The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-09-14

went. But, oh, reader, little do You
think, and little did she think, where
| the turban was that she immagined to
be upon her head, and under the sup
posed shadow of which she walked into
the room with SO much dignity and
complacence. 1t was below in the hall,
living on the floor. fast in the calash. to
which Susan. ill-starred weneh. had
pinned it.. and the footman in his cruel
haste had dragged them both of to-
gether.
With only some under-trappings on
her Uranium. and altogether uncon-
| scious of her calamity, smiling and
bowling. Miss Cecilia advanced toward
her host and hostess, who received her
| in the most gracious manner,
thinking, certainly, that her taste in =
head-dress was peculiar, and that she
was about the most extraordinary figure
they had ever beheld, but supposinS
that such was the fashion she chose to
adopt-the less astonished or inclined
to suspect the truth, from having heard
good deal of the eccentricities of the
two spinsters of B. But to the
rest of the company the appearance
she made was inexplicable; they had
been accustomed to see her addressed
and oddly-dressed. but such flight as
this they were not prepared for. Some
whispered that she had gone mad:
others suspected that it must be acct
dent-that somehow or other she had
forfotten to put on her head-dress but
even if it were so the joke was an ex.
cellent one, and nobody cared enough
for her to sacrifice their amusement by
setting her right. So Miss Cecilia,
blessed in her delusion, triumphant and
happy, took her place ut the whist
table. anxiously selecting position
which gave her a full view of the door,
in order that she might have the indies
cribable satisfaction of seeing the ex-
preston of Miss CharlOtte's countenance
when she entered the room-that is, if
she came; the probability was that
modification would keep her away.
But no such thing-Miss Charlotte
had too much spirit to be beaten out OF
the field in that manner. She had
waited in patience for her turban, be-
cause Miss Gibbs had told her that.
having many things to send out, il
might be late before she got it; but
when half-past six arrived she became
impatient, and dispatched her maid to
fetch it. The maid returned with miss
Gibbs respects, and the girl was still
out with the things: she would be sure
to call at Miss Charlotte's before she
came back" At half-past seven there
was another message to say that the
turban had not arrived. By this time
the girl had done her errands. and Miss
Gibbs, on Questioning her, discovered
the truth. But it was too late-the
mischief was irreparable-Susan aver
ring the truth, that her mistress had
gone to Mrs. Hanaway's party some
time with the turban on her head.
We will not attempt to paint Miss
Charlott's feelings; that would be vain
endeavor. Rage took possession of her
soul; her attire was already complete,
all but the head-dress, for which she
was waiting. She selected the best tur-
ban she had, threw on her cloak and
calash, and in a condition of mind bor-
dering upon frenzy, she rushed forth,
determined, be the consequences what
they might, to claim her turban and ex-
pose Miss Cecilia's dishonOrable con-
duct before the whole company.
By the time she arrived at Mrs Hama
ways door, owing to the delays that
had interviewed. it was nearly half
past eight; the company had all
arrived, and, while the butler and
footmen were carrying up the re-
freshments, one of the female servants
of the establishment had come into the
hall, and was endeavoring TO introduce
some sort of order and classification
among the mass of external coverings
that had been hastily thrown off by the
ladies; so when Miss Charlotte knocked
she opened the door and let her in and
proceeded to relieve her of her wraps.
Il suppose I'm very late" said Miss
Charlotte, dropping into chair to seize
a moments rest, while the woman drew
off her boots; for she was out of breath
with haste and heated with fury.
81 believe everybody's come, ma am"
said the woman.
Il should have been here some time
SINCE" proceeded Miss Charlotte, but
the most shameful trick has been played
me about my-my-why-I-deelare-
really believe" and she bent for
ward and picked up the turban-the
identical turban, which, disturbed by
the maId-servant's maneuvers, was
lying upon the floor, still attached to
the calssh by Sukey's unlucky pin.
"Was there ever such q triumph?
Quick as lighting the old turban was
OFF and the new one on, the maid, with
bursting sides, assisting in the opera
ton; and then, with light step and
proud heart, up walked Miss Charlotte
and was ushered into the drawing
room.
As the door opened, the eyes of the
rivals met. Miss Cecilia's feelings were
those of disappointment and surprise.
Then she has got a turban, too! How
could she have got it, and she was
vexed that her triumph was not so CON-
plete as she has expected. But Miss
Charlotte was in ecstasies. 1t may be
supposed that she was not slow to tell
the story; it soon flew around the room,
and the whole party were thrown into
convulsions of laughter. Miss Cecilia
alone was not in the secret; and as she
was successful at cards, and therefor in
good humor, she added to their mirth
by saying that she was glad TO see
everybody so merry. and by assuring
Mrs Runaway, when she took her
leave, that she had spent q delightful
evening, and that her party was the
gayest she had ever seen in B.
Il am really ashamed" said Mrs.
Runaway, lat allowing the poor wo-
man to be the jest of my company; but
1 was afraid to tell her the cause of our
laughter, from the apprehension of
what might have followed her discov-