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

visiting terms with her before to-mor-
row.
You're a regular heart breaker.
Meare; bu; take you up
She's one Of ours, at any rate, said
another. There's John Rokesby going
to speak with her. What uncommon
luck that fellow has nothing to do.
independent fortune, sound health
And knows a pretty girl besides,
Mervin.'
But | didn't let on, when mamma
asked me il had seen them, that dark
blue foulard had nearly smothered me
with envy.
What sort of looking people were
they, Alice :? she asked.
oh, city folks
Nicely dressed | suppose p said
mamma, timidly.
oh, beautifully = And then man.
ma sighed, and began to speak, but
thought better of it. l wouldn't have
you think that mamma was silly or
weak minded woman; she wasn't; but
she had been young herself, and knew
how young folks felt. But l guessed
what she was going to say, and ran
and threw my arms round her dear
old neck, and cried, Il don't care about
their fineries, not the least bit; I'd
rather have you and
Il reckons eff you was all rugged out,
too, you'd look as scrumptious as any
of them, Miss AL said Sissy, our little
colored help.
we must find some way to get you
a new dress, dear,' sighed mamma.
'Oh, a new dress won't signify l
said. I'm not likely to see them
Not likely to see them? said man.
ma, up on one elbow. i should like
to know why not, intimate as you are
with the Rokesby's, and all? OF course
you will see them. and meet with them
frequently. Mrs. Rokesby has sent for
you to come up and spend the day TO.
morrow.
oh, it's no USE l can't 60
Yes you can. I've had old Marget
do up your white dress to-day, and
there's nothing any prettier than white.
We got out the strawberry stains.
Speaking of them, we might give an
afternoon strawberry garden party
while they're here, Alice, and that
would make you feel Independent.
Very said |, when we'd have to
go without butter and sugar, and live
on beans for month, to pay for the
cake
I'd just as lief, cried Egbert.
And sod I, said Alec.
4 doesn't mind the beans, said Sis
sy, 'hut sugars right hard to spare,
Miss AL
'Oh, we'll, said I, Il guess you won't
have to spare it, And then l went to
meet John Rokesoy, who was coming
round the lilac bushes, and had just
time to shut the wicket gate before a
couple of gentlemen were at the other
side of it, and he turned, and hesitat-
ing half an instant, had introduced to
me Mr.. Paget and Lieut.. Savary and
Mr.. Mervin, and then an older gentle
man Joined them, and he was Colonel
Meare. l knew John didn't like it,
but he couldn't help himself, and as
soon as saw his annoyance began to
enjoy it. didn't mind them, if I was
in my gardening suit; but if it had
been their sisters However, l didn't
unlock the gate, or ask them to cross
it.
'Rokesby stole march on us, Miss
Lamarte, said Mr., Paget. But he'll
find that sort Of thing won't answer.
We had heard from Miss Marcia all
about you.
All about me Did that mean my
dresses, too? Well, if / had all the
purple and hnnen of the Queen of
Sheba, l could not have held my head
any higher than I did at that speech,
although l knew how lnconvenlent it
would be to keep up that style. And
then l saw Johns eye twinkle, and 1
faced about in second. so have l
heard all about you; Mr.. Paget.'
What have you heard, may ask?'
said he. That l, Alfred Paget, am
poor, but confoundedly aristocratic p
Poor I suppose he wasted more
than we had to live on.
That
That Colonel Meare is q heart
breaker, and that John Rokesby has
uncommon luck. But, luck or not,
can t ask your friends in, John, for it
wouldn't be luck at all if / caused
Lieutenant Savary the loss Of his case
of claret. So must say good even
ing and I left them all aghast, and
John the most Of any; and wild horses
wouldn't have drawn me to Mrs.
Rokesbys next day, if she had not
come after me with pair OF tame ones
and made such q fuss about it-for she
was fond of me-and mamma setting
in about it, and crying and saying I
was losing all my chances-that it was
less trouble to 60 than to stay. But l
can assure you that if / mad really
been the Queen of Sheba, couldn't
have been treated thereafter with
more propriety although John said,
when he had chance, that it was only
the society manner of his friends, and
I was very foolish to show temper; and
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