Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-05-14
HAZEL'S DEBUT.
BY GUINBvERE.

won't your"
"Oh, can't get these sums right.
Put down that book, Cissy-there
now"
A slap followed the last words,
whereupon Cissy broke out into sebs
loud and unrepressed.
The sitting-room was a scene OF
disorder. in the midst Of which three
children sat grumbling and fault find
ing; faded-looking woman lay on the
lounge reading novel, and at either
window sat young girl; one blonde
and slightly passee, the other pretty
and fresh as newly blown rose.
Mildred raised her head, scowled
and resumed her fancy work; but
Hazel, the younger, turned with
flashing brown eyes.
at is perfect pandemonium herep
she exclaimed. 81 should think
something might be done to keep
peace. Mamma, Mildred, somebody
speak to them-oh, children are such
a nuisancep
You might do something toward
pacifying them," said Mrs. Trent, Ian
guidly. "You have nothing else to
do"
"What can l dor You know have
no authority over them whatever.
Ned, be quiet. Come here, Cissy, and
listen to pretty little story"
II don't want q tory, / want re
book" walled the youngest of the
Trent family.
Ned renewed his whistling in a
higher key, and May began to cry over
her unfinished sums.
al can't stand this" cried Hazel,
desperately, and rising, rushed from
the room to be caught in the arms OF
an old lady who was coming down the
narrow hallway.
"Why, Aunt Laura!" cried the
young girl, smiles chasing away the
dark look on her pretty face. "You
have just arrivedp l am 80 glad to
see you. Mamma, Mildred, come see
who has come"
She blushed little as she ushered
the visitor into the untidy apartment;
and the red glow did not fade as she
saw her mother in her wrinkled gown,
and Mildred with her disheveled hair,
come forward to greet the stately, gray
haired woman
When Laura Trent had planned her
last visit to the cottage, she sent no.
tice of her intentions, and found on
her arrival everything in pleasant
readiness. Now she had come I'M
awares into the home of her brothers
widow, and saw things in their real
aspect.
Hitherto Hazel had been kept in the
background, but how boldly she stood
nova pretty, trim little figure,
with her fresh cashmere gown and
plated brown hair.
81 have come to pay but q brief
VISIT" said Aunt Laura at the tea
table few hours later. ~ want one
of the girls to return with me-"
And then, while Mildred, quite a
charming vision now, in a pale blue
evening dress, with her hair tastetully
arranged, leaned forward with an ex-
pectant light in her blue eyes, the old
lady turned and looked at Hazel with
a smile.
Can you make your preparations in
lew nOurS! sue dSk6u.
"Yo surely don't mean Hazel" pro-
tested Mrs. Trent. "Why, she is so
young-a mere child, and"
''She is eighteen and old enough. -
responded Aunt Laura. at is time
she made her debut in society. Now
don't make any objections; it will be
all at my expense, and l shall take
pleasure In acting as chaperon to poor
Jacks daughter-how like her father
she looks"
With smiling faces Mrs. Trent and
Mildred watched them depart on the
morrow, and then went into the sitting
room to indulge freely their anger and
chagrin.
AUNT Laura" said Hazel, as they
drove away together. II am more
grateful to you than words can ex-
pressl"
"You were not happy tn ere" asked
the old lady bluntly.
mo. Did you ever hear of the
square peg in the round hole? Some
show I could not make my life fit the
circumstances surrounding it. | was
the odd one; sometimes"-with a little
sob-"I felt that there was no place
for me there"
"Poor dear" thought her aunt, ito
think | came with the purpose of
bringing Mildred to the city, while
this sweet child wasted her life and
opportunities in an uncongenial at
mosphere. Strange l never noticed
how pretty she washer eyes are won
derful"
Il was the evening of Hazel's debut,
and in her own luxurious apartment
she stood, vision of youth and beauty,
ready to face the critical eyes of Mrs.
Tren.s dear five hundred"
"You are lovelyr' said Aunt Laura,
and if she herself was not thrilled with
vanity, she certainly found no cause
for dissatisfaction.
Her costume of white surah draped
with golden gaube befitted her years
and the occasion, and the clusters of
hyacinths were more becoming than
Jewels could have been.
II wish mamma and Mildred could
see me-" thought Hazel.
1t would have been revelation to
them, this brilliant vision; for eyes
grown accustomed to familiar figures
In cashmeres aud cambrics, open with
surprise to see the same in gauze and
laces and blossoms.
T., In To- arla rla1 md