The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1883-08-02
ment around which shc RACED 50 SUPER


pet, laid down like rug. The rags
had been carefully selected, and shop
keeper sremnant-basketf 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 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 a
bordering. The low bookshelves were
of pine, finished with shellac and fitted
in recess, so as not to require any cab
inet-making. There was 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 tho 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, bunch of rainbow
eyed peacock feathers, set against the
soft, gray wall.
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 a seersucker and an
apron was absolutely on par with bar
barism. To be sure, the seersucker was
a pinky pink. the apron dainty white
dot, and Mrs. Royal, with her golden
hair in golden net, and her eyes as
bright as purple violets cradling dew
drops and sunbeams in their velvet
hearts, looked the good house-fairy that
she was. Yet, for all that, this utter
disregard of conventionalities almost
threw Mrs. Dykandyke into spasms.
I'VE have drifted 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, sand ! should not
have called had I not been positively
assured there were no cards. am de-
lighted to see you looking so we'll and
SO happy, dear; but, excuse me. I
thought Mr. Royal was in comfortable
circumstances
"He considers himself one of the rich
est men in the world" replied the young
wife, the dewdrops and sunbeams dane
ing in her eyes.
'Of course. my love. possessing you
he is. You always have been a 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: Il can't help seeing how
you live, you know" with a compre-
hensive glance around the apartment.
In yourfather's house everything is so
different .a--..
Away down in the depths Of her ten
der heart Mrs. Royal heaved q sigh.
Yes, everything was different in her
fathers house. Life there was a splen-
did sham, a gilded bubble ready to burst
if but one creditor put so much as
finger upon it. She remembered well
how the thousand dollar check so con-
spicuous among her wedding presents
was afterwards confiscated by the pater-
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
ho
second Paradise" Then, in order to
clinch these assertions, she took her
friend all through the house. Il haven't
got many things might have had had
not Will and l 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 their stained floors, home.
made rugs, and drift-of-snow beds for
the lower floor: ''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"
They had entered the parlor again
over whose floor shadows of rose vines
came and went like the waves of some
fairy sea, and where the air was per-
fumed with the heliotrope's purple and
the mignonette's bronzy-green blossoms
that overhung the rustic stand on the
porch outside the windows.
isis wanted to give me bookcase"
continued Alec Royal, surveying her
precious volumes fondly. "but Will and
his brother Courtland together put up
these shelves, and l like them ever so
much. Then they two built this frame
with its compartments over the mantel,
and set these squares of looking-glass at
the back, making divided mirror. I
think it's one of the prettiest novelties
ever laid eyes on
Certainly it was, ALICE Royal, even
without the reflection of that sweet face
If yours with its wild rose bloom and
glints O. gold hair. With these it was
assuredly marvel Of beauty.
Then, in spite of iEnumerable direc-
tions in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES arti-
cles, found we couldn't make q COM
Portable sofa without springs and con-
siderable upholstery. so we bought this
rattan lounge. In cold weather my silk
quilt will do nicely for both under and
upper cover"
All this was very well to listen to, es-
pecially as Mrs. Royal was continually
making pictures Of herself in her pink
dress and bit of an apron, and with her
bright eyes, red lips, and CLINT o gold
hair. Now she stood near the Indian
red curtains, now under the mirrors
flash, and again where leaf-colors blazed
in the open CRATE, but Araminta Dykan-
dyke was not satisfied with these dis
solving views, fascinating though they
were.
She was exceedingly curious to know
how her friend, who had always moved
in brilliant circles, and who was married
to man whom she supposed was in
easy circumstances, came to be reduced
to so pitiful strait as this in which she
found her.
Pressing the question, she learned
that the year previous Will Royal had
honorably failed in business and now
occupied position as clerk in a whole
sale dry goods store. The young couple,
who had been looking forward to far
future, and whose wedding-day
was appointed before call was lost but
honor,'' concluding they could better
wait for wealth than happiness, were