Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-12-20


"The lady down stairs '" repeated
both mother and daughter in amaze
ment.
"Receiving Mr.. IIelullyn in our
drawing-r0om cried breathless We
rena. "ln the loveliest dead-white
dress, brocaded in scarlet silk, and long
golden hair braided with antique Ro-
man pearls"
"My DEAR" said Mrs. Ardell, "yOu
must be crazy y
And botG she aad Ermengarde hur-
ried down stairs. just in time to see
the beautiful young intruder courtesy
gracious greeting to two of the Jeu-
nesse doree of New York.
"Ah - said AleXia with the utmost
self-possession. ''here Is mamma now,
and my sisters. Don't move, Mr.. He
lullyn," slbe added in a lower tone,
I'm quite safe now. Mamma won't
dare to scoltl me before company"
And Mrs. Ardell and the Misses Scar
lett were forced to digest their rage
and modification as best they could.
For Alexia Outshone them as a real,
crimson-heartaI rose outshines the NIL
liners false presentimsnt as the dia-
amond OutshiIbes the wretched paste
ornament-and they knew it hut too
we'll
But success excuses everything. and
Mrs Ardell could not but perceive that
the quaint young beauty, in the an
tique dress, was emphstically,a a sue
cess.
"Alexia," she cried. when there was
a temporary lull in the stream of call
ers, how dared you play us such a
trick ?"
Il did it for fun, mamma" said Al
exia. And if you scold me, ! shall
tell Mr.. Helullyn. 10 was he that
brought me back from the depot, and
he is my friend. y
81 never heard anything so insolent
in my life p cried Ermengarde Scar
lett, turning pale with anger.
''She ought to be locked up for a
week on bread and water" said We
rena, passionately.
But Alexia only arched her eyebrows
and smiled.
During that New Years day the
child had bloomed out into a woman.
Alexia had discovered her own tails
man of power.
They could none of them ever scold
or tyrannize over her again. She had
no more fears of being sent back to
boarding-sehool.
But Miss Ermengarde Scarlett could
hardly conceal her spite the next day
when Mr.. Helullyn came to ask Al
exia out to drive, nor when bouquets
with cards attached, kept arriving for
Alexia
Mamma" she said, what is to bi
done ?"
Nothing, that can see," said Mrs.
Ardell, drily. "The child can't help
being beauty, L suppose"
"She will have to go everywhere
with us now," said Verena, plaintively.
81 tried my best to keep her back, P"
sighed Mrs. Ardell but she has pre-
cipitated herself into society"
And pretty Alexia Ardell reigned
the belle of the season, and in the spring
Mr.. Helullyn asked her father for her
hand in marriage. The judge, honest
man, stared in amazement.
Il thought it was Ermengarde
you fancied ~ said he. "I knew she
liked you"
"I am too much honored," said Mr.
Helullyn, without changing feature !;
"but L have never aspired to that hon
or. It's Alexia, and Alexia only, that
l love p
"Oh +" said the Judge. "Well. suit
yourself-suit yourselfv'
And so before she was quite seven
teen, AleXia Ardell was married, and
Ermengarde and Verena had the draw
ing-room all to themselves upon the
next New Year day.
But they were not satisfied, after all.
Some people never are satisfied.
Biting Horses.
A Il ALnl l.