Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-01-23


lovely woman too-only see doesn't
know it! Eyes like pools Of deep gar
net brown; hair all glsleniug like tan-
giles of sunshine. Little Alexia. il
Y on could only see yourself as others
see you, you might be tempted TO be
vain shall make point of calling
al Judge Ardell's house on New Years
day. and if Miss Alexiu is not there, l
shall certainly inquire TOR her!
The pink satin dress vindlcated Nine.
Chau.sa's fame as an artistic dress
maker. the blue damask came hsme in
time to be tried on aud pronounced
"perfect," on Saturday night; and on
Monday, the Misses Scarlett dressed
with iudicious care, and
many lavings with rose water and
cautious application os pearl cream and
blush.pink.
The drawlng-rooms, decorated with
hot-house flowers, and Illuminated, not
with vulgar gas, but with the white
lustre of many wax candles in myriad
brauched candelabra, h ad been porson-
ally inspected by Mrs. Ardell before
sbe went to make her toilet. and the
little room at the back, where the
Judge ordinarily kept hi. boots, aud
overcoats, and Turkish pipes, had been
transformed into a smilax.garlanded
bower, where faint lights glowed
through shades of Nile-green glass, and
the most elegant aud aesthetic refresh
ments we're arranged IN cleisonne en-
amelled ware. trays of repoussce sill
YER. and baskets OF Dresden China.
And, just at the time when Ermen'
garde was saying to her sister "Ho"
do | look, dear?' and Verena was
twisting herself into the shape OF a
letter S, to see the back Of her false
pug. and plailings in the mirror, little
Alexia was enthusiastically tossing
about the contents of an old cedar
chest IN the storer room, which con-
tanned the long forgotten wardrobe OF
the first Mrs. Judge Ardell.
'Oh,' she cried, this io beautiful!
and she unfolded a scented robe oil
long China Grape, crimped like the
shingly bars of the Guest sea-sand' and
embroidered in fantastic figures OF scar
lat silk. 'Pll wear thls.'
But it's so odd and old-fashioned'
miss, said Louisa. the maid
That Is the very charm of it! pro-
nounced Alexia. 'Ol, do make haste,
louisa. with mg hair ! Are you sure
YOU eau do it like the plate in the FASH
lon book !
Mrs. Ardell vas arranging the folds
of the poinl lace over her shoulders.
when Miss Verena rushed up stairs.
Mamma, Ermsngarde = she CRIED
who is the lady down stairs p
The lady down stairs J! repeated
bo,b mother aud daughter in amaze
msnt.
Receiving Mr.. Helullyn in oul
drawing room y cried brealhless We
rena. In the loveliest dead-whi'e
dress bro ocaded in scarlet silk, and Ions
Golden hair braided with antique Ro
man pearls
MY dear said Mrs. Ardell' 'Yo'
must be crazy!
And both she aud Ermeugarde hur
ri.d down stairs. just IN time to see
the beautiful young intruder courtesy a
gracious greeting to two Of the jeu
nesse doree of New York.
All! said Alexla, with the u'mos
selr.uosses>ion, here is mamma now
and my sisters. Don't move, Mr. lle-
lull,n,' she added in lower tone
Pm qure safe now. Mamma woh'
dare to scold me before company
And Mrs. Ardell and the Misse'
Scarlet were forced to digest lhei
rage and mortifcliion as best the
could.
For Alexia oulshons them as real
crimson hearted rose oulshlnes TN
miliner's false presentiment-as ih'
diamond outshlnes the wrelched paste
ornamen:-and they knew it but toe
well.
But success excuses everything, aaC
Mrs. Ardell could not but perceive thai
the quaint young beauty, in the an
tioue dress, was enpbatically a sue
cess.
'Alexia,' she cried, when there was
a temporary lull III the stream OF call
ers, how dared you play US such
trick p
Il did it for fun, mamma, SAID AL
exia. Aud ifyou scold me, shal
IL.
tell Mr.. Helullyn. 1t was he tha'
brought me back from the depot, an'
be is my friend.
Il never beard anything so insolen'
in my life y cred Ermengarde Scar
letl, turning pale with anger.
She ought to be locked up ior
week on bread and waier,' said We're
ma, pssslonately.
But Alexia only arched her eyebrows
and smiled.
During that New Years day tht
child had bloomed out iulo a woman
Alexla had discovered her own talisman
Of power.
They could none of them ever scold
or tryrannize over her again. She hat
no more tears of being sent back to
boarding school.
But Miss Ermengarde Scarlett could
hardly conceal her spite the next day
when Mr.. Helullyn came to ask Alex
10 out In drive. nor when bonOuets