The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-03-29
THROUGH A CURTAIN.


furnished, in the usual acceptance OF
that term.
Velvet carpets were under foot cheese
cloth curtains. trimmed with antique
lace, draped the bay-wiudows. plush
covered chairs were invi'ingly disposed
around.
And the velvet 7oortierc!
Mention must be made of the por-
tiere-what a struggle there had been
to obtain it.
Never did victor in mighty battle
sigh more contentediy over his success
than the only daughter of the honse of
Kent.
"Folding doors are out of date pa
pa," she had avowed implorlngly, impe-
riously.
"No one has them now, They are
vulgar, iuartistic.
1--WE must have pOrtieTo, crimson
plush, to match the furniture.
ut will look so graceful, you know,
falling from the ebony pole and gold
rings.
"Well, L must have it, pnpa; 80
there's no use talkingl'
And when Miss Kent put down her
foot with that energetic stamp there
WAS no use talking, and her easily init
Undated father generally, with quiet
wisdom, produced his oheque-pook.
She sat now, and looked at it approx
ingly.
Curled up in one of the big plush
easy-chairs, iu her soft, light wrapper,
sue reminded one of nothing 80 much
as white drowsy kitten.
An odd little piece of contradiction.
with name too imposing for her dim
inutive person, was Miss Callidora
Kent.
Her admirers called her II beauty; her
friends jolly little thing; casual ac-
quaintances, stern old maids, and zeal.
GUS girl companions, pronounced her
foolish, dress loving ooquette,
Dress loving?
Who would sec woman without the
thousand bewitohing vauities of the toi-
let, and desire to look her prettiestP
And too many admirers will give a
girl the title of coquette, often without
the sanction of her own conduct.
She snugged around little moro
oontentedly in her chair, as the door
opened and her cousin came into the
room.
She was a tall, rather good looking
girl, with a pair Of handsome brown
eyes.
She held broom in her hand, and
had martyred expression on her
face.
She carried certain high tragedy air
into the commonest details of everyday
life, and busted room or cooked a
oustard With the half disdainful hauKh-
tiness of dethroned queen.
Lovelyl
'Isn't it Frances Eya2"
The demure littlo Philistine, who
usually succeeded in spreading for her.
self a bed OF uncrumpled rose-Ieaves,
nodded toward the plus curtains.
Tue other oontemptuously ignored
the remark.
"With whom were you last evening,
If may ask9" in a gentle injured tone.
"Oh, yesl' oheerfHlly.
II went to the Queens with Fred
Halleol."
She uncolled deliberately, and rose
to view herself in the mirror.
small face, with row Of ourl.pa-
pers across the forehead--a pair Of mis-
chievous. hazel eyes, a straight pretty,
impertinent nose, and lips that could
charm with the most enchanting of
smiles, fickers OF modern, shallow wit,
and occasionally saucily spoken slang.
"Callidora, are you going to marry
/ Fred Halleck7"
"Marry?
"That depends.
''His grandmother--fabulously veal
4 thy, barbarously eooentrio-is dying.
b eff she dies loving him financially,
yes; if ignoring hi IN financially, nc.
"Ihere lies the case in nutshell"
eff 80 unfortunate, who will succeed
sShlm IN your favor?
y "Wby, that's so, Frances Eva-I for.
sSget to tell you about him--the gentle
ssman met at Mrs. Sassbrook's Dance"
SN She turned from The mirror with o
sssudden flicker of ambition.
SSg "He is so handsome, Frances Eva,
danced with him three times.
"He asked permission to call, and his
name is Silbert Richardson.
S "Oh, had almost forgotten to mon
sstton--he is as poor as the proverbial
church mouse"
IS A week passed, during which Miss
SStJallidora Kent, taking advantage Of
ssMrs Halleck's absence Ivy his grand
mother's deathbed, laughed and airted.