The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-09-18

as she shook out the folds of a white mus
lin made in the most a%ntiquated country
fashion. "Now | can go to sleep and rest
That is what | will be- and in five
minutes mischievous Pinkie Bent was
sound asleep.
Anxiety and vexation had made Carrie
flush on her harrassed face that she APP
peared in the d~rawing-room a few moments
before the dinner hour. There sat the
cousin from Kansas. Was ever such a
before?
A plain white muslin, made in the sllep-
llerdess style, very full and very short,
scarlet stockings, a broad scarlet sash,
and worst of all on the head a turban of
white muslin, with a scarlet poppy flaunt-
ing in front, This was what the malicious
Pinkie had done with herself. malicious
Pinkie whose trunks were full of exquisite
French gowns such as her cousins had
never owned, and not often seen. She
knew at least that the opals ON her soft
white neck would command a certain sort
of respect, even from her inhospitable
relatives.
'Thank heaven she wore them. That
will show people she at least has money.
That necklace couldn't have cost less than
$1,000
ssNaC - pa,1iaI Diply;a anaialpIt1
MA likes EN- best of all she's got.
They're mas. like flowers better. I'm
great on artificial flowers; always wear EN-
every day
The guests were already arriving. Mr..
Ben himself among them, he having, ac-
cording to the fashion of New York bust
ness men, arrived home only in time to
dress for dinner. His heart was so full of
affectionate welcome for his neice, whom
he remembered well as a beautiful child of
ten, only half a dozen years ago, that he
did not at first note anything but the
lovely uplifted eyes, and the aifectionate
voice.
AS the dinner progressed even unob-
servant Mr.. Bent became aware that his
niece's attire was not what it should be,
and that her voice was too loud. "But
the women folks can soon straighten that
all out, and the child's as pretty as a pic
ture."
So also thought the Hon. Mr.. Morris,
who, to Carries vexation, o II being told
by her that the young lady in white was a
cousin, who had arrived most inoppor-
timely from Kansas, had exclaimed:
From Kansas. How delighted | am.
That is the state of all others | am most
interested in seeing. | am going out there
in the spring"
'If all the Kansas ladies have so wonder
full a complexion as your cousin, that is
another reason for visiting the region.
Pray. present me to her. will you? |
should like to ask her many questions. Per-
haps, ali" he stammered, with the curl
Gus mixture of diffidence and audacity one
so often sees in Englishnen, perhaps
your mother will be so very good as to let
me have the pleasure of sitting by her side
at dinner-that is, if it will not disarrange
your plans"
Il am quite sure mamma will not re-
linquish the pleasure of having you
chiefly to herself at dinner quickly re-
sponded Carrie, her heart full of anger
and modification. Nevertheless, several
times in the course of the dinner Mr.. Nor
ris heard the shrill voice, and thought to
himself: "What a pity the American
voice is so high pitched"
When the gentlemen joined the ladies' in
the d~rawing-room Mr.. Morris looked
eagerly for the Kansas cousin. Not seeing
her, he accosted Mrs. Bent with true
English bluffness, II don't see your niece
from Kansas; | hope she has not gone; |
was counting on talking with her all the
rest Of the evening"
With mingled resentment and confusion
Mrs. Bent replied: My niece went up
stairs Immediately after dinner
In truth, Mrs. Bent was in a state Of
nervous bewilderment. Without for a
moment suspecting the real reason of
Pinkie's withdrawal, she had perceived
thai the girl was greatly moved as she
came swiftly to her when they were enter
ing the d~rawing-room.
"Aunt. | must ask You to excuse me. |
am going upstairs to change my dress. |
was not dressed as | should have been"
''Never mind child, never mind"
Pinkie was gone.
1t did not take long for her to finish her
transformation touches. The dainty white
silk, with billowy reaches of white lace
from belt to hem, the soft, clinging gloves
to the shoulders, the opal bracelets, the
white ostrich feather fan, the white satin
shppers-all were in readiness. But at
last Pinkie's heart failed her.
'.It was a shameful trick to play ON
them. shall cry; | know | shall, and I'd
rather die than cry before that English
man.
At last she stole down slowly, hesitating-
ly. Black Ben caught sight of her first,
and reeled back with excitement.
1t was an unerring instinct which led
Pinkie, on entering the drawing room, to
glide swiftly to her uncle's side, and put
a.. -.