave felt greatful sense Of relief had he
been more marked or positive in his atten.
tiOns to either.
John Goodwin entered heartily into all
our plans for the holiday festivities, and
especially thiscrOwning effort, the ball at the
Governors mansion New Years Eve. He
had attended great many similar balls and
SO could give good many hints.
Fen days before New Years Nelly Fem
wick came to visit us and spend theholidays,
ball.
Father was absent good deal, and that
made John GoOdwin's constant visits all the
more desirable. He was our escort to near
ly every place we went, and 1t came about so
quietly and naturally that we scarcely
thought Of going even to church without
him.
He was to be our escort to the ball, until
young Burnett, who had become desperately
smitten with Nelly, insisted upon taking her,
Then twas managed that Kate should go
with them and John Goodwin should fall to
=
agreeable to him, and begged him to take
Kate and let me 20 with Nelly. When I had
said this to him few nights before, was
surprised but not displeased at what fol-
lowed.
" Do you prefer to go with them rather
than with meP he asked, with one of his
grave, sober looks.
No, but | thought you would be better
pleased to have it sO"
- 9 | am best pleased to have you to myself;
so don't alter the present arrangements. 4"
That Of course settled it.; but, although l
was pleased that he should declare his pre-
ference for my company, there was no
ground for feeling it was more than the
courtesy any gentleman may show lady.
All through the holidays we were busy
making, altering, planning, devising new
adornments for this, our first, ball There
was dressmaker in the house all the time,
and our own fingers had not been idle. It
had pFOveda serious matter to our young
and inexperienced heads.
The last day of the old year had come, and
the finishing touches had been given to our
ball dresses. Another serious matter was
the hair dressing. The oOifture has so much
to do with ones general appearance that it
is no trifle to choose just that style most be-
coming to the Wearer, and yet accord prop
erly with the dress and its o0mcomitants.
Older heads than ours have pondered long
over 1t and then gone wrong. Experiment
is the surest way.
Nellie and Kate had dressed my hair in
what they conceived to be the most becom-
Ing way; then the new ball dress was put
On to try the effect. They were criticising
and suggesting changes when father came
n. He stopped at the door moment and
us. We expected to hear a good |
latured laugh at our serious vanity.
"Bless me, little girl ~ he said, catching |
ne suddenly in his arms and kissing me,
I never saw you look like that before; and |
-and-I don't know whether / ought to |
augh or cry"
There were tears in his eyes, actually-the |
lear cid father. Then he had all our arms |
round his neck, until be broke loose from
is, Laughing.
Sarah, our house girl, had come to the
loor for something, and stood there, keenly
Watching this unusual performance When
ather was ON his feet, he took out two small
ackages, and tossing them into Kate's lap
nd mine, said:
Little girls, your Christmas didn't come
his year until New Years; but here it is at
lst."
Each package was a roll of bills, which
rOved to be ten bank-notes Of five hundred
Olars EACH
1t was so unexpected, and so much, too,
nat the arms went around his neck again.
"Well, Sarah" said he, at last, Fthe girls
re so much carried away with the ball, and
oW their Christmas, that they never think
you. What is itW
Sarah was duly attended to and sent her
'ay. She had scarcely left the room before
le bell rang, and Mr.. Goodwin cRlled.
here was mOmentary panic among us, for
iris do not, In general, expect or desire
lch calls in the midst of preparations like
lrs; but father laughed, and said he would
D down and tell him to please excuse the
lung ladies, for they must have one dress
,hearsal for the bali. !
OF course, that would not do at all, and he !
as shown up, to join in the laugh against
He came in, looking his gravest.
e What singular-lO looking girl" he said,
his Sarah is; with hefblue goggles Where
RPS face strangely familiar, and yet can't
ace her." '
"She came to us in the country first; but =
e did not wear goggles then. She is neat
ID capable, but very queer sometimes" l
severed. 7
Then / opened the closet door to 90 to the +
fe with our presents. Vanity perhaps
Ompted me to stop and show them to Mr.. i
)odwin.
g ButXou are not going to keep such a /
'ge sum as thaJ-ten thousand dollars O
re in the house, are yOup .
6 Yes, - said father. 'When Fan carries n
9 key to the safe, it is all right"
mo, Mr., Livingstone, it is all wrong. 1t c
too great risk, Only an hour ago re-
wed dispatch from Jacksonville, asking
, to come there to identify some burglars a
lom / had once sent to State prison. 7
,Afee, the leader of the gang, and whose d
fe tried to kill me once, is said to be hid ST
/ here In this city. That was my business Il
re-, Miss Fanny, to tell you this, and ask 81
1 to wait an hour later for me to get back
m Jacksonville tonight. May ask?" d
Certainly, why notp
think would have given up the ball il n
had asked me to do so, much as / hoped
enjoy it, el
Thanks; then I must leave you and run "
my train GOod-by till 10 O'Clock, then" ell
FGood-by. OF
md he hurried away. We watched him,
ming half the time, as he went rapidly nj
Vn the street. HI
You had better go to the bank with his
ney, father" said Kate, seriously. la
Nonsense; why, who is going to rob this ia
lse with so many of us always present? ar
IN, who knows but ourselves If there is VI
lar in the houseW m
While this conversation was going on l hi
J In the closet, putting the money In the W,
}. As | came out it certainly seemed
it was only presentiment-there must Gt
jome person besides myself in the closet. &c
III that feeling turned back and looked
a moment at everything in it, but there
nothing unusual. fu