The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-09-12

played together in the garden. From
Florence she had acquired much infor-
nation.
''Show me the drawing-room windows"
she would say; "and now. which is An
MES bedroom?s
And Florence, charmed with this
sympathetic infatuation for his dear
mandatory, explained over and over
again to the child the arrangement of the
buildings, the position of the different
workrooms, and showed her the special
corner where his own office was stu ated.
Finally one day Sylvia penetrated into
this paradise.
Mrs. Speed to whom Florence had often
spoken Of the intelligence and sweetness
of his little neighbor begged him to bring
her there on the occasion Of a children's
| party that she was arranging for Christ
| mas week.
AT first Mr.. Chipp gave curt refusal.
"He had been Inundated enough he
mnttered, "by those Speeds. whose name
was never out of Florence's mouth. Be-
sides, it was fancy-dress affair, and he.
unfortunately, did not sell wallpapers,
and, consequently, could not afford tc
| dress his daughter in costume
But Florence begged and entreated,
promising to take everything upon him
| self and at once proceeded to design a
| costume.
1t was memorable evening.
| In Mrs. Chips room Dora de Lacy
presided over Sylvia's toilette. The room
was Uttered with bright-colored draperies,
pins and reels Of cotton lay on the table.
| The little girl, in her short skirt of flannel
striped with black, stood grave and erect
before the mirror. She was charming
The bodice was laced with black velvet
over a. chemisette Of white muslin. and
her long braids Of chestnut hair fell from
beneath broad brimmed straw hat. The
somewhat ordinary details of Sylvia's
costume were refined by the child's in
| telligent face and by her wellbred air.
The little circle of friends were breath
less with admiration, and, while someone
went to call the actor, Dora arranged the
folds of the skirt, the bow of ribbon on the
shoes. and seemed herself to be overjoyed
at the thought of an entertainment which
she would never see.
The great man appeared. He made
Sylvia repeat the profound curtsey which
he had taught her, and showed her how
to enter room and to pay her respects
to her hostess 1t was truly droll to see
the accuracy with which the child obeyed
these Instructions.
..She has the blood of an actress in her
VEINS" cried the old actor, enthusiastical-
~, and. somehow, without knowing why,
shat great stupid" OF Frank felt ready
to cry
year after this happy evening, had
anyone asked Sylvia what flowers deco
grated The rooms, the color ofthe furniture,
the name of the waltz that she heard as
she entered the house. she could have
answered each question correctly.
She forgot nothing, not one of the dress
es that whirled past her; she still heard
the childish laughter, and the sound pat
tering ON the floor.
For moment, as she sat ON the GRIM
son sofa, and took an ice from the tray
which an attentive servant held before
her, she thought of the dark staircase,
the small, ill-ventilated house of her
parents, and it all seemed to her like a
distant country, left behind for ever.
Everyone thought her charming, and
petted and caressed her.
Annie Speed, a little shepherdess in pink
and blue, presented her cousin George, a
magnificent hussar, who turned round
every minute or two to see the effect of
his sabretache
.'You understand, George, she is my
friend. She is coming to play with us ON
Saturday. Mamma has invited her"
And in the joy of her happy little heart
Annie embraced Sylvia with vehemence.
Nevertheless, the hour came to leave.
Through the dark street. where the snow
as silently falling, up the narrow stair
case, and in the dull room where her
mother sat waiting, the child still beheld
the glittering lights OF the ballroom.
WAS it beautifuli Did you enjoy It'll"
questioned her mother, as she unfastened
the pretty costume.
And Sylvia, overcome with fatigue,
slept as she stood, and began TN alluring
dream then and there, that lasted all
through the days of her youth, and cost
her many bitter tears.
!. Annie Speed kept her word. Sylvia
went often to play with her in that pref
ty garden, and examined at her ease the
gilded aviary. She knew each corner of
the huge factory, and played many
game of hide-and- seek there ON a quiet
Sunday afternoon.
Every body loved her without her ever
evincing much affection for anyone. AS
long as she was in the midst of this
luxury she was gentle and happy, but at
home again with her parents, looking at
the outer walls of the mandatory
through the cloudy window on the COR
ridor, a sullen anger filed her breast.
Sometimes she was taken for drive in
the park, in the beautiful brougham, and
occasionally she was invited for week
to the country house of Armies grandfath-
er. Thanks to Florence, who was very
proud of the girls success, she was al
ways well-dressed. Mrs. Chip spared
no pains, and Dora was always ready to
contribute in her little friends service her
own taste and ingenuity.
Mr. Chip, always hostile tothe Speeds,
contemplated with contempt this increas-
ing intimacy. The truth was that he
was never asked himself, but this reason
he naturally he never gave, and only
said to his wife
Cant you see that the girl is always
depressed when she returns home, and
that she passes hour after hour in idle
ness, looking out of the window I"
But poor Mrs. Chipp, so unfortunate in
her marriage, had become improvident.
She maintained that we must enjoy the
present, seize happiness rs it passes,
since we often have, for support and con-
ISOLATION in life, nothing but the remem-
brance of a happy childhood.