The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-07-27


very uflpleasant.
Lord Pelham's well-bred courtesy
placed Lizzie at her ease, and, much to
her own surprise, she found herself
chatting to him all about her home,
her scarcely discarded school-dsys and
this very ball.
81 suppose, said Lord Pelham, "you
we're very much excited about your first
ball ? / remember when my sisters
came out what fuss there was 1t is
good many years ago (by Jove, they
wouldn't thank me for saying that
thought, and every one thought they'd
take the town by storm. You can't
guess, Miss Norton" he said, warming
to his subject-"you can't guess how
pretty they looked. 1 can see them
now, dear girls How proud was of
them both really don't know which
was the prettier," he added, refectively.
Lizzie sighed.
"Why !" continued Lord Pelham, as if
once started in his recollections he
found it difficult to stop, 81 remem-
bel almost quarreling with my cousin
because Lily would dance the first waltz
with him ! How absurd it seems p
care they married?' asked Lizzie,
timidly.
married! Well-no," said Lord Pei
ham, refectively, 'and, come to think
of it, it's odd too, that they haven't mar
ried, such pretty girls as they were."
''I thought" said Lizzie, impulsively,
"that pretty girls always married-at
least--I-"
"You-whatP' P' asked Lord Pelham,
rather amused at her aroused tone; then
as she sbrank back into her shyness he
continued, laughing
"Well 1 thought too, once, that pretty
girls always married-but they don't,
you see Why, half the old maids were
pretty girls once
81 wish 1 was pretty girlp' said
Lizzie, in sudden burst of confidence,
but so naively that no one could have
suspected any desire for unmeaning
compliment.
Her simplicity amused Lord Pelham
vastly. He glanced at her little un-
conscious face and after seconds hesi
tation asked, in manner that put her
quite at ease:
"Would you mind telling me why
Are pretty girls such enviable things %
81 think they are," said Lizzie; 'Im
SO tired of being told how plain I am,
every one seems to think can help it;
and can't you know"
"No !" said Lord Pelham. 81 sup
pose not, you weren't consulted about it,
were you? Well, never mind, Miss
Morton, I'll tell you something to COM
fort you. I've got plain sister, and I
love her better than both the others put
together" and he looked so kindly at
her, even with little amused smile on
his lips, that Lizzie's reserve melted
quite away.
els she married ?" she asked, in hope
full tone.
married Yes, indeed, married the
very first season she came out, and such
plain little body you did never see 2"
Chow did she manage it ?" asked Liz
zie in tone of amazement.
Lord Pelham fairly laughed-he
couldn't help it. This girl, this plain
little girl, amused him vastly.
"Oh," he. said, at last, 81 suppose
somebody was wise enough to know
that beauty is only skin.deep, and my
sister jamie had ali angels SOUL"
Lizzie sighed again; then, with a re-
newed outburst of confidence, she said !:
81 don't think beauty is only skin
deep. / think it's heart-deep. [ would
give all L have to be pretty"
And as she spoke, such wistful,
child-like look grew in her face that her
companion was touched.
'T wouldn't think about it if I were
you" he said, after pause. "Try and
put it out of your head. There are
plenty of things beside beauty you can
have. Don't you sing, or play 2"
81 sing q little" said Lizzie. "But
please don't tell any one. am so
afraid Lady Wells will ask me-"
"I won't betray you," said Lord Pei
ham, more and more amused.
! This naive little girl was something
new in his world. There was some
thing about her, too, which reminded
him of his favorite sister. He felt that
| jamie would have liked her.
! He took her back to her mother, feel
ing very much as if she were little
child confded to his care.
"Poor little girl" he was thinking to
! himself. "Is she so very plain ?"
He had really scarcely noticed her,
had asked her simply out of "compas-
sion for her loneliness" with no interest
in her personally whatever. She had
amused him, though. He smiled again
as he recalled her naivette.
After an interval his thoughts re-
Cured to her.
"By Jove p he thought, "Pll take
her for some refreshment."
And very much to her amazement,
and her mothers surprise, she was es-
corted on his lordship's arm to the re-
freshment-room.
All her shyness was gone, as far as
Lord Pelham was concerned. She chat
ted away freely, not for moment imag-
ining in her simple little heart that
he was critically considering whether
she really was so very plain.
81 suppose she is, was his mental re-
| Anntina- l.I e111ornnea ehA ia-and vet