The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-31
NED PROCTOR'S MOTHER.


Miss Lily Frink awoke with a vagu
sense that something important ha
happened. What was itP She locke
about the room-at the crimson Canto
flannel curtains, the corner bracke
with its lambrequin of macrame lace
and its Chinese vase, from which drop
ped three peacocks' feathers; at tn
dressing case covered with litter O
ribbons and flowers pertaining to he
toilette of the previous evening. Flow
ers-oh, yes, the flowers recalled it.
She was engaged!
That may seem a strange event tt
have been effaced from a young lady's
mind by nights sleep, but then it was
not an entirely new event to Miss Lily
She had been engaged before, several
times, indeed, but for some reason hel
engagements seemed singularly lacking
in the quality of permanency.
She sat up in bed, the thick, sleep
ruffled braids of her brown hair falling
over her shoulders, her uncurled bangs
jutting wildly out above her forehead
and leaning forward far enough to
bring her face within range of the mir
rOr.
''How do you do, Mrs. Ned ProctorP"
she said, smiling to the white robed
image which smiled dimly back to her
through the folds of the mosquito net.
Then she threw herself back upon the
pillow again, her hands clasped be-
meath her head, and gave herself up to
Renaissance.
Miss Lily was rather plump, pi-
quaint little person, with smooth, fair
complexion, trifle freckled in strong
light, and clear blue eyes which, totally
destitute of expression at other times,
twinkled pleasantly when she laughed.
Just now they twinkled very pleas
antly, indeed, and q complacent smile
curved her full red lips.
'sNed Proctor!" she said in tone of
mingled triumph and surprise, "the
girls will hardly believe it. l wonder
how he feels about it this morningP"
Here she drew one of her plump hands
from beneath her head and looked at
ring on the first finger. 1t was not the
regulation solitaire which is the usual
sign and token of the pre-matrimonial
contract, but heavy ring with black
onyx setting, on the face of which a
monogram was outlined in tiny dia-
monds.
81 wonder how 1 feel about it my
SELF" she continued, Ieflectively twist
ing the rather loosely-fitting ring on her
finger, Il must get up and tell man.
ma"
Mrs. Frink was neither plump nor |
piquant, though the general resem-
blance between herself and her daugh-
ter rendered probable the conjecture |
that she might have been both in youth,
and while circumstance had been such |
as to lift her above those small cramp
ings and pecuniary worries so unfavor-
able to the preservation of attractive
attributes; but the attrition of lowered
fortunes had induced q physical lean
ness and mental sharpness fatal to
feminine charms. Her thin, pointed
face, shriveled like an untimely peach,
wore constant look of repressed COM
plant, her small pale eyes had an in
clsive CLEAN, and her voice a plaintive
cadence eloquent of woe.
She was in the breakfast room, HOY
ering about the table with that depress-
ed air of minute attention to family
comfort which she perpetually wore,
when Lily entered and, coming up be-
hind her, put her arms about the scarlet
shawl that draped her spare shoulders,
and held the onyx ring close before her
ewes. Mrs. Frink took hold of the hand
and pushing it further away looked at
tentively at the ring.
"Well," she asked, ''what does this
meanp"
''Do you recognize itP"
''It's like the ring | have noticed on
Ned rroctor's finger"
1T is the ring you've noticed on Ned
Proctor's finger" returned Lily, re-
leasing her hand.
Obj said her mother coldly, ''you
are going too far, l think"
.sBut it's serious" said Lily, laugh
ing delightedly.
s.Serious! what do you meanP"
.sWe're engaged"
..Lilyp" Mrs. Frink's tone was ex-
pressive of despair rather than surprise.
''Well, why notP" asked Lily, pout-
ing defiantly and twisting the ring
about.
Mrs. Frink emitted slight groan,
and went on with her occupation of
and rearranging the
knives and forks and spoons.
81 don't see why you look like that, y !
said Lily, u little discomfitted. "Hes
IS nice as can be, and must have money,
you know, or he couldn't live as he /
loes."