The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-02-17
A HOUSEHOLD FAIRY.

Mrs. Araminta Dykandyke, calling on
| her school-friend for the first time since
she became Mrs. Royal, surveyed her
surroundings, curiously, critically. while
| awaiting the little lady's appearance.
The longer she gazed upon what she
considered an open confession of pow
erty, the loftier grew her scorn. That
Alice Brown. with her floating hair and
| wild-rose bloom. should have come to
this! She. plain as she was, poor as she
till imagined herself to be, had no
doubt drawn II much higher prize in the
matrimonial lottery.
Truth to tell, there was a good deal
the matter with Mrs. Araminta Dykan-
dyke, as shall shortly be proven, and
nothing at all the matter with the apart
ment around which she gazed so super
cii0usly. To be sure, it was inexpen-
sivev furnished. yet most people de-
clared it 1.-The prettiest little parlor they
ever did spy" Let me hold up the
picture as it was held before me. 1t
may give young beginners some helpful.
happy hints.
1t was papered with hardware paper
in soft, gray shades; it had two Shaker
chairs, tied with red ribbons, and some
folding carpet-chairs in moss-green tints.
In the centre of the floor was a rag-car-
pet, laid down ike rug. The rags
had been carefully selected, and a shop
keeper sremnant-basket furnished a har-
lequin-frinoe not in the least deiracting
from It's general prettiness. The cur
tains were q ten-cent chintz that would
never bear washing, but as long as its
good, clear India-red gave a finish to
the room few inspected the quality.
The cloth on the small table was of crash,
coarsely embroidered in crewels where
the seams came together and to form a
bordering. The low bookshelves were
of pine, finished with shcllac and fitted
in a recess, so as not to require any cab
Matchmaking. There was nest of mir
rors over the mantel. and underneath
an open CRATE, trimming with dried
grass and autumn leaves. Last, not
least, rattan lounge tied with bright
ribbons. and comfortable. red chintz
pillow made the room complete as to
the furnishing. There We're few addi-
tional touches, evidently bridal presents.
in the way of two oil paintings, sea and
land views, brackets with tiny marb',
cupids and other dainty knick-knacks on
them. a bouquet-table with vase and
flowers, and finally. a bunch of rainbow
eyed peacock feathers. set against the
soft, gray wall.
Mrs ROYAL was not many minutes
obeying her neat little maid-servant's
summons to the parlor. And, let me
tell you, her breezy presence made the
room complete, although Mrs. Dykan-
dyke was more than ever taken aback.
That one whose honeymoon of wifehood
was scarcely on the wane should appear
before caller in a seersucker and an
apron was absolutely on par with bar
barism. To be sure. the seersuc1er was
pinkF pink, the apron a dainty white
dot, and Mrs. Royal, with her golden
hair in a golden net. and her eyes as
bright as purple violets grading dew
drops and sunbeams in their velvet
hearts, looked the good house-fairy that
she was Yet, for all that, this utter
disregard of conventionalities almost
threw Mrs. Dykandyke into spasms.
I'VE have drifted apart since my mar
riage two years ago, remarked the lady
who had been Araminta Case, after
they had kissed and exchanged congrat-
ulatory greetings, land / should not
have called had not been positively
assured there were no cards. / am de-
lighted to see you looking so well and
so happy, dear; but, excuse me,
thought Mr.. Royal was in comfortable
'.He considers himself one of the rich
est men in the world, :" replied the young
wife, the dewdrops and sunbeams dane
ing in her eyes.
''Of course. my love, possessing you
he is. You always have been a treas
ure and always will be, ALICE, but"
Then, amidst profuse apologies, Mrs.
went on to say something
TO the effect that she was afraid her
friend had thrown herself away, con-
Guiding with: 81 can't help seeing how
you live, you know" with a compre-
hensive glance around the apartment
''In your fathers house everything is SO
Away down in the depths of her ten
der heart Mrs Royal heaved sigh.
Yes. srytkisg was difsrsRt in her