Iron County register., 1882-09-28

bangs and crimps and frizzes and Monta-
CUES and water-waves and puff--that it had
grown very thin In front, and she was CON-
PEELED to wear either Saratoga wave OF
Marguerite front TO cover 1t. The Saratoga
wave was not perfect match for her hair,
Sd she wore that only by gas-light. She had
also been in delicate health, the result of an
accident which strewed the nursery floor
with saw-dust, and made poor Bess fear
that her beloved Lady Marion would be an
invalid for life. The accident happened at
the time when Tom had decided to be a sur
geon. and had bought three new knives and
a lancet to practice with, and the dreadful
cut in Lady Marion's side looked, Bess
thought, very much as il 1t had been done
with knife.
Tom, however, affirmed that it was caused
py late hours and too much gayety, and Bess
for more than two months. The accident
aeslroyed her beautiful plumpness, out
mamma thought that slenderneSs added to
ner distinguished appearance, so Bess was
comIorted. This kettledrum was intended
TO celebrate Lady Marion's return to society,
ana Bess was anxious that it should be a
very elegant affair. 1t was to be he'll in the
drawlng-room, and Bess had permission to
oIder lust what she liked for refreshments.
Ihere Was to be more than tea and cake at
that kettledrum.
ana the invitations must be in the very
latest STYLE Bess felt as if she could not be
grateful enough to Tom for telling her just
"uae WAS the latest SfVie.
She aroused Lady Marion from her after
noon nap and forced pen into her unwilling
nngers-being such fashionable doll Lady
Marion had neither time nor taste for liter.
ary pursuits, and doubt whether she had
ever so much as tried to write her name
before. But at last the pen was coaXed to
stay between her thumb and forefnger. and
Bess guided her hand. After much patient
effort and many failures, tolerably legible
one was written, and BesS thought 1t was a
| kyNlfy A1He kntth yrE
the kettle and drum were not by any means
perfect, like Toms, and, indeed, she felt
obliged to write their names under them,
lest they should not be understood.
They did not all look quite so well as the
first. After one has written twenty-five or
thirty invitations, ones hand grows tired,
and one is apt TO get little careless: but,
on the whole, Bess thought they did Lady
Marion great credit. Not one was sent that
had blot on it, and Bess was satisfied
that the spelling was all quite correct. Be-
fore six O'Clock they were all written and
sent. and Bess had great weight OF her
mind. But she was very tired, and Lady
Marion was so exhausted that she didn't feel
equal to having her hair dressed, and was
not at home to visitors.
Before she slept, however, Bess made out
list Of the refreshments she wanted for the
kettledrum. and gave especial orders that
caramels, that Tom need not come short
he was so fond of them, and he would make
such unpleasant remarks about the girls If
they were all eaten.
And, having settled all this, Bess felt that
there was nothing more to do but to wait Tor
that slow coach of a Tuesday to come
around; party days always are such slow
coaches, while the day on which you are to
have the dentist pull your tooth comes like
the chain-lightning express! There was
nothing more that she could do, but there
was one little thing that didn't quite suit
her: she wanted to invite the nice little girl
who lived around the corner of Pine street,
and when she had asked leave, mamma had
said:
40, hush. dear! No, no! you mustn't ask
her., You mustn't speak of her! Papa
would be very angry!"
Bess thought that was very strange. She
was very nice little girl. Bess had made
her acquaintance in the park; they had rolled
hoops together, and exchanged great many
condolences. Bess had told her about her
parrot that could say "Mary had little
lamb, ;" and about the funny little mice that
Tom had tanned, and described Lady Mar
ions new dresses that Aunt Kate had sent
her from Paris; and the strange little girl
told her that her name was Amy Belknap-
Belknap, just like Bess's name, which Bess
thought was very strange-and that she had
three brand d-new kittens, as soft and furry
as balls of down, with noses and toes just
like pink satin, with dear little peaked tails,
and the most fascinating manners imag
nable; and she had invited Bess to come and
I'LL,
her go, and said that if she ever talked to
the little girl again her papa would be
angry. And mamma looked very sad about
it; there were tears in her eyes. 1t was all
very strange. Bess did not know what to
think about it, but papa was very stern
when he was angry; so she did not say any,
thing more about Amy, although she met
her two or three times at parties. But she
did so want to have Lady Marion invite her
doll to the kettledrum that she could not
holm aSEipD. hf1t II of an6
mamma said "Hush! hush" as if it were
something frightful that she had proposed.
And last night she had heard nurse talking
with Norah, the parlor maid, when they
that Amy Belknap's father was papa's own
brother, but they had quarreled years be-
fore about will, and were SO angry that
they would not speak to each other. And
Amy's mother was mammals cousin, and
had been brought up with her, so that they
were just like sisters, and mamma felt very
unhappy about the quarrel.
1t did not seem possible to Bess that her
papa would quarrel, when he always told
Tom and her that it was SO wicked, and
when he got down on his kneeU and said:
''Forgiye us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against u.s." just as il he
meant it!
just what a will was Bess did not know,
but she had a vague idea that it had some-
thing to do with money. Surely her father
would not quarrel about money!. She had
heard him say that it was very wrong to
think too much OF 1t.
There must be a mistake somewhere. Bess
thought, and she wished very much that it
might be set right, so that Amy and she
might be friends.
Tuesday came at last, and long before
four O'Clock Bess and Lady Marion had their
toilets completed, and were perched up on
the windOw.seat to watch for the coming of
their guests. 1t was not very dignitied,
certainly-mamma never did so when she
expected guests; but then Lady Marion was
of a nervous temperament, and could not
bear to sit still.
Lady Marion had on lovely "tea.gown" Of
japanese foulard over blue satin, trimmed
with beautiful lace, and carried new
Japanese fan, with pearl sticks and lace,
and her hair was arranged in a new style
that was extremely becoming.
The refreshments and flowers had all
come; there was nothing wanting to make
the kettledrum a complete success-noth-
ing but the guests. Strange enough. they
did not appear! Four O'Clock came, and
half-past four, and not one of the dolls that
Lady Marion had invited came, but all the
time a stream of carriages had been going
around the corner of Pine street, and stop