The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-08-13
SLIGHTLY ELEVATED.

knew it was he the first instant
glanced at him, as he stepped into the
elevator, and then, seeing a lady, took
off his hat and stood there with it in his
hand, while others filed in and seated
themselves. l wondered if he had seen
me. hoped to heaven he had not. 1t
was not very bright in the place, and l
cast down my eyes with a truly ostrich
like sagacity, forgetting could be seen
if | did not see; forgetting, too, the mir
rors lining the box if one happened to
look in them. However, at the second
floor he left, and l went on, thankful l
had not been obliged to make the stir of
moving out before he did.
l would not have gone down to dinner
that day if could have helped it, l said
to myself-not although mamma had
asked the Coverings to dine, and my
new garnet velvet had just come home.
But mamma would have made such a
song of it that one thing would be just
as bad as the other.
l was hardly inside my room when l
locked the door, and fell on the bed SO
faint that | should have died if at last |
had not been able to cry-a good long
refreshing cry that lasted till 1 grew so
angry with myself it dried my tears. And
then Amy came to the door, but l told
her she must 60 along into mammals
room; she couldn't come in there. And
she went away declaring it was fine
time of day, and other things of the sort,
till ! bethought me it acGs fine time of
day if tainted away, and cried myself
ill, and locked my sister out OF her
room, all because had happened to
meet Loring Richards in the elevator
five years after our boy and girl engage.
ment was broken.
l call it boy and girl engagement
but it had been life of my life, and it had
almost torn my heart out in coming tc
an end. And what had he cared-tht
great, dark, handsome creature, stand
ing there without line upon his face
that told of any trouble it had been t.
him, who had left me to suffer all haC
had to suffer alone? Not go down to din
nerP | would go if l went up in. a chart
. OF of fire directly afterward. [ sprans
up and bathed my face, and powdered
it till it was cool, and unlocked the doc
and called Amy, and sat bent over .
novel, and thoroughly absorbed in it
my hair streaming round my face ant
shoulders, till she was dressed, having
to hurry q little for some caller in gu
parlor. Then blew off my powder
took hot bath, called Davis, and hat
her brush my hair till it tingled, and pu
on the garnet velvet with its cream,
duchesse lace and the yellow pearls
everybody dresses so at that hotel
only came near breaking down when
Davis not being able to find Jewel
wanted, tumbled over the things nv
self, and little old miniature that no
body knew l had kept tumbled from it
hiding-place, and showed me for half al
instant that proud, grave face. But
recovered presently, and looked in tn,
glass, and defied him to tell that caret
a straw, even if he saw me in that vas
caravansary of the splendid hotel dining
room, with its chandeliers, its mirrors
its frescoes, and its throngs. And any
body would have been justified in maxim
such remarks as were convenient con
corning my vanity who could have know
the second thought that flashed throug
me as looked in that glass, and say
the olive oval with its rich flush, tn
dark and glowing eye, the dewy lip, tn
clear soft outlines. If thought it wa
picture Loring Richards or anothe
might be glad to see, how could l hel
the thought
The Coverings were waiting when
went into the parlor, mamma and Amy
who had become used to my caprice
five years, talking as if they were nc
half worried to death for fear was nj
going to dine at all-mamma's soul b,
ing deeply concerned in doing the Lov
erings honor; for she meant that Mar
should marry the doctor, if obliged I
give up hope of my accepting Mr.. 10,
ering's bonds and stocks with himsel
Poor mamma had come to make a fetic
to herself of bonds and stocks. And
was condescension, in manner, fC
them to dine with us, anyway, at hot
the aristocrats of the Avenue in gem
raj despising the cuisine and the herd
the vulgar who get their two or thrC
days yearly splendor at an inn, On