The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-03-01
A HOUSEHOLD FAIRY.

uES. AIhnlntd DykSuuyke, gaining On
her school-friend for the first time since
she became Mrs. Royal, surveyed her
surroundings. curiously, critically, while
awaiting the little fady'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
still imagined herself to be, had no
doubt drawn a 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
ciliously. To be sure. it was inexpen-
SiEely furnished, yet most people de-
clared it 'the prettiest little parlor they
sver did spy" Let me hold up the
picture as 1t 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 rag-car-
pet, laid down like o rug. The rags
had been carefully selected. and shop
keeper sremnant-basket furnished har-
lequin-fringe not in the least detracting
from its general prettiness. The cur
tains were a 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
bordering. The low bookshelves were
Of pine, finished with shellac and fitted
in q recess, so as not to require any cab
inet-making. There was a nest of mir
rors over the mantel, and underneath
an open CRATE, brimming 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 were few addi-
tional touches, evidently bridal presents,
in the way Of two oil paintings, sea and
land views, brackets with tiny marble
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. }t.s
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 seersucker and an
apron was absolutely on a par with bar
barism. To be sure, the seersucker was
pinky pink, the apron dainty white
dot, and Mrs. Royal, with her golden
hair in a golden net, and her eyes as
bright as pui ple 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 couventionalities almost
threw Mrs. Dykandyke into spasms.
I'VE have drif: ed 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. I am de-
lighted to see you looking so well and
SO happy, dear; but, excuse me,
thought Mr.. Royal was in comfortable
circumstances"
He considers himself one of the rich
est men in the world, replied the young
vile, the dewdrops and sunbeams dane
ing in her eyes.
''Of course, my love, possessing you
he is. You always have been treas
ure and always will be, ALICE, but"
Then, amidst profuse apologies, Mrs.
Dykandyke 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
different"
Away down in the depths of her ten
der heart Mrs. Royal heaved sigh.
Yes, everything was different in her
fathers house. Life there was splen-
did sham, a gilded bubble ready to burst
if but one creditor put so much as a
finger upon it. She remembered well
how the thousand dollar check 80 con-
spicuous among her wedding presents
WIS dIL6TWaruS COQllSCaLeu Dy Lu0 paler-
nal Brown to pay several pressing bills.
She could not tell her friend this, how
ever, SO she said, cheerily:
.'You speak and look as though I
ought to be pitied, Ara. Why, I'm the
happiest creature alive, and my home a
second Paradise" Then, in order to
clinch these assertions, she took her
friend all through the house. al haven't
got many things might have had had
not viii and resolved not to receive
wedding presents outside of our own
immediate families, and, in addition to
that, determinedly regulated every pur-
chase" She remarked further, as they
left the sweet simplicity of those upper
chambers with theirstained floors, home
made rugs, and drift-of-snow beds for
the lower floor: 1--WE could have had
solid silver and all that, sort of thing,
only we thought we might on some fu-
ture occasion feel embarrassed by not
being able to return their full value.
So, as you see, everything is plain. and
many things homemade. yet all the
more precious.