The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-07-23
so VERY PLAIN.

III she only were not so very PLAIN,
sighed Mrs. Morton, as she discussed
her daughters future with her friend.
"a plain girl nowadays has no chance
at all"
And poor Lizzie Morton had learned
to consider her want of beauty almost in
the light of a misdemeanOr.
GA woman has no right to be ugly"
her father would say; and her mother
would glance at her own reflection III the
glass and murmur:
every odd that Lizzie takes after
neither her father nor me. !"
SO it is very easy to imagine that Liz
zie had looked forward to her first ball
with mingled feelings.
:" 1t is very little matter after all,
what you wear, my dear her mother
had said "WIth your complexion any
thing will suit equally we'll
And yet, when Lizzie was dressed and
came down the broad staircase in her
white dress, with its trimmings of carna-
tons, and her crimson cape over her
shoulders, she was by no meaus alto
gether unlovely.
Her eyes had soft, mild expression,
and the little hesitancy and shyness
made her lower the heayly-fringed lids
which many beauty might have envied.
These heavy eyelids had been a trouble
to her all her life. Her brothers mad
ridiculed her for her sleepy look, and she
had been accustomed to near sharp con-
trasts drawn between her mothers wide
open, large gray eyes and her own heavy
look.
So she followed her father in much
trepidatiOn to the carriage, and her heart
beat high as, after their short drive, they
reached Brandon Hall, with its blaze OF
light and waiting servants and general
appearance of festivlty.
Mr. and Mrs. Brandon were cordially
greeted by their friend, Sir Harry Wells:
and, being among the earliest arrivals,
and upon a footing of the closest in
timacy, Lizzie was claimed by the
younger members of the family and car
ried off to see the decorations III the
supper room.
She had time to recover some self
possession before the guests filled the
ballroom and dancing began.
Sir Harry's second son came up and
claimed her for the first waltz-he could
scarcely do less-but, that ordeal over.
she was left to sit quietly by her mothers
side.
She had been sitting still for long
time, when suddenly her ear caught
few words something about taking
compassion and she was startled
moment after at hearing a few rapid words
of introduction and finding a gentleman
standing beside her, soliciting the
pleasure of dance.
Poor little girl how shy she is"
Ii L - H.
gave a faint response and rose from her
seat. Well, one must do good-na-
tured thing once in while.
The good natured thing did not prove
very unpleasant.
Lord Pelham's well-bred courtesy
placed Lizzie at her ease, and, much TO
her own surprise, she found herself chat
ting to him all about her home, her
scarcely discarded school days, and this
very ball.
Il suppose, said Lord Pelham, "you
we're very much excited about your first
ball? / remember when my sisters
anne out what fuss there was! 1t is a
good many years ago, (by JOye, 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 Morton, he said, warming
to his subject you can't guess how
pretty they looked. | can see them
now, dear girls How proud / was of
them both! / really don't know which
was the prettiest, he added re1ectiyely.
Lizzie sighed.
Why I" continued Lord Pelham, as
ii once started on his recollectlons he
found it difficult to stop, {" | remember
almost qusrreling with my cousin be-
cause Lily would dance the first waltz
with him! How absurd it seems =
Are they married." asked Lizzie,
timidly.
Married Well-no,' said Lord Pei
ham. retlectivelv, land, come to think
OF it. its odd too, that they haven't mar
red. such pretty girls as they were"
II thought. said Lizzie, impulsively,
that pretty girls always married-at
''You-what ?" asked Lord Pelham,
rather amused at she aroused tone; then
rs she shrauk back into her shyness he
continued, laughing:
"Well Thought too, once, that pretty
girls always married-but they don't you
seel Why, half the old maids were pretty
girls once =
II wish l was a pretty girl - sait
Lizzie, III a sudden burst of confidence
but so naively that no one could have
suspected any desire for unmeanine
compliment.
Her simplicity amused Lord Pelham
vastly. He glanced at her little uncon
scious face and after second S hesitation
asked. in a manner that put her quite a
ease:
"Would YOU mind telling me why
Are pretty girls such enviable things !?
8 think they are, said Lizzie; TN
so tired of being told how plain | am
every one seems to think | can help IT
aud l can't, You know.
MOI said Lord Pelham. q sup
pose not, YOU weren't consulted about il
were you? Well, never mind, Miss Nor
ton, I'll tell You something to comfor