Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-06-17
so VERY PLAIN.

II onl y she were not so oerQ plain"
sished Mrs. Morton, as she discussed
ner daughters future with her friend.
a PLAIN girl nowadays has no chance at
And poor Lizzie Morton had learned
70 70 consider her want of beauty almost in
the light of a misdemeanor.
A woman has no right to be ugly"
hef father would say and her mother
would glance at her own reflection in
The glass and murmur
Every odd that Lizzie takes after nei-
ther her father nor me-"
SO It is easy to imagine that Lizzie
had looked forward to her first ball with
mingled feelings.
"It is very little NATTER after all,
what you wear, my DEAR" her mother
had said. "With your complexion any
thing will suit equally we'll"
And vet, when Lizzie was dressed and
came down the broad staircase in her
white dress, with its trimmings of car
nations, and her crimson cape over her
shoulders, she was by no means alto
gether unloyely.
Her eyes had soft, mild expression,
and the little hesitancy and shyness
made her lower the heavily y-fringed lids
which many beauty might have en-
We'd.
These heavy eyellds had been a trouble
to her all her life. Her brothers had
rGiculed her for her sleepy look, and
she had been accustomed to hear sharp
contrasts 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 festivity.
& Mr.. and Mrs. Brandon were cordially
greeted by their friend, Sir Harry Wells ;
and, being among the earliest arrivals.
lJKsy, lazzie was claimed by the Younger
ynbers of the family and carried off
Fey see the decorations in the supper
room. 'i'''
! 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 moth
er's side.
She had been sitting still for long
time, when suddenly her ear caught q
few words-something about "takine
compassion" and she was startled a
moment after at hearing a few rapid
words of introduction and finding a
gentleman standing beside her, solicit
ing the pleasure of dance.
Poor little girl how shy she is .
thought Lord Pelham to himself, as she
gave faint response and rose from hen
seat. "Well, one must do good.
natured 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 tC
her own surprise, she found herselt
chatting to him all about her home
her scarcely discarded school days and
this very ball.
II suppose, said Lord Pelham, ''yor
We're very much excited about your first
ball? / remember when my sister,
came out what fuss there was 1t is Z
a2sespeat1 many years ago 10y .IONes theN
y wouldn't thank me for saying thai
thought, and every one thought theyc
take the town by storm. You cam
guess, Miss Norton he said, warming
to his subiect-"you can't guess hov
pretty they looked. 1 can see then
now, dear girls How proud was o
them both really don't know whicl
was the prettier," he added, refectively
Lizzie sighed.
"Why continued Lord Pelham, as
once startled in his recollections h
found it difficult to stop. Il remem
Der, almost quarreling with my cousi
because Lily loouId dance the first walt
e with him ! How absurd it seems Y
care they married?' asked Lizzie
timidly.
Married Well-no," said Lord Pc
5 ham, refectively, "and, come to thin
E Of it, it's odd too, that they haven't NAL
ried, such pretty girls as they were."
; 81 thought" said Lizzie, impulsivel,
''that pretty girls al'0Gys married.
least-I-"
"You-what ?" asked Lord Pelham
rather amused at her aroused tone; the