The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-07
RECEIVIAG Calls.

am SIXTEEN, said Alexia ArdeIl
resolutely, and was put into Ion,
dreeses last month, and I've ! right !,
come down into the parfor and zee com
, pany on New Years dayl And I an
sure that papa would let me. II he va,
here, and 1 aciHP' : : :
Aiexia stood in the middle of the floor
with her fluffy golden hair falling owe,
her eyes, her cheeks glowing mild pink
and her whole personele indicative 5,
resolve and determination IN the eY.
tremest degree.
Mrs. Ardell looked at her in despair
The two Misses ScarIett, her daughter
oy a former marriage, and Alexia5s not
particularly beloved step-sisters. sat as
stlh aad prim as two carved marble i'm
ages. Alexia's temper" was proyerbial
IN the family, and these very proper and
precisely behaved young women were
wont to effect the greatest dismay at its
vehement gusts
Alexia," said Mrs Ardell solemnly.
IN your dear papa's absence it is mS
duty to enforce his precepts, and carry
out his discipline. You are great deal
too young to receive visitors on New
Years day, like Verena and Ermengarde
fou are to go back to boarding-school
tomorrow"
"Butp cried AIexia, in dismay. "my
holidays do not expire until Wednes-
day"
''That is very true" said Mrs. Ardell.
COMPRISING her thin lips to a mere
slit; consequently, you can see how
far you have abridged your own period
OF recreation by your ungovernabIe
will"
Alexia, forgetting all about the sixteen
years. and the long drees, burst into
loud weeping.
"Pray, Alexia, don't be so silly" said
Verena
"0ne would think" tartly spoke up
Ermengarde, that you were a child OF
ten years old. OF course, it is all for
your own good"
my own fiddlesticks' irreverently
interrupted Alexia, as she fled from
the apartment in floods of undignified
| tears
But numbers are certain to conquer,
in the long run; and 50 Judge ArdelPs |
daughter was packed remorselessly off to |
boarding-school, and Mrs. Ardell's two |
girls returned tO their consultations with |
the dressmqker for the grand galaday of |
the year.
Verena, pallid blonde, with cold,
watery-blue ewes, and colorless tlaxen
hair was to wear blue damask, embroid-
cred around the skirt in palm-leayes of
seed pearls.
Ermengarde, who had little more
bloom, and yentured to call herself u
brunette, had chosen pink satin, with
clOudlike draperies of black lace; while
the matron herself, no bad exemplifica
ton of the poets idea of "fat, fair and
forty" was 10 wear ruby velvet, richly
trimmed with point applique lace and II
diamond cross, which, IN the absene,
Of her husband, she had hired from
an accommodating jeweler for the occa
sion
While Alexia-poor, heart broken
child-was sent ruthlessly to the depot.
where Miss Gardiner, the governess, was
telegraphed TO meet her.
But Miss Gardiner, as it chanced, did
not not receive the message in time, and
was not there and Mr.. Herbert Heluilyn
ras there!
Alexia knew him very we'll She had /,
seen him once at her stepmothers. He :
owned brown stone house, fronting on
the Central Park, and place near
Lake George, called HeIullyn Hall
He drove pair of superb, high step
ping horses, and owned private pic
ture-gallery; and Ermengarde Scar
lett d selected him as the special tar
get for the arrows of her hazel eyes, this ,
season. s
Mr.. Helullyn recognized Alexia at T
once. /
"Miss Scarlett's little sister, isn't it?'' =
said he. =
AIexia furtiyely whisked away her :
tears, and answered +
"Yes."
as anything the matter%' said Mr. !,
Can be of service? Pray :
me, if" =
"If you could please take me homer :,
said eager Alexia. every slyly indeed, .
mind d!-because I've been sent back to =
boarding school before the holidays are T
out, Just because Verena, Ermengarde, .
and mamma consider me too little to see Al
company on New Years day" =
"This is serious trouble indeed? p said i
Mr.. Helullyn, laughing. y
ooh, it is, indeed" sighed Alexia, 81 :,
am sixteen, you know. and / should so
like to be young lady, like Verena and ;,
but you see, returning to =
the subject, Miss Gardiner is not here -
to receive me, and if you would please :;
take me back in your carriage, | would !
creep in by the area-gate, and perhaps I
perhaps shall be at home on New :
Years day. after all-but" her large, =
dark ewes suddenly blazing into indigna- =
ton, "you are laughing at mel" =
mo laughing at you, Miss Ardell, :,
he hastened to explain, ''only with your ! !
Miss Ardellr' :, :
Alexia's heart leaped at this delicious y
tribute to her young ladyhood. She felt :
still when Mr.. HelulIyn helped !,
her into his carriage and they drove "
away. +
leave me at the corner of the street = =
please" said Alexia. at would never
10 for mamma and the girls to see me =
in your carriage. And Ermengards p
would be so vexedl"
And so the little wild gipsy stole in at o,
the area gate and fribed the cook with c,
4 kiss and string of amber beads not b
to betray her surreptitious re-entrance y
INTO the family circle, while Mr.. Helul- "
yn went home to wonder what there o
was so fascinating in Aiexia ArdelPs 6
round, dimpled face and liquid, dark |,
Eyes. o.
"a child indeedp' he said to himself. !,
She is woman, and dangerously Il
ovely woman, toO-only she don't know :,
Il Eyes like pools of deep garnet of d
brown, hair all glistening like tangles Of Ii
Little Alexia, if you could G
,nly see yourself as Others see you, you t
night be tempted to be vain. ! shall al
make point of calling at Judge Ardell's in
IoAse ON New Years day, and if Miss ol
Alexia is not there, shall certainly en- Il
luire for her"
The pink satin dress vindicated Nine. d
Jhaussa's fame as an artistic dress NJ
maker; the blue damask came home in q
line to be tried on and pronounced T
perfect" on Saturday night, and on n
Monday, the Misses Scarlett dressed 81
with judieious care. and m
many Iayings with rose water and eau d