The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-09-19


equally sAamefaced relatives. If they
had not been too guiltlly disturbed in
their own minds Of fears of having been
overheard in their inhospitable COM
ments, they might have detected q
strange look on their Kansas cousins
face, mixture of twinkle and terror.
But they saw, heard nothing except
what SO thoroughly corroborated their
worst fears, Even Mrs. Bent herself,
who had resolved beforehand to I've
thoroughly kind to the child Of her hus-
bands favorite brother was. thrown off
her balance, and In spite of herself, the
welcome she gave was curt and cool,
But nothing appeared to daunt the
terrible Pinkie. Radiant good humor
shone in her face; her tongue ian like a
clapper, and when the dinner party was
mentioned, Pinkie cried:
"Not muchl l amt too tired. III
Just bunk down and by o'clock I'll be
fresh as roosterl We don't often get .
chance to regular dinner party out in
Emporia, and don't mean to miss one
this winter. Say--shall wear my very
best2 pve read about the kind of clothes
you New Workers wear TO dinners, But
I've got some A No. gowns, i tell you.
Now, you Just show me my room, and
I'll go straight to bed and stay there till
dinner time. You let your black man
bring me up tumbler of milk, will ye,
along about O. clock, and a doughnut or
hard tack. rlnuse to eatin' heartily
in the middle of the day."
When the door was finally shut upon
Pinkie, her aunt and cousins exchanged
looks.
"Horriblep cried the youngest
daughter, Carrie. "It's worse than
ever conceived, How could papa send
for her?"
"He has not seen her since she was 10
years DID," said Mrs. Bent, dismally.
"Of course he could not dream she would
be like this. He has always said her
mother was q charming woman; and
they lived in Europe for several years
when she was little. 1t is horrible,
girls'
"Bunk DOWN. calculated the eldest
daughter, Sophia.
"Fresh as roosterH echoed Carrie,
Mamma, shall go to bed myself and
be too Ill to appear tonight. ! never
can live through it; never! don't be-
lieve Mr.. Morris will ever cross oul
threshold again"
s@Then lie is welcome to stay away
said Mrs. Bent, hotly.
While this dist essed consultation wa:
going on between Mrs. Bent and he.
daughters, Pinkie, safe-locked in hel
room, was holding one with herself
Tears spaikled in her eyes, but her fac,
was full of mirth.
81 willw she muttered. 81 will do 1t
1t will be good enough for them. know
l can. 1t will teach them good lesson
But will have to work like a Trojan
to get the dress ready. Let me see wha
have got that will do. Ha! have it
That old tableau dress will be just tn
thing"
GLOW lucky l brought itr sh
chuckled, as she shook out the folds o
a white muslin made in the most anti
quated country fashion. "Now cal
go to sleep and rest easy for an hour
awkward and dowdy.' That is what
will be-" and in five minutes mischiev
ous Pinkie Bent was sound asleep.
Anxiety and vexation had made Carrl
i'll, and il was with most unbecomin
flush on her harrassed face that she al
peared in the drawing-room q few nc
: ments before the dinner hour. Ther
sat the cousin from Kansas! Was eve
such figure seen in New York draw
ing-room before?
A plain white muslin, made in tn
shepherdess style, very full and yer
short, scarlet stockings, broad scarle
!, sash, and worst of all on the head tul
ban of white muslin, with q scarlet popp
haunting in front! This was what tn
malicious Pinkie had done with hersel!
malicious Pinkie whose trunks were fu
. of exquisite French gowns such as he
cousins had never owned, and not ofte
seen. She knew at least that the opal
on her soft white neck would comman
certain sort of respect even from he
inhospitable relatives.
= Thank heaven she wore them. Ths
will show people she atleast has money
: That necklace couldn't have cost les
than $1,000"
| "Yes," replied Pinkie, nonchalantly
f "Ma likes 'em best OF all she's got
They're mas. like flowers better, II
e great on artificial flowers; always wea
: 'em every day."
The guests were already arriving. MI
Bent himself among them, he having
according TO the fashion of New Yor
business men, arrived home only in tim
to dress for dinner. His heart was s
full of affectionate welcome for his niect
whom he remembered well as beautifI
child of ten, only half dozen years age
that he did not at first note anything bu
the lovely uplifted eyes, and the aflec
tionate voice.