Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-12-12
RECEIVING CALLS,

81 am SIXTEEN" said AleYia Ardell.
resolutely, "and | was put into long
dresses last month, and I've a right TO
come down into the parlor and see
company on New Years day! And |
am sure that papa would let me, if he
was here, and | ,ciN"'
AleXia stood in the middle of the
floor, with her fluffy golden hair falling
ovef her eyes, her checks glowing a
mild pink, and her whole perSoneiie
indicative OF resolve and determine
tion in the EXTREMIST degree.
Mrs. ATdell looked at her in despair
The two Misses Scarlet, her daughters
by former marriage, and AeXia' s
not particularly beloved step-sisters,
sat as stiff and prim as two carved
marble images, "Aleyia's temper" was
prOverbial in Tho family, and these
very proper and precisely behaved
young women were wont to affect the
greatest dismay at its vehement gusts.
"AleXia," said Mrs. Ardell solemnly,
'in your dear papa's absence it is my
duty to enforce his precepts, and car
ry out his discipline. You are great
deal too young to receive visitors on
New Years Day, like Verena and Err
mengarde, You are to 90 back to
boarding-school Tomorrow"
"But ~ cried AleXia in dismay, "my
holidays do not expire until Wcdnes-
day
THAT is very true" said Mrs. Ar
dell, compressing her thin lips to Il
mere slit consequently you can see
how far you have abridged your own
period of recreation by your ungov-
ernable WILL"
AleXia, forgetting all about the six
teen years, and the long dresses, burst
into loud weeping.
pray, AleXia, don't be so silly" said
Verena.
zone would think" tartly spoke up
Ermengarde, "that you were child
of ten years old, OF course, it is all
for your own good
"My own fddlcstcks ~ irrevcrently
interrupted AleXia, as she fled from the
apartment in floods of undignifed
tears.
But numbers are certain to conquer,
in the long run; and 50 Judge Ar
dell's daughter was packed remOrsely
off to boarding school, and Mrs, Ar
dell's two girls returned to their con-
situations with the dressmaker for the
grand gala-day of the year.
Verena, a pallid blonde, with cold,
watery-blue eyes, and colorless naXen
hair, was TO wear blue damask, en-
broidered around the skirt in PALM
leaves of seed pearls.
Ermengarde who had little more
bloom, and ventred to call herself
brunette, had chosen pink satin, with
cloudlike draperies Of black lace while
the matron herself, no bad exemplii-
cation of the poets idea of 'fat, fair
and forty" was to wear ruby velvet,
richly trimmed with point applique lace
and a diamond cross, which, in the ali.
sence of her husband, she had hired
from an accommodating jeweler for the
occasion.
While AleXia-poor, heart-broken
child, was sent ruthlessly to the de-
pot, where Miss Gardiner, the govern
ess, was telegraphed to meet her.
But Miss Gardiner, as it CHANGED,
did not receive the message in time, and
was not there and Mr.. Herbert Hol-
ullyn Uds there
Alexia knew him very well. She
had seen him once at her stepmother's.
Ue owned brown stone house front
ing on the Central Park, and a place
near Lake George, called Helullyn Hall.
He drove pair of superb, high-step-
ping horses, and owned private pic
ture-gallery and Ermensarde Sc;rlett
had selected him as the sgec!a target
for the arrows of her l.a+el eyes, tins
season