St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-12-15

just lOf q lew IQnuteS, ana put tneHf
back again. 1t was not like having
| them all to yourself. She drew long
breath and looked around the room. It
was all still, nobody would come up
there; what if she just looked at them a
little? 1t would do no harm, grandma
wouldn't care; no, indeed, grandma
loved her. So she lifted up the yellow
satin dress. How it shimmered and
shone, though it had lain there years
and years, and it was so stiff and heavy
it would almost stand alone. What d
beauty it was! What if she should just
slip it on for miautep You ought to
study your lessons right away con-
science told her, but she answered: 4
will in a minute; | almost know that
hard seven line now'-seven times nine
are-are well, I'll have time enough
she gasped, as she tried hard to make
the dress that had fitted the slender
waist of her grandmother come to-
gether about her own stout little body.
1t was much too tight over another
dress, and the sleeves were too long,
but she pushed them up, then she
slipped off her shoes and put on a pair
of cunning little slippers with high
heels, then tied on big satin bonnet.
and with dainty little fan in her hand
she was ready.
.She trailed up to an old looking
glass that hung on the wall. and was
| perfectly astonished. What beautiful
/ little lady she made with those pretty
| things on! She paraded up and down
Broadway, smiled, and bowed, and
courtesied, and then imagined that she
was at a party sweeping about with
long train, chatting and laughing with
most charming people. 1t became so
real to Winnie that she actually talked
| it all out. She sailed up to bag Of
feathers, bowed low, and inquired after
1 the health of Mrs. Fitzailan and her
children.
! .'But bark! what noise was that? Was
somebody coming? Yes, somebody was
coming up stairs as fast as possible
| two somebody's, and they walked
straight into the room. It was mamma
and Mr.. Denise; Mr.. Denise was an
artist.
"a large old oil painting stood in the
attic. It had been injured in some
way and mamma wished him to see if
it could be restored.
'Poor Winnie! She gathered up her
Elong trail and scampered as fast as she
could, with such high heels Gathering
behind her. 1t was of no use to try to
hide, though. they were right upon her.
Mr.. Denise laughed heartily, and de-
clared he must have her picture in that
dress, but Winnie saw something in
mammals eyes that perhaps the gentle
man did not. Mamma was certainly
very much surprised, and not pleased.
t'They soon went away. and just as
Winnie had put the last thing back into
/! the chest Aunt Lena's bell tinkled up
the stairs as signal that recitation
hour had come.
..That afternoon, just after dinner,
fine carriage drew up before the door,
and took in mamma. grandma and
Aunt Lena; then it rolled off through
handsome streets, out of the city, over
smooth roads, to Clifton Park; long
ride on lovely afternoon, that is what
Winnie lost. This drive had been
planned a week ago and she had looked
forward to it with delight. But on they
went among trees and flowers and sweet
air, while she sat at home trying
/ through her tears to make out seven
| times nine.
sit was hard. But when mamma
had heard her laundering and stumbling
through her lesson, she had said to
| grandma: 1t will almost break my heart
to leave that dear child at home this
/ afternoon. but something must be done
to break up this miserable habit She has
of dallying over her lessons and play
| ing, when she knows very well she
should be hard at work. My little girl
may better she'd few tears to-day
than to grow up disobeying her con-
science y
Did she grow up to be a good won.
amp Mabel asked.
"Ask Uncle WILL" grandma said,
with sly glance that way.
Did the artist ever paint her picture
with the gold satin skirt and the blue
satin bonneta''
Eyes, he did. =
.Have you ever seen it,"
Eyes: and so have you.
| "Where?'' said Mabel, with wide-.
open eyes.
9 In this very room.
| ..Why grandma! Do you mean that
! picture over the piano? Why, that is
| Aunt Alice. 7
/ 'tDidn' you know, whispered grand.
ma, 9. that your auntie had two names
| Alice Winifred?''
.O-h!" said Mabel, and then she
/ sank back in the large chair and looked
| at Aunt Alice sitting by her husbands
side reading
| The gas light shown upon her bright
/ hair and made it look like gold, and her
white dress fell about her in soft folds.
Her happy face looked as if she never
disobeyed her conscience.
Mabel thought within herself: II am
! clad | know that rood dear sweet