Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-07

anu pldCtiCdl cStluldUc WulCu WAS 6fluenbly DuU
on friendships offerings. A dim distrust was
rising in my mind about my own present.
Would it not also be classed with the useless
things?
Couldn't you give me some idea. Miss Fair
game, OF what could do with ten pounds? /
don't care Tor trumpery garnets, for l know
one can get them cheap enough
Really II can't advise. Only don't send
for coral" said emphatically, as our hostess
moved, and we rose from table. But what were
my sensations when, as paused on my way to
heard hurried whispering In the passage be-
hind me: "Oh, do you really think so? How
lucky you haven't spent Uncle Johns ten
pounds!" and Flora's answer: Eyes, I'm sure of
Il. She told me not to send for coral. / wonder
II shall get 1t this evening. l am dying to see
It. But perhaps she hasn't had time to unpack
fed on to the drawing room before it could
pe discovered that had overheard them. Here,
alaS! was my mistake number one. But would
not any well-bred person have done the same?
BeSldeS was too confounded to consider what
l was about.
Now what had l said or done to lead Flora to
imagfne-what right had she to imagine-that
l meant to bestow on her anything so expen-
sive as coral, or jewelry OF any description?
cannot remember what happened during the
FIRST ten minutes after making this horrible
discovery. l found myself at last sitting
staring at photograph book which some
body had brought me, and wildly trying to
recall what had passed at dinner. 1t flashed
on me, that had been spoken of as rich {"
and that ] had not repealed the insinua-
ton. My heart sunk as remembered every tri-
fling little boast had made about the places
had gone to. the sights had seen. shrank
like detected thief when some of the girls came
ABOUT me, admir1ng my lace, studying my few
ornaments felt as If my value was being cal
culated, my goods appraised: L glanced fear
fully in Flora's intelligent face, expecting to
read in 1t her knowledge that actually had In
my possession the very coral she coveted. For
SO it was was taking it to friend who had
commissioned me to bring it for her. and whom
was by-and- by going to visit l had meant to
show 1t to Flora that she might judge OF the
value of coral. But could do so now?
For the rest OF the evening was really mis-
cradle. know how silly it may appear to say
so, but must tell the truth. l hate to dfsap-
point people, and can't bear to seem shabby.
There are women-I am becoming almost in
clined to envy them-who are not troubled by
such sensitive ScrupleS; women who will go into
shop, turn over everything. and buy nothing;
women who will pay off their obligations to
servants and railway guards with bland word
and brazen-faced smile; women who even
pride themselves on getting through the world
at anybody's cost but their own. OF such Becky
SharpS am not yet one. confess my weak
ness, and seek not to palliate 1t.
The evening passed on. To cover the dis
comfort which had seized me, tried to talk
The wedding now was the subject to which
everything else converged.
Tomorrow" said my hostess, ''you must see
all Flora's presents. Dear chld!-our friends
ly things, and, with few exceptions all very
useful OF course there are the usual dupli-
Gates. Some people seem to have no ideas be-
yond these everlasting writing table SETS and
hideous ormolu candleSticks; and there are
few bits OF trumpery, which one must make the
best OF, you know" she added, laughing. But
good show on Thursday. That, you know, is
quite one of the features of a wedding nova
days. and indeed don't know what we should
do without it sometimes. Such relief to the
dullneSS and gene which used to prevail. Now
there are the wedding presents to look at and
tax about-and by-the-bye, that reminds me,
Mary" do the second daughteD, 1--WE must write
those cards tomorrow. Cards. Ito me- with
the names OF the donors are put on the presents
SO every one knows what everybody else has
given. The difficulty is to arrange them so that
everything is properly seen, 1t wouldn't do at
all II people were to go about saying, 4 see
nothing from the So-and-sos," or Il wonder
what the Somebodes have given"
80 that Is the fashion now" said l. family
trying to smile: Its so long since happe ned
to be at wedding"
.oh, then, assure you, you'll find great
THAT depends aunt" laughed bridemaid
cousin who was staying in the house. "At the
last wedding was at-you remember, Flora,
maids-what business we hadi You know the
Macfinns, don't you, Miss Fairgame? Yes I'm
sure I've heard them speak OF YOU"
NO doubt she had. A guilty blush rose to my
cheeks in spite of my real consciousness of In.
nocence. knew the Mactinns very well. When
Oclav1a, the youngest one, was married, about
couple OF years ego, gave her very nice we'd
ding present. But was abroad at the time OF
Jullas marriage; and OF course, as the Mactinns
had no actual claims on me, l remember being
very glad TO be. as l thought, out OF the way.
well you know, when Octava Macfinn mar
I1ed she got lovely presents. She made such
good match, and people thought, | suppose,
mat as she was the youngest, there was no
chance OF the other seven going off. But to the
horror of everybody Julia, the eldest one mar
RED the very next year. Flora and were her
bridesmaids. IL was very poor affair OF we'd
ding. she married the clergyman, you know
Il rhA Vol
YOU should nave seen the shabby turnout OF
presents we had to show of. / was quite
ashamed. Knitted scarfs and sofa blankets as
II 1t had been charity baZar; and booGs-ilt |
suppose people thought, for clergymanS wife;
and rubbishy scent bottles, and paper weights;
and there was even one OF those useless little
wooden BOOKCASES those ugly carved things
you know, that one picks up quite cheap, and
table now"
VIII any sympathizing person try to imagine
my feelings at this crisis? The talk went on,
but followed 1t not. AS it buzzed in and out
OF my ears; the words .,trumpery," shabby"
ABS absurd not worth giving" seemed alone to
We went to bed at last. My hostess and her
daug hters escorted Inc to my room. Il hope
"Oh, most comfortable" was my mechanical
reply, as l seemed to look round on the luxuri-
ouSly appointed chamber, while my eyes FAST
ened only on the something, loosely covered
with its brown wrappngs, which was placed
Tor safety on the top of the drawers.
as there anything you WANT" said Flora.
earnestly, perceiying, no doubt, the hidden
anguish in my tore.
"Oh, nothing, am sure" l stopped Short
Was not this the moment to seize for hurting at
her my unfortunate present, and at once de-
stroytng her illusion about my Intentions? |
might have seized it, for / was desperate: but
at this very Juncture my tll-Starred maid
who was busy over one OF my boxes, CHANGED
TO take from 1t the very case OF coral which /
was afraid OF FloraS catching sight OF. In my
alarm | hastily thrust myself In front of 1t to
conceal 1t; and while thus stood guard over iU.
not daring TO move, they babe me good-nt
Yet, as they did so, was it only my terrified
fancy which made me see in each face bent to
KISS me Woltish look of curiosity to find out
what my maid was doing With the box behind
me? was there covert smile lurking round
FloraS mouth? was there tone OF still ten
qerer interest In her mothers voice as she
begged me 10 rirs for anything | wanted?
l can not tell. 1 will not let my pre-
JUDGES hurry me too far. But 1 know that
had little sleep that night as l lay ponder
ing over my situation. l went down to break
fast next morning my perpleXitieS still unsolved
But knew that to-day Something must be done
Ny tribute must be paid in some shape and
alas | already knew The only form in which it
was likely TO be acceptable. AS l entered the
breakfast parlor, an ominOuS silence different
from the friendly cheerfulneSS OF the night
before, seemed to prevail; and half shrank back
as remembered that the banditti awaiting me-
/ beg their pardon, but must give faithful
description OF my feelingS-might expect me TO
appear provided with the ransom they had set