The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-03-03

and crumpled leaf to call up that curious
half-tender light to her face, and why
should this expression die slowly away
and the proud lines Of the exquisite
mouth obtrusivclv show in its stead9
Barker coldly, don't keep flowers
shout that are not fresh.
NO, miss said Barker respectfully,
but wonderinglv; then her eye, too. fell
upon the condemned Marechal Mel.
Il left the rose, miss, because you had
it in your hand last night when you
came in, and there was a bit Of water in
the vase where you put it, so thought
YOU would not wish it disturbed. '
Did faint blush mantle that smooth
white brow, or was it the wanton tire
LIGHT which filed the room?
Very we'll. Barker; it is OF no further
value"
And now the hair is done and the
muslin gown is dofed for robe OF pale
India cashmere Lined throughout with
quilted satin and trimmed from neck to
hem and at throat and wrists with cost
" fur. Then Barker hands bit Of
embroidered cambria exhaling faint
spicy fragrance. and draws aside a
heavy portiere, through which made
moiselle passes to a morning-room be-
yond. beautiful, coy apartment full
Of bric-a-brac and objects of art, an open
upright piano in one corner, with
banjo, the latest craze, tilting its fat
sphere against one leg. a sea-coal fire
CLOVIS in the FURNISHED CRATE, :: tiger
Skin rug sprawls before it, and q break
fast service of transparent china and
old silver is set out upon a claw-lcgged
mahogany table near the center OF the
room.
As madea,oisella enters. q beautiful
collie leaps forward, fawi::ng against
her and thrusting his nose under her
carcssing hand. His mistress pats him
a little absently and moves on to the
table. where at her plate IS piled the
morning mail. Letters. notes. cards OF
invitation, one or two black-edged
funeral announcements. for death moves
in the best society. too--she looks them
all over without great eagerneSs, though
her eyes brighten when she opens cae
to read that prominent m1sn of fashion
becs the honor of leading q coming
mucll-talked-of cotiilon with her, nor do
thew dull when the next uote informs
her that her presence is desired among
small select party which an arlsto-
cratic society matron is arranging to
take to her countrv-houSe for winter S
lark. She goes on through her letters
while . servant brings the breakfast
fruit. chocolate, pair of reed birds,
with potatoes a Ia creme. with an
omelette aux contitureS.
Mademoiselle eats with relish and
appetite, while the dog, on his haunches
bT her side, his forefeet on the floor,
makes with his head in the air long.
silky, inclined plane Of his back, which
ends effectively in a brush OF waving
fur. His eyes follow every movement OF
the fair eater. but his dumb entreaty
gains him nausht till the meal is done.
One letter of her many that morning
she has not yet opened. She takes this
now, and as she breaks the seal the
same feeting look which the dying rose
lad evolved cones back. The note IS
short, half dozen lines:
Il found my orders awaiting me LAST
night. / leave tonight. May | call
late this afternoon to say goodbye
The letter drops from her hand. The
dog sees her cessation from writing and
comes over to her feet.
Yes, Sultan" she says, stroking his
head, "he may come to say good-by.
and then we will think no more of this
charming young officer with his small
pay and Slow promotion, and his tempt
ing suggestion OF frontier barracks life. y
One more letter is quickly added to
the number waiting to be sent. then
mademoiselle hurries to her room,
where Barker already awaits her.
Twenty inmates later. perfectly
dressed in costume of cloth and fur,
whose elegant simplicity equaled its ex-
travagant cost, glovcd like a French
woman and shod like an English peer
ess. mademoiSelle enters her carriage.
and the tall footlnan holding the door
bends to receive her initial order.
She drives to her tailor's where she
mounts wooden horse to have a new
habit adjusted, to the jewelers. to select
4 present for fashionable wedding; 1T
florists she orders funeral piece sent
to society house Of mourning; she
leaves her carriage for tive minutes at a
cture-gallery to glance at canvas
which her world is discussing; she
shows herself at . business meeting OF
q charitable organization Of which she
is a member long enough to say that
she will stand at the Russian table in a
coming festival; she drives to the fur
rier's to choose her sables, and to her
bootmakcr' for consultation over bot
tines a IN St. Petersburg, and she hurries
finally into the boudoir Of her dearest
friend:
Just to hope. dear. that YOU are 60
ing down to Oakclitf with Mis-. l.. on
the 21st. No? SO sorry. And, oh,
Nell will you kindly lend me that little
book on figures for the german Your
brother sent out from Vienna last
month? Mr.. r. and Iwant some novel
ties for the Worthington ball.
That is the last, she says to herself
thankfully when she has kissed her
friend good-by, and Home is the
word the footman takes as he climbs tC
the coachman side.
1t is $50 when Barker is getting hei
out OF her outdoor wraps. and luncheon
is served, she is told. That meal over,
she must give her maid ten minutes
confab over the evenings dresses and
twenty more to criticise an arrangement
her dressmakcr has sent for inspection.
Then few moments to loll among tho
cushions Of her divan skinlming the
chapters of the last novel before another