New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1883-04-04
it?'' said he.
Violet furtively wbisked away her
tears, and answered

tears, ana answered
eyes.
lis anything the matter?" said Mr..
Darlington. "Can be of service? Pray
command me, if -
IF you could please take me homev'
said eager Violet. Every slyly, indeed,
mind!-because I've been sent back to
boarding-school before the holidays are
out, just because Julia, and Bella, and
mamma consider me too young to be at
the ball they are going to give
This is 8 serious trouble indeed!'
said Mr. Darlington. laughing.
"Oh, it is. indeed!' sighed Violet
II am sixteen, you know, and I should
50 liketo be young lady like julia and
Bella! But, you see" returning to the
subject, '.Miss Gardiner is not here to
receive me, and if you would please
take me back in your carriage, ! could
creep in by the area-gate, and perhaps
perhaps shall be 1t the ball after all
But her large, dark eyes sud-
denly blazinginto Indignation, ''you are
laughing at me!'
.sNot laughing at you, Miss Efing-
ham, he FASTENED to explain, ''only
with your
'Mlss Efhngham!
Violet's heart leaped at this first de-
licious tribute to her young ladyhood.-
She felt little frightened, though when
Mr.. Darlington, having escorted her
back to London BY the first train,
brought her in Hanson to Lowndes
Square.
'Leave me 1t the corner PLEASE" said
Violet. lit would never do Tor NAM
ma and the girls to see me in . cab
with you. And Bella would lie 90 vex-
ed"
Aud so the wild little gypsy stole in At
the area gate, and bribed the cook with
= kiss not to betray her surreptitious
Remittance into the family circle, while
Mr.. Darlington went home to wonder
what there was 80 fascinating in Violet
Effngham's round, dimpled face and il
quid, dark eyes.
"A child, indced!'' he said to himself.
'She is woman, and q dangerously
lovely woman, too-only she doesn't
know it. Ewes likepools Of deep garnet
brown; hair all glittcring like tangles
of sunshine! Little Violet, If you could
only see yourself as others see you, you
might be tempted to be vain. I shall
make point of attending Mrs. Efing-
hams ball, and if she is not there Ishall
certainly inquire for her.
The pink satin dress INDICATED Nine.
Chausau's fame as an artistic dress
maker; the blue damask came home to
be tried on and pronounced "perfect,"
on Saturday night; and on Monday the
Misses Symthson dressed themselves
with judicious care, and many lavings
with rose-water and continuous appli-
cations of pearl-cream and blush-pink.
| The drawing rooms, decorated with
hot-house flowers, and illuminated, not
with vulgar gas, but with the white lus-
ire OF many wax candles in myriad
, branched candelabra, had been person.
ally inspected by Mrs. Efingham before
she vent to make her toilet, and the lit
tie room at the back, where her hus-
! band ordinarily kept his boots. and ov-
ercoats, and pipes. had been transform
ed into garlanded bower, where faint
! lights glowed through shades of Nile
green glass, and the most elegant and
aesthetic refreshments were arranged in
! cleissonnec enamelled ware, trays Of
: repoussee silver, and baskets of Dresden
china.
: And, just at the time when Arabella
was saying to her sister, 'How do I
look, dear?' and Julia was twisting her.
/ self into the shape Of the letter S. to see
the back of her false puffs and plaitings
in the mirror, little Violet was enthus-
iastically tossing about the contents Of
an old cedar chest in the lumber room,
which contained the long-forgotten
wardrobe of the first Mrs. Efingham.
"Oh!' she cried, "this is beautifully
and she unfolded . scented robe oflong
China Grape, crimped like the shingly
bars of the finest sea-sand and embroid-
cred in fantastic figures Of scarlet silk.
''1'll wear this!''
''But it's so odd and old-fashioned,
MISS said Louisa, the maid.
''That is the very charm of it!' pro-
nounced Violet. "Oh, do make haste,
Louisa, with my hair! Are you sure you
can do it like the plate il the fashion
book?''
/ Mrs. Effingham was still arranging
the folds Of the pointlace over her
shoulders, when Julia rushed upstairs.
Mamma, Bella!' she cried, .'who il
the lady downstairs?'
1.-THE lady downstairs!' repeated both
mother and daughter in amazement.
''Receiving Mr.. Darlington in our
drawing-room!" cried breathless julia.
''In the loveliest dead-white dress, bro
caded in scarlet silk, and long, golden
hair. braided with antique Roman
pearls
MY dear" said Mrs. Efingham, ..you
must be crazy!"
And both she and Arabella hurried
downstairs, Just in time to see the beau.
tiful young intruder courtesy q gracious
greeting to two Of the most aristocratic
and exclusive Of the jeanesse doree q
the world of fashion.
''Ah!' said Violet, with the utmos,
self-possession, ''here is mamma now,
and my sisters. Don't move, Mr.. Car.
rington," she added, in lower tone,
''Im quite safe now. Mamma WON'T
dare to scold me before company"
And Mrs. bingham and the Misses
Smythson were forced to digest theil
rage and modification as best they
could.
For Violet outshone them as real
crimson hearted rose outshines the mil.
liners false presentiment--as the dia.
mond outshines the wretched paste orna
ment--and they knew it but too we'll.
But success excuses everything, and
Mrs. bingham could not but perceive
that the quaint young beauty, in the
antique dress, was emphatically sue.
cess.
"Violet," she cried, when she found
an opportunity. ''how dared you play
US such trick?''
II did it for fun, mamma, said Vic.
let, land if you scold me, shall tell Mr..
Darlington. 1t was he that brought me
back from Wimbledon, and he il my
friend!''