The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-05-24

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"Mercy on us! where did you get
that? Put it on-how handsome it is !''
''Isn't it lovely2" l answered, not OBJ
serving at first her singular manner.
"What shall you wear tonight ?"
"I-oh! shall not CO."
"Not go and pray, why not?"
81 haven't a thing but that old blue
silk, and II you think / am going to be
eclipsed by you, you're Mistaken
From my childhood I had always been
accustomed to defer my wishes to those
OF Gabrielle, so l answered promptly:
"lndeed you shall not-you shall wear
this."
"But what will be say?"
81 don't care,"y / said reddening. 81
will wear my black silk it is much more
suitable"
Perhaps it was, but it was not half as
agreeable, especially when Arthur, who
manifested no consciousness of the
change, devoted himself entirely to Ga.
brielle, whom had never seen looking
so beautiful.
All my old moroseness returned upon
me. i snapped at every one; 1 was SO
cross that, on looking in the glass,
found I was perfectly ugly. Then l grew
ashamed OF myself to think that l had
not magnanimity to sacrifice myself
cheerfu!ly since ! had chosen to do so at
all made a. great effort and went over
to entertein Miss Mumps who was sitting
neglected in the corner.
The poor woman was so grateful for
my attention that felt happy in spite of
myself, and when Arthur, who had been
watching me closely, came at last and
asked me to promenade, I accepted with
a beaming face.
"The black silk did do duty after all,
he said looking at my dress
eyes, your philosophy was so con-
vincing," I replied, blushing in spite Of
myself.
"You are a good, generous GIRL" he
replied with some emotion. "You have
fought the good f ght manfully, and you
have gained it,"
Now, with these words ringing in my
ears, was happy for the coming week.
Then came message for me from the
old home.
8"My aunts wished to see me on i'm
portant business"
In some trepidation 1 arrayed myself
in the black silk and went up. They
were all in the grand drawing-room.
Aunt Clementiha in the brocade; Aunt
waving to and fro hugh fam.
lily fan, ,only produced On state occasions;
Gabrielle by the window looking con-
scious; Arthur, the only one not en-
who received me with warm
pressure of the hand and the look that /
had seen once before.
"Niece, be seated" said my aunt
Clementina with dignity. "Now, Sera.
phina"
.sWe have sent for you,D said my aunt
With her most frigid air, "because on oc.
casions like this it has been the custom
from time immemorial to assemble all
the members of our family and submit
TO them such proposal as was made
10 me this morning. l allude to a prop
osition made by your cousin, Arthur
Jocelyn, for the hand Of
She paused; my heart beat so rapidly
that l thought he would hear it.
"One of my nieces," continued my
aunt, switch he was not pleased to spec
ify, thinking. doubtless, that would at
once understand As an unmarried wo-
man do not think it would be consist
ent with delicacy to pretend to any abili-
ty to recognize the symptoms Of what is
called the tender passions. Neverthe-
less, 1 have my own ideas. But as there
are two of you, judged it NO more than
right to send for you both, that this
doubt may be satisfactorily settled. MIR.
Jocelyn, will you be kind enough to in
form me to which Of my two nieces you
refer ?"
Arthur was crimson with establishment
and modification.
l burst into loud laugh.
"Aunt hadn't you better ask US pri-
vately, first, il either OF US will have
him p
Quick as thought he had me by the
hand.
"You little audaclous elf! l shall take
you for fear If left to yourself you will
do something yet and disgrace US all
marry a tailor, perhaps"
Nv amt had sat motionless from snr-
prise, being fully persuaded that he loved
Gabrielle. Aunt Seraphina recovered
first.
"Niece, congratulate you, and trust
that Mr.. Jocelyn will be able to accom-
plish what our poor endeavors have
failed to do, make you worthy of the
name.
My husband assures me that he has
been trying to fulfill Aunt Sersphina's
request for the last twelve years.