Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-12
OF course we could not treat Bessie as we in


for her; and we were obliged to invite few
people and accept some invitations ourselves.
On Christmas Day frost set in, and we prom
ised ourselves some skating Could Bessie skate?
1 es, little, she said. with her usual mschiev-
Gus sparkle. So when, on MOnday father came
in, having examined the ice. and gave us per-
mission to begin,we were delighted, and hurried
OH IN giee. every one Ofus except baby Sylvia We
were indeed large and merry party; and. when
we reached our decoy pond, we found some OF
our neighbOrs already there. who instantly sur
rounded us. Somebody took possession of me,
and put on my skates: we had difficulty with
the straps. and it was ten minutes before was
ready. When at last | started off hand in hand
with Charlie Spurrer. | looked round for our
visitors. to make sure that they were enjoying
themselves and being taken care of. There were
Tom and Eva. there Anna and John Dupre; yes
and there was Bessie-but not with Gilbert.
Bessie and certain Harry Cox. whom dttested.
but who was the best skaterin the neiChborhood
were performing wonders and exciting general
admiration.
But where was my poor dear Gibbe? skated
Slowly round the pond. and at last found him
with his hands in his pockets and his skates
dangling from his arm. Sowing anariIy at moth
ing in particular.
Come Gilbert" called He did not an
swer. skated round to him again. .'Gibbie,
do come ol-you will be frozen
I'm going home" said he That fool of a
fellow makes me ill., And he scowled at the
passed Bessie the next moment She looked
radiant: her cheeks were like roses and her
eyes brilliant, spar king with mischief.
'Giobe Is gone. L said, feeling veXed with
her.
Il know" she said, with laugh and a flash
of her hazel eyes.
Gibbie kept in the other room that evening
and did not favor Us with a visit. though we
acted charade he had helped to compose
Bessie" | said in her room that evening II
ink Won al &l.,,,
On yes. do! like him very much. But
| think -
Tell me- shall not mind
II think he is spoiled and little bit con-
ceited. You and Anna give i'm to him in every
thing. and so do the little ones and he thinks
he may have everything lie wants. You will
see, Laura, that shall do him good. He wants
Il lesson very badly" Then Il little more softly
she added, II promise you won't give him any
more pain than is good for him. | am not a CO.
quette. Laura; and her eyes looked earnestly
and truthfully into mine.
SO went away. a little veXed at her opinion
of Gilbert. but. on the whole. satisfied And
she was right; she did Gilbert good She
queencd it over him as over the rest Of u.s. and
a. he fell more and more deeply in love. he lost
the lOrdly airs she had laughed at and leased hiri
about al her coming. and grew grave and ear
nest. and gentler with us all
One day, when Bessie had been with us a
fortnight. we were ali together talking. work
ing. and reading in our own room when mother
suddenly walked in. She looked so banny
that we saw she had some pleasure to give Us.
My dear. she began. II have some pleasant
news for you. Your father says that YOU NAV
give party-a dance-on any day yOu please,
before BESSIE goes away. He will LET You turn
the dinlng-room out to dance in. and nc is pre-
pared to accede to any reasonable request for
money"
We were wild with delight. kissed O1,r mother
Till she was obliged to retreat and Bmcdat ely set
to work to discuss and arrange. TIE date we
fixed upon was the twenty-third of January so
az 20 give the children & couple of DAYS rest be-
fore they returned to school; and then we wrote
the invitations. discussed the supper and or
dcred our dresses
The day arrived: and what Il long tlav il was
The two parlOrs We're enptiel for stl;,opr-ro0nle
and we, deprived of our usual resort did not
know what to do with ourselves Mother was
Invisible, saving up her strength for the ever
lnG, and Gilbert was silent and pTeOccupied
But at last it was time to dress: everything had
gone smoothly. and, with beating hearts and
bright eyes. we disappeared. OF course each
girl knew what the others were going to wear:
nevertheless. when We met in mothers room to
be looked over. we were all surprised Eva
tall and blonde and stately, looked her best in
pale blue silk and Roman pearls Anna who
loved to be CREAMY" She said showed plump
white arms and shoulders. cut OF pufis Of graii-
adine and wore purple passion-fl0werS in her
naie 1alr halr. L had chosen white: Mabel and
ELY and the smaller ones were in white too
But Bessie was the belle: even mother acknowl-
edged it. She dressed In rose-cOlor. OF
rather the color of a pale red aZaiea: and her
dress was covered with aZalea blossoms while
her ornaments were pink coral. She had checks
like damask roses, and her splendid brown eyes
shone with excitement and pleasure. Among
the troop of blondes she looked more lovely by
force of contrast.
Gilbert actually paled with pleasure when he
Shn n;n
evening; she had for day or two left off teas
ing and iecturing him. | was not too absorbed
by my own affairs to watch them. and saw
that they danced together often. Did mother
and father notice it? | wondered | wished
they would notice.
What happy evening we had. How we all
enjoyed ourselves, The old rooms rang with
soft and happy laughter
My story is to be all about Bessie and Gilbert,
or could tell Of Anna and John Dupre whose
happiness dates from this tWenty-third of .Janu-
airy. AND L could tell something of myself too
But with us all went smoothly whereas Bessie
and Gilbert passed through a sea of bitter
trouble.
| was undressing by my fire about four
O'Clock next morning. when heard a knock at
the door.
"COme in" / said thinking it was Anna. But
Bessie Beale put her glossy head around the
door.
MAY | really come in p she asked. ~ can
uOI 20 10 steep WITHOUT telling you something"
Bessie preferred Inc as contidant to Anna
whose gravity alarmed her sometimes. she said
She sat down on the hearth rug. in her pretty
pink dressing-gOwn, and drew up chair and
sat beside her.
Laurie she began, half mischievously and
timldly, shall you very much mind having me
for sister! | have promised to marry Glib
be'
| stopped and kissed her heartily But do
not know whether it was over-fatigue or some
vague forebOding that made me feel suddenly
troubled and depressed. | made an effort to
shake oil the unpleasant sensation.
$50 you like him. even though he is 'spoiled
and conceited 2" asked.
Like him!" she echoed, laughing and blush
Ing. Laura, l liked him from the very first
day saw him. And he is not spoiled and con-
ceited. | retract my horrid words; | said that
only because thought he was making too sure
of me-and you know one doesn't like that
He Is good he is as true as steel; and love
him with all my heart. | would not ask a
greater happiness than to stop here with him.
among you all. You are like no people | ever
saw before. 1t is a rest to know YOU
She spoke eXcitedly. her eyes were shining
through tears, and she clasped my hands eagerly
and lovingly. There was long pause.
Laura" she went on, with her strange new
timidity.. do you think your father and mother
like me?"
81 am sure they do" / said warmly