Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-06-22


laughing-and looked regretfully after
them, as, with their splendor all
shrouded in black serge cloaks, they
hurried down the frozen road, two
merry, deeting shadows.
"Oh, dear, oh, dear /" said Polly,
aloud, show ! wish I was going, tool"
And she winked the tears down, and
ran back into the oak -wainscoted room,
where the lamp still glowed, and the
logs blazed and snapped on the hearth,
50 hurriedly that she never once re-
membered Amy's farewell caution as to
the looking and double locking OF the
outar door.
Miss Baird was asleep, after her sup
per and her medicine. There was no
use going to her for companionship ;
for she snored and slept with her mouth
open, and was not in the least an ideal
slnmberer. And the kitchen was very
lonesome without Mary Eliza. and even
the cat was too drowsy to purr or frolic
with ball Of knitting-yarn.
"What shall do ?" said Polly. "Oh,
l nowi I'll try on the garnet silk
dress and fancy I'm a grown.up young
lady going to balll"
She was walking up and down the
floor, trying to see herself in the odd
Venetian mirror that hung above the
tall, wooden mantle, when the creaking
Of board in the hall startled her.
Flying to the door, garnet silk, train
and all. she came face to face with a
man.
II beg your pardon |" he said, apollo
getically; 'sbut you did not hear the
knock, and"
"What do you want ~ cried Polly, all
in panic. "Go away. at once I"
IT called to see If the young ladies'
Polly waited to hear no more. Vague
ideas of peddlers. tramps, burglars,
midnight assassins, foated through her
brain.
"Yes," said she, with assumed calm
ness, "they are at home. Please to
walk in"
And opening the nearest door, she
motioned him to enter. Asit was dark
therein, how was he to know that it was
the coal-celiar, or that the next minute
the door would be shut and bolted upon
him?
"There r. cried Polly, exultantly, her
dark eyes shining like balls Of fire, her
cheeks turned from deadly pale to glow
ing red.
''But stop a nainutel' pleaded q
stiaed voice, from the other side of the
door. s'There's mistake. I-1
''Yes," said Polly, s'there is mistake
You are mistaken in supposing that I
am to be imposed upon. Now, stay
there until I call the coachman and the
two stable-hands, and unloose tie
dog r.
(which four last, be it understood,
were entirely fiction Of Miss PolIy's
imagination y
She stood second or SO. to consider.
Miss Baird must not be excited or dis
turbed-at least, SO the doctor said.
Besides, of what use could Miss Baird
possibly bea
''rll go for the girls" said Polly.
ssTll be at the ball, after all r.
And, folding shawl about her pretty,
taper shoulders. away she shot, like an
arrow, quite Needless Of the Iace-lined
train of the garnet silk dress.
Hazel Hill, where the ball was being
held, was not more than quarter Of
mile from Stone Tower, and, lighted
from garret to cellar, it presented a
verysspretty sight to Polly's wondering
eyes.
She posted herself on the veranda,
just whore easement had been opened
to cool the perfumed atmosphere Of the
dancing groom, and there, with big,
sparkling eyes, and cherry cheeks, half
hidden by the shawl drawn over her
head and ears, she watched to catch d
glimpse of Amy and Mamie.
They were dancing. Polly would
scarcelv have known fhem 90 rod;.n4