The Washington critic., 1885-11-10
HAD HER WISH.

she saw the reflection of her rose.
bud beauty in the admiring faces of
chance passcrs. And yet, withal Mat
tic Everett was not contcnted. She
wanted to be rich. She yearned for a
peep into fashionable society" She
was tired of the commonplace existence
which she led every day, aud longod
for an adventure of some sort-a streak
of romance to dapple her life
For Matte was only q drcssmaltcr's
apprentice, learning the trade under
the auspices of Nine. Genevicvc So
matters stood when Miss Bcllcfont's
wedding order came in.
where's that little blue-eyed girl
you sent to my house to alter my white
cashmere morning robey' said Miss
Bcllefont TO Nine. Gencvievc. "Lct
her come again She has capital idea
of trimmings. and her 1T is excellent"
Augusta Belcfont was not unlike
Matte hcrsef-a plump, fresh-com.
| plcXioned girl, with blue eyes and pale
| yellow hair-and after she was gone
| Matte heard the full particulars of the
casc-how Miss BclleGont was to be
married the next month to Major Car.
lyle, who had more money than he
| knew what to do with.
she's lovely girl. I'm sure" said
Miss Garrett, the forewoman, as she
| cut off yard upon yard of bias white
satin for the trimming. "And for all
that they say there's a young fellow,
without n penny in all the world to
bless himself with, that she loves to
| distraction"
ooh, how delightfully."- romantic"
cried Matte, with sparkling eyes; and
she worked away, thinking of Miss
Bcllefont and her two lovers.
Zone has her heart" she muscd,
"the other will have her handl Dear,
dear, what world this ISL
Two or three days afterward Matte
Everett took big paper box of half
completed dress bodices to the pretty
| little brown stone house on Creusa
Park, where Miss Bellefont lived.
The servant showed her into the Ii
brary, where the beauty sat- pictur-
esquely posed in Il sleepy hollow chair,
with her satin.slippered feet on an en-
broidered footstool. And leaning
against an opposite window stood Il tall,
handsome man, whom Matte rccog-
nized at once for Major Carlyle.
"IIello" cried he, in his oif-hand
way, lis that the milliners little girl
Pretty as Il daisy isn't she ?"
81 told you she was pretty" said
Miss Bcllefont and Matte smiled and
blushed and dimpled, and scarcely
knew which way to look. "Major,
shall have to leave you for few min
utes. | dare say you can amusc your
self very well with the books and mag
aZines. Little one, come with me.
And then Matte was ushered into the
satin hung boudoir, of whose splcndors
she had never before dreamed.
ooh, Miss Bellefont" she said, II
should think you would be so happy. "
Happy said Miss Bellcfont, care
lcssly. (Which of us is really happy
in this world? Come, let us try on the
emerald green satin, and then we shall
be through"
Day after day Matte Everett came
until the wedding grew near. Some
times she saw Major Carlyle, sometimes
she did not. But the oftener she came
the oftener one fixed fact became
evolved from her inner consciousness
that Augusta Bellefont was, or ought to
be, the happiest girl in the world.
Yet there was an absent look in
Augustus great blue eyes, troubled
expression of the mouth, that forbade
the inference of perfect bliss,
Il wonder what it is that is wanting
in her life" said Matte to herself.
"Oh if / only was in her place -
Lights and blossoms and the SHIN
mer of silk and satin ushcrod in Miss
Belcfont' wedding evening; and Mat.
tie was there, dimpled, smiling and
eager to help.
The bridcmaids were ready-all was
ready but the bride. Augusta Belle
font had been strangely capricious and
full of vagarics all day, sometimes
laughing, sometimes almost sad.
"Rcady?" she said, glancing at the
little malachite clock on the mantel, as
the last summons came. "Surely it is
not time yet. / won't dress till | am
obliged. See here, little one" to Mat
tie, 1--WE an idea Of seeing what | am
like in this bridal garb of mine. You
shall put on the wedding dress and
veil, the white satin slippers and the
wreath"
81, Miss Augusta"
"You. Why not? Quick! OFF with
that sober brown Bingham, that makes
such an insignificant brown sparrow OF
you!'
And half laughing, half reluctant
Matte Everett obeyed, not altogether
averse to decking herself, even though
it was in Jest, with the brilliant robe:
and resplendent pearls of the heiress
The reflection in the mirror brough
the rose carmine to her cheeks. lnyol
al 81, lrnn,Nol hnp
"You are charming, ma petite,
cried Miss Bellefont. "But stay-thC
bouquet from the other room. Wal
half second and | will bring it, "
ooh Miss Bellefont, let me 60"
"No; I'll cut it in minute"
And away she fitted.
One minute went by-onc, two
three, four and five, and still Mis-
Bcllefont did not come back. Matti
began to grow uneasy and vcntured t,
, peep into the room beyond, No ON
was there.
The girls heart gave great jump
, at the same moment the bevy of bride
maids iluttered into the room
Come, Augusta, are you ready
The groom is waiting, the clergyman
come and-Why, Miss Everett"
Matte grew scarlet
"She made me put it on" she fal
tered, conscious Of the awkwardness o
her position,
and where is she2" demanded in
dignant Mrs Bellefont,
"Gonc for the bouquet"
They made immediate search former
but, rs the reader will probably con
lecture, Miss Augusta was far enough
away, and only note with Clara Nor
dnunt the second bridesmaid, foun
slipped into the window casing, CAV
a any idea of her whereabouts.
!, "Good-by,n it said, debonnairely, "