The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-08-09
A GOLDEN WEB.

They were chattering away at rate
which would have put the most talka
tive party of magpies TO shame, in Zaids
Lawton's pink-and- nest of room
-pink-and-blue from the rosebuds and
forget-me-nots of the carpet to the dainty
stencilling of the ceiling. And all out
doors was merely lovelier color; fol
the beaming blue March sky bent ovel
endless orchards laden with pinE
bloom.
All their chatterw of past and pros
pective "April Fools Day. pranks.-
Zaida Lawton's, and Flossies, and Meg
| Morley's, at least, for Lilis Brainard,
Zaida's pretty cousin, had dropped en-
tirely from the conversation, and sal
knitting blue silk glove with slight
| ly scornful expression on her high-breC
face.
"Well," said Flossie as the girls paus.
ed at last in their merry recitals, we
haven heard from you yet, Lilis. Who
are you going to fool the day after to
morrow?''
''Why, girls" interposed Zaida
''don't you know that All Fools Day Il
q festival that Lilis would scorn to cele
brate?"
"You iconoclast, you'll try to abolish
Christmas next!" exclaimed Meg, shak.
ing her dimpled fist at Lilis, with pret.
| ty assumption of anger.
''No, indeed!" said Lilis, laughing
81 would not raise a finger to tear thai
holly crowned King of Hearts from his
throne of peace and goodwill. But
these practical jokes, which the First OF
| April is supposed to license are really
| beneath any one but q clown OF school.
boy. ] have never fooled anybody and
have never been fooled"
''And never will be?" inquired Flos.
sic.
'EAnd never will ber' repeated Lilis
confidently, as she chased q fugitive
stitch with her bright needles.
A telegraphic message sped from blue
eyes to black and from black to brown,
as Flossie looked mischievously at Zai-
da, and Zaida sent the glance onward to
Meg.
A few minutes later, Lilis put on her
things to run out to the fancy store for
more knitting silk, and Zaida's boudoir
was left in possession of the plotters.
"We must do something to fool her,
but what?" said Flossie, pulling at a
curl as if it were bell-rope to wake up
her brains.
81 have itr' exclaimed Zaida, ecstat-
ically pirouetting on Il rosebud. "You
remember Mr.. Raynor who was in the
place so long last year, and who SEEM
ed to admire Lilis SO much! And you re-
member that we noticed the remarkable
similarity between his handwriting and
L.. 20 n1l
And the plan of routing Lilis from
her vantage-ground with great slaugh-
ter was divulged at length, to the inf
mite delight of the two remaining con-
spirators.
1t was delicate matter that those
thoughtless girls were tampering with.
but would-be makers of April Fools Of
ten crush in where angels fear to
tread"
The first day of April dawned fair
and clear. Meg and Flossie came for
Zaida early in the morning, and the
three set of, on April-fooling thoughts
intent.
Lilis confident of n mornings long
leisure, drew her favorite chair into the
recess of the bay-window, and establish
ONOCSAAC ~~-~~-
| o pet kitten rs companions.
She had not been reading long, when
her aunt came bustling in, sowing
small packages as Peggotty sewed but
tons.
.'Here's letter Lilis,' she exclaim-
ed, dropping one on the pages of the
open book. "When Mollie came to
make the spiced gingerbread, she found
we were out of nutmeg and cinnamon,
and / don't know what else, so | had to
90 to the grocer's and thought might
as well drop in at the post-otiice al
| though Zaida said she meant to go be-
| fore she came home.'
Then her housewifely nose scented
something burning, and she gathered
up her packages, and hurried kitchen
ward. .-..
The letter had fallen with its address
downward.
When Lelis turned it over, she gave
the kittens paw, which she had been
using rs q pointer, so severe a wrench,
that .Buttercup uttered feline pro.
test, and tiounced away with an injured
| air.
Paul Raynor, had, as Zaida said, ad.
mired Lilis greatly, but he was law
yer, with his way yet to make in the
world, and with q mother and several
| young brothers to support.
He knew that matrimony would be
! impossible in his case for years, so kept
an iron hand ON the admiration that
| bore a perilous likeness to love; but he
thought that he might allow himself 3
platonic friendship with the pretty
! oI, 1Uhnsn to and hohItC nhipn 4
so pleasantly with his own.
| But although Lilis knew of his circum
stances, she was not SO cautious, and il
those scented summer days, those rega
autumn mornings, baby hope wa;
born, which was buried in the hazy DC
tober cleaning, when Paul bade hel
goodbye, without even requesting 1
correspondence.
But the buried hope had glorious
resurrection on this pink-and-blue Apri
morning!
His letter told her that the low
which he had tried to subdue had be
come an overmastering passion, sweep
ing prudence and caution before it like
dried leaves.
He said that he knew he was doin!
her injustice in asking her to enter int
an engagement which must necessaril,
be n protracted one, but, for all that
would she consent tc be his wife?
If Lilis could only have known, be
fore she answered this letter, that Zaid'
had composed it and sent it to Free
Beresford, her fiancee, to copy and pos
as coming from Paul Raynor.
"Did Lilis get a lettor this morning"
enquired Zaida, as she came in late tt
dinner.
eyes," answered her mother; "and sh
has just gone to the post-oifice with he
answer"
Zaida started up in CONSERVATION
She had not intended the matter to g
|