Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-12-21
RECEIVING CALLS.

tNtii hA1Att1hg 1hAh EAAOAld GlAuIAAs
resoluteiy, and l 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 | 10tl p
Alexia stood in the middle of the
floor, with her fluffy golden hair falling
over her eyes, her cheeks glowing a
mild pink, and her whole perSonelle
indicative of resolve and determine
tion in the EXTREMIST degree
Mrs. Ardell looked at her in despair
The two Misses scarlett, her daughters
by a former marriage ana AsD,
not pnrtie,itarIx ls..l-s--.5 = "a s
sat as stlf and prim as two cars..si
marble images "Alexia's temper was
proyerbial in tho family, and these
very proper and precisely behaved
young women were wont to affect the
greatest dislnay at its vehement gusts.
"Alexia," said Mrs. Ardell solemnly,
lin 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 Er-
mengarde You are to go back to
boarding-school tomorrow
"But p' cried Alexia, in dismay, "my
holidays do not expire until Wednes-
day."
"That is very true" said Mrs Ar
dell, COMPRISING her thin lips to a
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.
"One 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 fddlesticks p irreverently
interrupted Alexia, as she fled from the
apartment in floods of undignifed
tears.
But numbers are certain to conquer,
in the long run and so Judge Ar
delrs daughter was packed remorsely
off to boarding school, and Mrs. Ar
delrs two girls returned to their con-
sultations with the dressmaker for the
grand gala-day of the year.
Verena, a pallid blonde, with cold,
watery-blue eyes. and colorless faxen
hair, was to wear blue damask, en-
broidered around the skirt in palm
leaves Of seed pearls.
Ermengarde, who had little more
bloom, and ventured to call herself
brunette, had chosen pink satin, with
cloudlike draperies of black lace while
the matron herself, no bad exemplifi.
cation of the poets idea of fat fail
and forty" was to wear ruby velvet
richly trimmed with point applique lace
and a diamond cross, which, in the alb
sence of her husband, she had hireC
from an accommodating jeweler for th'
occasion
While Alexia-poor heart-brokeI
child, was sent ruthlessly to the de
pot, where Miss Gardiner, the govern
essSwas telegraphed to meet her.
But Miss Gardiner, as it chanced
did not receive the message in time, an'
was not there and Mr. Herbert Hel
ullyn aUGS there
Alexia knew him very well. Sh
had seen him once at her stepmother's
He owned brown stone house, front
ing on the Central Park, and plac
near Lake George, called Helullyn Hal
He drove a pair of superb, high-steT
ping horses, and owned private pic
ture-gallery; and Ermengarde Scarlet
had selected him as the special targf
for the arrows of her hazel eyes, thi
season.