The Penn's Grove record., 1884-12-27
THE urLLE OF the SEASON.

cit will be the best ball of the sea-
son-it always is" So SAID Lady Mac
gregor as she laid down two great
square cards on which were invitations
to herself, her sister-in law. and her two
nieces for the Dragons ball.
~ hardly think Ellie ought to go TO
it,n replied Mrs. Macgregor, Ehle's
mother, d%oubtfully.
"Not go, mamma !" exclaimed Efie
from a distant window in the drawing
room. "Why, nothing would induce
me to miss it p
"On. surely she may !" put in Hes
ter. "Let her enjoy herself while she
can"
s'Of course" assented Effie.
"Of course" echoed Lady Mae
gregor.
And from that time Mrs. Macgregor
made no further objections, and Effie
revelled III the prospect of her first mil
itary ball.
The ball was to be held in the Assem-
bly, Rooms and Music Hall, two adjoin-
ing and beautiful saloons connected by
u corridoT-the last a spot generally
well p~atronized between the dances at
such gatherings.
In the privacy of many dressing
rooms this question was frequently
asked, "What will Efie Macgregor
wear ?"
But no one could solve the mystery,
simply because Miss Macgregor's attire
was not being manufactured by any
, fashionable mOdiSte, but by the clever
fingers of Mrs. Macgregor aud her elder
daughter Hester, who never considered
their time had been wasted when spent
upon service for Efiie, the younger
daughter, just then a little over nine
teen, and so fair to see that by common
consent she was the acknowledged belle
of the season,
Mrs. Macgregor vas the widow of a
Baronet's third son, of unexceptionable
pedigree, but poor, and proud as well.
She had hitherto lived a most retired
life in the Highlands, eking out her
narrow income with -praiseworthy skill,
and, when Hester grew up, even con
irving, with her assistance, TO save a
tribe in anticipation of the time when
her beautiful Eflie should ''come OUT
when she knew some extra expense
must be provided for.
Hester was three-and twenty "a
bright-faced, pleasant, sensible girl,
with no pretentions to prettiness, but
ladylike and refined. For her no effort
had ever been thought necessary and
she was 50 thoroughly unselfish that she
never gave "a thought to what others
might have considered the preference
shown to her sister. Ever since Effie
had been a baby, Hester had been like
a little mother to her; and, as her
charms expanded, the elder sisters
pride in them had partaken of the
same characterize be jealous of Ellie
never entered her imagination.
Lady Ma cgregor invited her relatives
to her handsome house In Moray Place.
and shortly after their arrival their gal
ties began and almost Immediately
the heads of at least a dozen of the
m~arriageable youths of Edinburgh were
completely turned by the rare beauty of
Miss Ellie Macgregor.
Lady Macgregor was glad that she
had asked her sister-in-law to come to
Moray Place with her daughters. Mrs.
Macgregor had foreseen great admira-
ton for Efie, but the adulatlJn she re-
ceIved far surpassed her most sanguine
expectations Hester was delighted.
Only one thing troubled her-no II
yet had appeared who was good enough
for Efie. Ellie herself was slightly
spoiled by it all. She enjoyed her
triumphs intensely. She ~rejoiced over
the bouquets that were sent to her, and
the homage that vas paid to her. After
the quiet home-llfe at Inverardoch Glen,
the whirI of the Edinburgh season was
enchanting to the simple country-bred
girl.
Some weeks previous to the Dragons
ball an admirer had attached himself to
the train of Miss Ellie Macgregor, in
the shape of a Mr.. George Duff. He
paid Elite marked attention, which she
received with a demure satisfaction
and her less important admirers shrank
back with one accord from any attempt
To compete with this eligible candidate
for the pretty Miss MacgregOr's favor.
Lady Macgregor found out that she
knew Mr.. Duff's aunts-in fact, every
particular concerning the young man
was 0 o satisfactorily discovered. He
was g~ood-looking, well-bOrn, comfOrta-
bly, off, his character was nimpeacha-
ale, and, to crown all, as the days went
by he was seen to be growing more and
more in love with Ellie, who certainly
began to show symptoms of considerable
rartiality for him in return.
The young ladies of Edinburgh In
private cOnclaVe rather resented the
fact of Miss Efle Macgreg0r's conquest.
She was a stranger who had swoopeG
down into their midst, and, after out
shining them all, picked out the mosi
desirable part of the season.
Accordingly one afternoon he called
at Lady MacgregOr's, when, by a happy
gregor and Hester were out driving.
Efie, looking unwontedly sweet, re-
celved him and, plucking up courage,
he there and then proposed to her, and
was accepted. Ellie believed that sht
was very happy and she was quite Ger
tain of it when she told her deligh'e
relatives of her engagement, Will
which even Hester, who had b en- hard
est of all to please, was charmed, foI
Mr.. Duff had won all their hearts by
his frank kindlineas and honest admira-
ton of Ellie.
The wedding was to take place IN
June-it was March then-and Efht
was to set about choosing her trO,GSedu
as speedily as possible. There were to
be no tiresome delays, no weary inded.
mite proceedings. Mr.. daft would fainl
have had the ceremonv-e lnrstad a.
LAY, but Ellie had all the Scotch su
perstition regarding the unluckiness of
the month 90 tar as marriage Was con. |