The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-04-07

had to be churned, and the fruit canned,
and the younger sisters to be prepared
each day for school, and the twin boys
nothing to SPEAK of in point Of years,
but perfect Methuselahs Ia fdischief-to
be looked after from morning until
night, and winter wardrobes to be made,
and thousand and one other things to
be done.
And then madame fell sick, and all
the time Viola could spare she spent at
her bedside. "Time that had much
better be spent at home, scolded her
step mother; ''for there's a servant
there, and one servants enough to take
care of two such houses as that, and
their mattresses, too, sick or well. l
have no servant"
- You have me-" Viola might have re-
piled, "and no servant ever worked
harder or for less wages" but she set
her lips firmly together and said nothing.
Bat she rose earlier than ever thereafter,
that she might not leave undone the
slightest OF her tasks, and thus merit no
reproach for the few hours each day she
gave her dear old friend. And now mad.
anne was getting well, and, with the help
of her strong servant-maid, could go from
room to room; but she was best satisfied
as yet to lie in the wee parlor on the
lounge before the big window.
And here Viola made her appearance
the day the roses were beckoning, with q
merry greeting and dish of luscious
red strawberries smothered In cream !;
but in spite of the merry greeting there
was hint of shadow on her bonny
face that did not escape madames keen
black eyes.
"Tell me about 1t, my DEAR" she
said, in her sweet, trembling voice.
Viola knelt beside her. You must
be fairy, madame" she said "for
none but fairy could have guessed that
was little sorry to-day. And for
such trifing cause I'm ashamed to
speak of it." But, the old lady insisting
with gentle persistence, she began: cit
is ball would like to go to, but can
not. l have never been to a ball, and
this one-you remember the young lady
who boarded at our house last summer,
with her father and sister"
"And brother" suggested madame.
"And brother" repeated Viola, never
lowering her frank blue eyes, but blush
ing from the tip of her round chin to
the curIs shading her low fair brow.
"Well, she and / were good friends
then, but I never dreamed she would re-
member me after she went away, for he
she, / mean-is rich, and / am poor,
and our ways e life lie very, very far
apart. But size has not forgotten me.
See, madame, here is an invitation to a
ball to be given on her 10Th birthday at
her aunt's house, only few miles away.
And-and her brother signs it too. He
writes handsome hand, does he not,
madame?"
"a strong, handsome hand, my dear,
and he is handsome, manly fellow. I
do not forget the messages he used to
bring me from you and deliver with such
courtly grace. You must go to the
ball"
ooh, madame, it is impossible. I
could not go if it was the simplest OF
parties, and it is to be fancy dress. I
have nothing to wear. You know the
crops failed last year on account of the
drought? But what folly for me to let SO
slight thing distress me for moment,
when all at home have strength and you
are fast getting WE'LL"
For which we should be-and no
loubt we are-devoutly thankful" said
the old lady, "and all the more reason
why you should go to the ball. You said
Just now | must be fairy. I'll prove
my right to the title by being fairy
god-mother. You did not know that my
name was Violet. Fake the key that you
will find under the clock on the mantel.
and open the ottoman standing yonder."
"Open the ottoman, madame 2"
Yes; it is simply chest in disguise,
and in it lies your ball dress"
The lid of the disguised chest was
raised, long box lifted out and opened.
An exclamation of delight burst from
Viola's lips. There lay satin dress of
creamy whiteness. 1t unfolded into a
miracle of old-fashioned loneliness. Pur-
pie violets were scattered here and there
upon the scant skirt, as though dropped
from some careless hand, and the pulled
sleeves and short waist were made of
wealth of amber-hued lace. And then
came large, quaint fan of sandal-wood
and peacock feathers, necklace Of
pearls, high tortoise-s shell comb and
pair OF satin shoes with low, fiat heels
and queer pointed toes.
"But you never mean that 1 should
wear these, madame 2" said Viola.
"That I do, most surely" said mad
anne gayly. :" / wore them, child. many
years ago. And now another Violet
needs them. There is fate in it. And
| will put spell upon them and-who
knows ?--they may help you win true
lover, as they did me-"
"But the shoes, madame-they are
too small Tn sure.
"Try them, my dear"
Viola slipped one on. cit binds
across the instep," said she
"Just take the scissors and cut it,
then"
"Oh. madame, / know it would spoil
it."
EDO as / Did you. FAN ,odmother
must be obeyed. Now take The rosettes
still remaining in the box, and fasten
one over each shoe to hide the damage
done"
And, With the beautiful rosettes OF
satin and lace, with "V" encircled in
seed-pearl in the center of Zach, hiding
the gaps the scissors had made, the
toilet was complete.
And SO Viola went to the ball, not in
fine carriage drawn by prancing steeds.
but In her fathers covered wagon, be.
hind the old farm horse. But when she
appeared in the brilliantly-lighted room
it was rather late, for the old horse
travelled slowly-the creamy-white satin
dress clinging to her slight, graceful
figure, her pearls clustering around her
smooth throat. her golden hair wound
about the tortoise-shell comb, her dim
pied arms and shoulders just showing
through the ancient lace, her innocent
blue eyes looking shyly over the quaint
ian, and her feet clad in the pointed
shoes, half hidden by the gay rosettes-
the gay crowd felt, some of them (the
fair maidens these), with bitter envy. that
an unknown Princess of beauty was
among them.
And the Prince of the reigning house
quickly followed his sister to welcome
her, leaving Night with diamond stars
to sparkle for some more faithful wor-