Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-05-19

that couldn't step without stumbling
over some victim that day. and with
out ripping q seam as well All the
gentlemen kept about me, before and
after dinner and ! was Just simpleton
enough to like it, and 70 feel it rather
a triumph than otherwise over the rich
and fortunate girls. Alfred Paget
was on one side and Colonel Meare on
the other, and Lieutenant Savary how
ering about and Mr.. Mervin was pull
ing me japanese lilies, and Miss Mervir
was hanging behind and saying dis
agreeable things to Marcia, as we went
down the terraces and through the
wicket into our own garden, where the
boys and Sissy we're ready to wait on
US with peaches and cream. and where
mamma looked levelier than all the
rest OF us, lying IN her white wrapper
on the straw sofa under the tulip tree.
But of course as soon as was there
| had to drop my role of fine lady and
belle for that of hostess and waiting
maid, and was moving here and there,
making this person and that more com
Portable, when all at once l caught my
dress in a thorn, and such a slit as
rent its way through that old stuff you
never saw short of zigzag tightening
in a thunder cloud. ! ran into the
house for some pins to catch it togeth-
er, but thought then I had better take
a hasty needle and thread; and l was
behind the window screen, hurrying
for dear life, when heard voices and
there was Miss Mervin. with the party
round her, giving some ribbons off her
dress to Sissy, and mildly quizzing her
the while. | stuck the needle in and
sailed out, for there was no knowing
where that sort of thing would end.
You haven't giving me any peaches
and cream, Sissy, said I, coming up.
Deed, Miss, said Sissy. Pm that
sorry! But the creams all done gene
Gomez said, placidly Then run
and get some more
For sure, Miss Al-wat'll get it
wifi? Misses glib me the very fastest
cent she had for the cream for desc
yer
Sissy
Poor Sissy murmured Miss Mer-
vim. Won't she pay for this with
more than her last cent?
CThara'c Ylopkx1 Y,oro orao,,,
Plenty more?' cried Sissy, joyously.
'Whar's it at?'
In the mllk-room, to be sure. Make
haste, Sissy
'Lors, Miss AL. Ef you amt allus
the one ter sabe 'pearances. I'd ortur
known you'd hab some lef. Miss AIS
jess de cutest case, said Sissy, then, to
the assembled group for getting some
fin outen muffin. Dis yer gown she's
got on she made oh an ole bed curtlng;
an yer wouldn't neboer dreamed twas
de ole musqulto netting roun' Mars
Alic's ole hat-she wouldn't hab it
done washed noways--
Struck to stone, if ever | was thank
full in my life it was when John sud
denly appeared, and taking Sissy's
shoulder, gave her a twist round the 4
corner of the house out of sight.
is it really true?' said Miss; MnaiG,,
with sprightliness; and did yo1 make
that--that peculiar dress from an old
bed curtain? and is it mosquito netting
round Alexis hat2'
What triumph of art, Miss La
marte, simpered Marcia Vergnes.
No. said I then, recovering myself;
its the triumph Of poverty. But it's
very good of you to take so much in
terest in my dress I'll teach you all
my art any day.
Thanks, said Marcia, who wasn't
illnatured herself. But we shouldn4
look like you in it, if you did. And,
indeed, Id rather be able to get up
such dress as you have done than to
be able to buy out Worth.
And at that little bit of kindness of
course | burst into tears and ran away
as fast as I could to hide them. ]
didn't know where, and never stopped
still | found myself at the bottom of
the orchard, face down on the grass,
beneath the old hickory tree
But John had come stalking close
behind me, and in minute there he
was lifting me from the grass.
'Oh, let me alone! let me aloner l
sobbed. oh, let me go! I want to
get these rags off and burn them up.
What he cried, gaily. This Tllu-
minated Dress?'
YES yes; it's only shown me what
fool l was, trying to go where J.
didn't belong. And l don't care. ]
don't want to belong there. / hate
them all. l.
You hate them all, Alice? he
laughed You hate Marcia? Ny
mother? Me?'
Its no matter whether I hate you
or not; it's nothing to you. Nothing
is anything to you so long as you can
have Miss Paget beside you
4 don't want Miss Paget beside me-.
john
There's only one person that 1 want
beside me, and l want her for lite,
But---she-thinks I'm too DID,
'Oh, Johu.'