The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-03-18
Selttt StOrg.
OLD PETERS STORY.

OLO EE Eft . S4OnA
An was excitement in the great house
ON the hill. for so Chalmers Hall was known
for miles around. | had not served the
family. boy and man. for thirty years, with
out sharing it to certain degree not in
compatible with my buffers dignity, and
all evidence of which strove sedulously y
to conceal
Ii was occasioned BY no less an event
than the return Of the young lady of the
house-the only daughter and sole heiress
Of all these broad acres-from the finishing
school in Paris, to make her formal debut
in society.
The suit Of rOOms assigned 20 her had
been thoroughly renovated and refurnished
in a manner widely different from the solid
English comfort which prevailed through
out the house but to look through them
was ike sudden glimpse into the nest Of
some humming-bird, which had impaired
all its own briihancy Of its belongings.
Only few days before the expected ar
rival came letter, begging permission 10
bring with her, her dearest friend young
lady whose father was an East Indian Off
Ger. and whose return had been postponed
a couple of months
OF course the petted daughters wish was
law; and though the fond father, reading
aloud the letter preferring this rcques, At
the breakfast-table. exchanged a glance Of
disappointment with his wife that soon the
nrisacy of their little circle must be disturb
cd. formal invitation to Miss Aline Revere
to the hospitalities Of Chalmers Hall was
dispatched that very day.
| shall never forget the evening Of Miss
Chalmers return. Her eheery, How do
YOU do. Peter?r thrilled my old bones. as
did the touch Of the little hand she kindly
offered me, in memory perhaps of my long
service aud the many rides up and down
the broad walls she had on my shoulder,
screaming the while with glee.
She fitted about all evening. ike bee,
/ from flower 10 flower. and il was as though
a burst Of sudden sunshine had illuminated
/ the old house. She was fair sweet En-
glish girl; but, as all were seated around
( the Ciinner-table, | could not bOt aeknOwt
edge the palm of beauty must be award
ed to her friend. | had never seen q more
exquisite face. Ii fairly haanted me; il
J held in il the fire Of the tropics, the ice Of
/ the Arctic, the light Of the heavens, the
shadow Of the height-eaeh expression in
contradiction Of the other. each tending 70
produce harmonious warfare.
| did not think this all out myself, but
some one, long after, in describing Miss
4Revere's face, thus worded il, and | knew
] then they made clear the enigma nay old
/ brain had 50 long tried to solve | would
even then have been enyions, for Miss
/ Chalmber's sake, but that she seemed -
fond. 50 devoted to her friend. that her
very gladness was an unconscious rebuke to
me.
/ 1T was not long before the house was
filed with guests-ladies and ladies' naids
gentlemen and their Wallets, coming and
going. filling the place with gaiety and ex-
citement. Then came the announcement
Of grand ball, with invitations TO all the
country. Glad enough | was when the
evening it was to take place actually arriy-
ed. and / could feel that the hustle Of anti
cipation was at an end.
On her way down to the drawing-rOm
Miss Flo peeped in to see the tables, anC
thought for that once we might eampar,
her to Miss Aline She was dressed il
white. her arms and neck bare, but glitter
ing with precious stones. Some of the fam
ily Jewels her father had reset, and present
ed to her that very morning at the break
fast table. was not likely to forget th,
circumstance for the old feeling of half dis
ike, with which | had at first regarded
Miss Aline, swept over me as | faneied al
envious glitter sparkled in the great blael
eyes, as they rested on the white, glitteTinl
gems
s'Will l do, Peter?" asked my youns
mistress, sweeping me a mock courtesy, a
she had done when tiny girl; and | hal
believe instead Of answering her brushes
away tear.
The ball had been grand success, an'
the sun had risen ere the sonnd of tn,
wheels of the last carriage filed with de
parting guests had died away.
There had been many made welcom
that night. but none, | well knew receive,
a warmer one than young Mr.. Earle, VIII
had returned home from years absence
in foreign countries twenty-four hours be
fore
caught glimpse of him once, as he wa
dancing with Miss Flo. Even in that feet
ing moment | saw how tenderly his stron:
arm clasped her--how proudly his hand
some eyes looked down upon her-ho'
flushed with happiness was her own face
half hidden on his broad shoulder; and m
heart gave a glad, exultant leapthat so JOY
Gus a future was assured her
well knew what was the unexprcsse
family wish, for young Mr. Earle's estate
adioined our own. They were unfetterec
unemcumbered, and in every way spler
did patrimony.
| had turned away from this feetin
glimpse among the great folks, my old brai
filed with its idle dreams of the futuri
when my eyes Glanced to fall upon one who
like myself, was engrossed in the animate
scene beyond us. 1t was Miss Flos friend
but oh how changed
The mask had fallen from her beautiful
face. The great black eyes fairly scintilla