St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-11-12

ed country style. "Now l can go to
sleep, and rest easy for an hour, 'awk-
ward and dOwdy.' That is what | will
be-" and in five minutes mischievous
Pinkie Bent was sound asleep.
Anxiety and vexatiOn had made Car
RE ill, and it was with a most unbe
coming flush on her harassed face that
she appeared in the drawing room {
few moments before the dinner hour
There sat the cousin from Kansas
Was ever such figure seen in a New
York drawing room before 7
A plain white muslin, made in the
shepherdess style, very full and very
short, scarlet stockings, broad scar
let sash, and worst of all, on the heaC
a turban of white muslin, with a scar
let poppy Haunting in front This
was what the malicious Pinkie haC
done with herself, whose trunks were
full of exquisite French gowns such as
her cousins had never owned, and moi
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"
"Yes,n replied Pinkie, nOnchalantl
"Ma likes 'em best of all she's got
They're mas. | like flowers better
I'm great on artificial flowers always
wear 'em every day"
The guests were already arriving
Mr.. Bent himself among them, he hav-
ing. according to the fashion of New
| York business men, arrived home only
in time to dress for dinner. His heart
was so full of affectionate welcome fol
his niece, whom he remembered wei
as a beautiful child of ten, only half 8
dozen years ago, that he did not a
first note anything but the lovely up
lifted eyes, and the affectiOnate voice.
AS the dinner progressed, even I'M
Observant Mr.. Bent became aware thai
his niece's attire was not what 1T should
be, and that her voice was too loud
"But the women folks can soon straight
en- that all out, and the child's as pref
ty as picture"
So also thought the Hon. Mr.. Morris
who to Carries vexation, on being
told by her that the young lady III
white was u cousin, who had arrived
most inOppOrtunely from Kansas, had
exclaimed: "FrOm Kansas ! How de
lighted | am. That is the state of al
others | am most interested in seeing
| am going out there in the spring"
eff all the Kansas ladies have sc
wonderful complexion as your cousin
that is another reason for visiting the
region. Pray, present me to her, VIII
you? | should like to ask her many
questions. Perhaps, all" he STAN
mered, with the curious mixture OF
diffidence and audacity one often sees
in Englishmen, ''perhaps your mother
will be so very good us to let me have
the pleasure of sitting by her side al
dinner-that is, if it will not disar-
range your plans"
~ am quite sure mamma Will not re-
linquish the pleasure OF having you
chiefly to herselfduring dinner quick
" responded Carrie, her heart full OF
anger and modification. Nevertheless
several times in the course of the din
ner, Mr. Morris heard the shrill voice
and thought to himself, "What pity
the American voice is so high pitched
When the gentlemen joined the Ia
dies in the drawing-rOOm Mr.. Morris
looked eagerly for the Kansas cousin
Not seeing her he accosted Mrs. Bent
with true English bluffness: 81 do not
see YOUR niece from Kansas hope
she has not gone; | was counting Oh
talking with her all. the rest of the
evening"
With mingled resentment and con-
fusion, Mrs. Bent replied "My niece
went up stairs Immediately after din
ner."
In truth, Mrs. Bent was in n state Ot
nervous bewilderment. Without for 4
moment suspecting the real reason OF
Pinkie's withdrawal, she had perceiv-
ed that the girl was greatly moved as
she came quickly to her when they
were entering the drawing room.
"Aunt, | must ask you to excuse me
| am going up stairs to change my
dress | was not dressed as | should
have been"
"Never mind, child, never mind"
Pinkie was gone.
1t did not take her long to finish hel
transformation touches. The dainty
white surah silk, with billowy reaches
of white lace from belt to hem, the soft
clinging gloves to the shoulders, the
opal bracelets, the white ostrich feath
er fan, the white satin slippers-all
were in readiness. But at last Pinkie' s
heart failed her.
at was a shameful trick to play on
them. | shall cry; | knew | shall,
and I'd rather die than cry before that
Englishman."
At last she stole down slowly, hes
itatingly. Black Ben caught sight OF
her first and reeled back with excite
ment.
1t was an unerring instinct that led
Pinkie, on entering the drawing room,
to glide swiftly to her uncle's side, and
putting both hands into his, say
Dear Uncle Silas, wont you make
my peace with aunt, and ask your
| friends here to forgive me for mas
querading at your dinner ?"
| Before she had half finished speak
ing, the company had gathered close
around her.
~ must say" began Mrs. Bent, in
an angry tone. But Pinkie went on
resOlutely:
~ could not resist the temptation to
! live up to the New Workers. idea of n
Kansas girl, just for an hour or two.
You know that | was exactly the sort
of person you all expected to see from
the West" She gathered courage as
she saw smiles. eyes, you all know
it, embracing the group in her APP
pealing glance, land we out West all
know it. Then, forgive me. You ask
them to forgive me, dear Uncle Silas,
won't you - But Uncle Silas was
laughing too heartily. He bent over
and kissed her forehead.
~ ask them all to forgive me for
kissing YOU" he said. ga capital joke,