The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-06-27


moss-pinks Couldn't wear the pret-
ty garnet silk that you've neither of you
chosen 7"
"NoDsenser' cried Amy; "you are
only chid!'
Il shall be sixteen in niEe months, !"
urged Polly. And I'm almost as tall
as Won and Mamie And | never, never
was at grown up party in my lite"!
Polly" said Mamie with sut"cra ic
sevel lity. ''hold your tongue! It's quite
ont Of the question. You are to stay
here with Miss Bird"
"But Miss Baird is ALWAYS asleep in
the evening"" whimpered Polly.
$50 much the better for you," pro-
nounced Mamie; land to look after the
house"
The house won't run away" pouted
Polly still rebelious.
That isn't the qu' stion under discus
sion said Any "Get the work basket
now, like darling, and help me tuck up
these dresses little, for Mary Sinclair
is at least half head taller than we are
and there is no time to lose"
Polly drew deep sigh and obeyed.
"Why was it," she argued within her.
self, "that she must always be put down
and snubbed, and kept in the background
because she was the younges, and wore
short frocks and her hair braided in two
Chinese tails down her hack. If ever
she wa a grown.up young lady she'd
show them!'
But Polly got little better natured
when she was allowed to make wafflea
her ownself foi tea, in the absence OF
Mary E "a, their sole domestic, who's e
brother had bethought himself TO fall OF
fever, half mile or so up the mountain
at this suspicious time of all others, and
to select a jar of rapberry jam, by way
of accompaniment.
For Polly, tall though she was, had
not quite outgrown the age of tea-sets
ard delight in playing at housekeeping
AMI she arranged the tea-rose buds in
her sisters hatl and gave the last dainty
iouch to their dresses-PoIly was born
lsdy's-maii, the girls declared laughing
and looked regretfully after them, as
with their splendor all shrouded in black
serge coaks, they hurried down the fro
I'm road, two merry, feeting shadows
'Oh, dear! oh dear! said Polly aloud,
show wish was going too!'
And she winked the tears down aud
ran back into the oak wa,nscoted room,
where the lamp still glawed and the logs
blazed and snapped on the hearth, so
that she never once remem-
bered Amy's farewell caution as to the
locking and double locking Of the outer
door.
Miss Baird was asleep after ber supper
and her medicine. There was no use
going to her for companionship; for she
suore'l and slept with her mouth open,
and was not in the least an ideal slum-
herer; and the kitchen was very lone
some without Mary Eliza, and even the
cat was too drowsy to purr or frolic with
a ball of knittng-yarn.
"Whst shall do ?" said Polly. "Oh,
| know! Til try on the garnet silk dress
and fancy I'm a grown-up young lady
going to ball!'
She was walking up and down the
floor, trying 10 see herself in the old We
netian mirror that hung above the tall
wooden mantle, when the creaking of a
hoard in the hal startled her. Flying to
the door, garnet silk. train and all, she
came face to face with man
II beg your pardon he said apollo
geticalV; shut you did not hear the
knock, sId-"
"What do vou wantp' cried Polly all
in panic $50 away at oDcer'
81 called to see if the young ladies'"
Polly waited 10 hear no more; vague
ideas of peddlers, tramps, burglars,
midnight asssssins, aoated through her
brain.
eyes," said che with assumed calm
ness, "they are al home; please TO walk
in"
And opening the nearest door she mo-
toned him to enter As it was dark
therein how was he to know that it was
the coal cellar, or that the next minute
the door would be shut and bolted oD
him
"There!" cried Polly exultanily. her
dark eyes SHINING like halls OF fire, her
cheeks turned from deadly pale to glow
ing red.
"But stop minute!" pleaded s,ifed
voice from the other side of the door.
"There's a mistake. i"
YES" said Polly, there is mistake
You are mistaken in supposing that l am
to he imposed upon. Now stay there
until call the coschmsn aud the two
stable hsnds and unloose the dogp
(which four last, be it understood
we're entirely fiction Of Miss Poliy's
Imsgination.
She stood a second or 80 to consider
Miss Baird must not be exci'ed or dis
turbed-at least so the doctor said Be-
side, of what use could Miss Baird pes
sibly be?
"rll go for the girls" said Polly. IN
be at the ball after all"
And folding shawl about her pretty,
tsper shoulders away she shot, like an
arrow, quite needless of the lace: lined
train of the garnet silk dress
Hszel Hill, where the ball was beine
held. was not more than a qu erter Of o
mile from Stone Tower, and lighted from
garret to cellar it presented very pretty
sight 10 Polly's wondering eyes
She posted herself on the veranda
Just where a easement had been open &c
to cool the perfumed atmosphere of the
danaing-room, and there. with big spark
ling eyes and cherry cheeks half bidder
by the shawl drawn over her head anC
ears, she watched 10 catch glimpse o
Amy and Mamie
They were dancing Polly would
scarcely have known them so radian
they seemed-tbeir exquisite borrowed
dresses ses off by The lights, their face
flushed by happy excitement land at las
Amy sat down by this very open case
ment, smiling and tanning herself, wbil
ber partner hurried to bring her some re
fresbments.
All of sudden q cold little hand tel
on her round dimpled shoulder. Sh
started and looked around.
"Polly! Goodness me! 1t can: b
possible!' she exclaimed What o
earth has brought you here? Is Mis-
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