The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-09-25

Old Ballad
II was O i've Weylani's twenty-frst birth
day-her coming Of age.
1t had been tho iuvariabe custom of hey
parents 10 give Il summer dance upon that
day, dance following a garden party; but
now that she had completed her twenty first
year, Mr. Wey land would fam have had an
entertainment of a Graudcr sort and of a
more elaborate kind, but Olive wouli have
none of it.
NO, dear dali" she urgeI, "let us have
everything as usual NV birthday party
has always been cnjovcd 10y every one, SO
why make any changer
OF course Olive had her way, aud invita-
lions were sent cut for the usual tbinS-a
garden party, followed by marquee dance
and regular ball supper. AMI when the
day came it rose bright and clear, as it be-
seemeth fair August day to do. Olive
awoke upon a worh which seemed to have
no drawbacks, no failures, no diSappoint-
ments, it seemed to her like bed OF ross
leaves, among which there were no crrmpled
petals
I'm the breakfast room a table wa; await
ing her piled up almost TO Overlooking with
birthday ofrcrings-giovcs AMI bouquets,
pearls and diamonds, gold and silver. had
almost said frankiucens, ami myrrh; nor
should / have been very far cut Of it, for
| there werc perfumes iii bottles and lacons of
every color and size and form; and the ap-
| pearance of the whole was more like an
| array Of bridal gifts than OF birthday pres
sntS
"A sloriou, day, Give" said Mr. Wey-
! land. when She lai her soft aud blooming
! -,
morning greeting,
| Lovely, isn't it, dear dad: | really think
| | am one of the luckieSt Girls in the world,
Mother, darling, that is from YOU" holding
out a bangle set with ruhie~. Nobody else
knew | WI, wishing for su IL a one
as 1t exactly what You wanted" her
mother asked. Il was more than half
tempted 10 send for few that you might
choose it yourself, only IT seemed more
orthodox to let it come in the light of
surprise.
"Oh, much more; it is lovely Olive an
swered, as she claspci thc beautiful orna-
| rnent upon her arm. What Is that!-Eith
Arkwrighti7 taking n letter from the pie
beside her plate she spoke. "On, that is
nicc Cecil has come, sio read aloud,
- bringing Capt Hardness, of his regiment,
so | shalt bring them 10 you tomorrow after
nooa' That could not lee better Men al
ways improve everything And Mr.. Lucy-
J beg his pardon, Can't Lucy--always
makes things go off WE'LL he's such fun
Sire was not able to lingor very long over
Tho breakfast tablc, or TO examine the many
| offerings which The day had IN wight her
There were, she declared, hundred nnd
tbtrr~s tn, l., nj
entity she went away. singing in right ring
ing voice verse Of an oil ballad which had
been haunting her perSistently for weeks
past:
OF all the girls that arc SO smart,
There's none like pretty Sally,
She Is the darling Of my heart,
And lives in our alley
There Is no ialy In the land
That's half sweet ~ sally;
She is the darling Of my heart,
And lives IN our alley.
Right tenderly did the fresh young yoiea
Iinger over the quaint Snrnteenth-c injury
words and right braveIy did she chant ont
that other verse; which tells 10 any sympa-
tbctic ear such whole, big. wide world of
ten lerness and love and patient endurance:
My master and the ueIchb,rs all
Make game Of me and Sf.lly,
And. but Tor her. I'd rather be
slave. ard row a galley.
But when NV seven long ars arc ont,
Oh. then I'll marry Sally
And then how happily wen live.
But not in alley
| As she crossed the lawn, inst below the
terrace which ran in front of the drawing
room windows tseven of them, toward tho
large marquee in which they were to dance
| in the evening, and to which several work
men We're busily engaged i'll putting the fin
ishing touches, her voice rang out as tri-
umphantly MS IL sho We're in deed the beloved
of the celebrated Sally, who lived up an
alley, and kept her 'prentic,-lovo as true to
hor as the needle to the pole; indeed. with
such nerve and dramatic intensity did she
sing, that one of her hearers burst out laugh
| ing, and made her start visibly.
"Please forgive me for laughing" this per-
son exclaimed. in a tone Of apology, which
yet had ring Of amusement init at really
was so droli. the way you sang, Oh, then
| Iii marry Sallyr"
Miss Weyland laughed likewise.
YES, of course it WINS; but love that old
rong, and it always makes me feel just as if
i, too, had Sally"
She looked past him, toward his compan-
ion. and held out her hanl
How are you, Capt Lury' Pm so glad
you have come To Mrs Ark wright, in time
for my birthday party. And this, of cour -,
is Capt Harkness'" holding her hand out
TO him in turn
| "Yes" Then, as the hand was taken. he
went on p!acidly: an time for your party.
Miss Weylandi Why, I-er-camo on pur-
pose for it. A pwretty bother we had to
| get leave, te---hndn't -se. Harkrcssf'