The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-11-04

hopeful consolation. She had great
SeH-respect. but lite self. esteem, and
Wild deep appreciation of beauty.
caused by an artistic temperament,
her Cause, so modest in its claims,
seemed quite lost.
"Of course he will forget me for
her!" she unused.
Mrs. Carton was own aunt to DIR.
ferrers. Her house was large one,
onfhe outskirts of Highbridge, and
Just at this time she gave a large,
general party, inviting the GOrdons,
hernephew, the Featherstones, and
many others.
II do not care to 60, mother" said
Amy, dejectedly.
Poor child! The world seemed so
yeFN hollow, and she was SO young,
.sssf3ser Dosvers -of endurance umtlss
veloped. But she yielded to her
mothers wishes. and when the pale
brown silken hair, with its tInge of
gold, was lOoued in great braids, and
fastened from the white temples and
roseate cheeks by sprays of lace like
green, that trailed from the graceful
coitfeur to the hem of the rustling,
moonlit, siIken robe, no fairy was
ever statier or lovIier. Amy saw
her beauty with start of surprise.
"Mother, am [ really 80 pretty 2"
she asked, looking with innocent eyes
of frank delight into her mothers
pleased and tender face,
My darling, you are beautiful and
good as you are fair"
And so with her secret grief half
consoled by these words of love, Amy
went to the party.
There were many strangers present,
and among them a little, wrinkled,
old lady, with a plain cap and black
alpaca dress, lOking strangely out of
place in her corner, though evidently
much entertained by the novel sight
Of the gay company. Her dress was
extremely neat, and suited to her
years, if not to the occasion.
And Amy and her mother, after
simple glance and mutual thought to
this effect, were passing by, when
their attention was attracted by a
half subdued sound, very like a
schoolgirl giggle, and turning, beheld
a merry group surrounding Miss Cor
don. whose eyes We're directed to-
ward the corner where sat the little
old lady in alpaca, and by the smiles
the lips of those around her,
the remarks falling from her ruby
lips were evidently very amusing.
The snrging crowd of promenaders
pressed Amy and her mother little
closer to this group.
"Oh, l know ~ Amy heard Laura
say; "its one of the extinct species
Professor Dabney was telling us of
last Winter. How interesting and
how very kind of Mrs. Carton to pro-
vide for the entertainment of her
serious minded friends ~
The air of mock gravity and the
graceful cOntortion were indescrib-
able, and half-a dozen lace handker-
chiefs went up to rosy lips that must
not laugh too loudly.
| will do this group the Justice to
say that they were the very youngest
Of Mrs. Cartons guests, and had re-
emily been Laura's school friends. 1t
was but year and a-half since the
young lady had left the academy.
But Amy's check burned. She met
Laura's beautiful eyes Indignantly,
and, as her mother, not overhearing
the Objectionable remarks, serenely
oined a group of matronS, she slip
ped her band from her arm and ST. D.
ped back into the old Iady's corner.
"May sit here a moment ?" she
asked, with sweet, apologize smile.
II am little tired"
"Yes, dear; certainly, certainly"
replied the old lady, gathering her
alpaca skirts to make room for Amy's
fair drapery on the little sofa; and
then she looked, with evident pleas
ure, more closely at the sweet counte-
nance.
"You don't look tired" she said,
at last. "You look as fresh as May
1t is very nice to be young,
though the old have their pleasures.
Of course, nobody notices an old lady
like me in this corner, but l am really
enjoying myself. / live 50 quietly in
my house in the country that thecom-
pany, the dancing, and the music are
very entertaining to me. Mrs. Carton
is my sister. Iarrived Unexpectedly
tonight, intending to give her and
my son surp Use. was not prepar-
ed for attending a party, but II
thought | would slip in quietly for IA
little while and not make any trouble.
| presume no one has seen me but
you, my dear"
There was something very sweet in
A IL l.. 4 l.. Z