The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1881-08-04

though reared. he never compliment
ed me. though be had once taken my
hand and looked at me in 3 way that
made my heart hutter with pleasure.
It vas when he was urging me to attend
, party at the 'squirs's.
',Ay black silk viii look well 10 such
an assembly" said, at last shortly.
He gave me an odd looE.
'.ls itpOssible that hear 50 frivolous
/ an objection from so sensible q young
woman as Miss JOcelyu2 Cousin, cons
In, il you ever hope to regain my for
feited esteem, you must wear the black
silk tO-night!''
lie went aW ay, leaving me- not little
Vexedi but an hour afser came q box.
directed to Miss Helen JoceIyn, which,
being opened, was found to be an even
ing dress, Of some white, mist-iks ma
teFial, that was marVelOuslY becoming.
50Od Mrs. Forbes was ia ecstasy.
u always said you was beauty, Miss
Helen, Miss Gabrielle amt circum-
stance to'yOu, with your dark eyes, now
you hold your head up. And its all so
plain; nobody can find fault. Who
could have sent it? 1t fits you ike =
glove. -
knew well who sent it, though there
came no name with it. Ny heart was
in quite 3 glow when Gabrielle entered.
She looked biankly at the box, and
then at my little bed, almost covered
with the snowy, floating drapery.
Mercy on rs! where did you get
that? Put it On-how handsome it is n
Z 'Isn't it lovely?'' I answered, not OBJ
serving at first her singular manner.
'What shall you wear tO-night?'
'I-Oh! shall not 60"
''Not 90! and pray, why nOt?'
II haven't a thing but that old. blue
silk, and If you think I'm going to be
eclipsed by you. you're mistaken"
From my childhood / had always
been accustomed to defer my wishes TO
those Of Gabrielle, so 1 answered
promptly:
Indeed, you shall nOt-you shall
wear this"
'But what viii be ssy?''
81 don't care, y. ] said, reddening. u
will wear my black silk; il 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 Ca
brielle, whom I had never seen looking
30 beautiful.
All my old mOrOseness returned upon
me. I snapped at every one; I was so
cross that, on looking in the glass, ]
found I was perfectly ugly. Then
grew ashamed OF myself to think that
had not magnanimity to sacrifice myself
cheerfully, since I bad chosen to do so |
at sll. Imade 9 great effort, and went /
over to entertain Miss Mumps, who was
sitting neglected In the corner.
The poor woman was 80 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, 1 accept |
cd with q beaming face.
''Fhe black silk did do duty, after
all, he said, looking at my dress.
''Yss, your philosophy was 50 con-
Yincing, p" I replied, blushing in spite Of
myself
i.HoR ara 8 good. generous girl. ~ he 4
replied, with some emotion. ''YOu have
fought the good fight manfully, and you
have gained it."
Now, with those words ringing in my /
ears, was happy for the coming week. |
Then came q message for me from the
old home.
'sMy aunts wished to see me on inn
pOrtant businessF'
In some trepidation aFrayed myself 4
in the black silk and went up. They /
were all in the grand drawing-room. /
Aunt Clementina in the Drocade; Aunt 1
Seraphina waving to and fro q huge
family fan, only produced on state Oe-t
casions; Gabrielle by the window, look /
ing conscious; Arthur, the only one not
embarrassed, who received me with a
warm pressure Of the hand and the look /
that had seen once before.
Niece, be seated" said my aunt
Clementina, With dignity. ''NOW, Ser
aphina.n
1--WE have sent for y0u," said my
aunt, with her most frigid air, because
on occasions like this it has been the 4
custom from time immemorial to assem-
BE all the members Of our family and
submit to them such proposal as was
made to me this morning. allude to
q proposition made by your cousin, Ar
thur JOcelyn, for the hand of
She paused. My heart beat so rapid
" that 1 thought ne would hear It.
Zone Of my nieces," continued my |
aunt, (which be was not pleased to
specify, thinking, doubtless, that I
would at once understand. As an un-
married woman, do not think it would .
be consistent with delicaey to pretend /
to any ability 70 recognize the symp- /
toms Of what is called the tender pas
sions. Nevertheless, l have my own
ideas. But as there are two Of you I
Judged il no more than right to send
for you both, that this doubt may be
satisfactorily settled. Mr.. JOeelyn, will
yOn be kind enough to inform me
which Of my two nieces you prefer?'
Arthur was crimson with sstOnish-
ment and modification.
/ burst into 3 loud laugh.
''Aunt, hadn't YOU better ask US pri-
vately, first, if either Of US win have
him?''
Quick as thought, he had me by the
hand.
''YOu little audaCiOus elf shall .
take you for fear if left to yourself you
VIII do something yet and disgrace us
a tailor perhaps.
Nv aunt had sat mOtiOnless from .
surprise, being fully persuaded that he
loved Gabrielle. Aunt Ssraphina recoY-
cred first.
Niece, 1 congratulate you, and trust
that Mr.. JOcelyn viii be able to accom-
plish what our poor endeSTOrs have
failed to do, make you worthy Of the
name"
Ny husband assures me that he has
been trying to fulfill Aunt Seraphina's 4
request for the last twelve wears
One Of Artsmus Wards Victories
Z do ~ ,sevy, an, I,1rs m hovn avnTs rnnn D