Huntsville gazette., 1886-06-26

you know; she had clear head, re-
tentive memory, and wide expert
ence. She was the daughter Of New
London shipping merchant, who came,
when she was quite young, to live in
New York, that his children might
have Che advantages not procurable in
provincial town. But New York
itself was not much more than that
when compared with European cities.
Still, it did have several good schools,
Kings College, and, I believe, some
other endowed institutions. My grand
father had made money, and he was
desirous that his children should not
only be well educated, but should ad-
vance socially.
''There was then considerable aristo-
cratic feeling prevailing against people
in trade, but my grandfather seized
the bull by the horns, took a house in
Pine street, furnished it t.according to
the taste of the day, sent his children
to school and dancing-schOol (the lat
ter was taught by French refugee of
good birth), patronized the theater
and the School of Fine Arts, and enter
tanned the notabilities who came to this
wealth, or both. He succeeded admir-
ably, was considered public-spirited
and generous, and made many friends.
My mother, his eldest daughter, at
eighteen left school with a certificate
declaring her scholarly attainments, as
well as her proficiency in all the more
practical requirements of the time.
She was also an elegant dancer, and
was considered one of the best three
dancers in the city. The other two were
Miss Van Colt and Miss -; but
had better not give the other ones name.
Twill cs II her Vanessa, though Lucrezia
would be more apropos. These girls
Lily Van Cott, Vanessa and my mother
were constant companions. They
were very beautiful. Ny mother said
Vanessa was superb, her figure COM
manding, and her manners very i'm
posing. Lily. though charming, had
not so much bel esprit. She was of a
more timid nature, and it was no mat
ter of surprise that she did not attract
as much attention as Vanessa, nor that
Vanessa, Notwithstanding her many
admirers, should marry first. Her
choice was considered excellent
| young man of good family, of wealth
| and of ambitious character Lily
| shortly after married her cousin, and
| my mother was bridesmaid to both.
| She delighted to describe the wedding
feasts and the beautiful apparel of the
brides, from the wine and the wedding
cake to the satin and pearl. But such
descriptions can hardly compare with
fho Inv Of fho
ever, always listened with boyish
pleasure to all the details, for it was
not until a much later date that l
heard the whole of the story, or that
portion of it which was untitled for
childish ears. ~
1.-The winter succeeding these mar
riages was an unusually gay one.
Many foreigners were in town, and
| among them famous singer-a Sig
| nor BOlacca, or some such name. Ev-
cry body raved about his exquisite
voice, and he was invited everywhere;
in fact, the whole town was at his feet.
You may be sure this pleased his Sc
rene Highness, but the two brides were
his especial favorites. Perhaps he
thought himself safer in paying atten-
| ton to married women than to maid
ems. 1t was noticed, however, that,
contrary to the usual custom, Vanessa
did not seem to stand first in fav or,
but that Lily's quieter beauty had pre-
cedence. This was the more remark
| able because all visitors from foreign
lands had agreed in pronouncing Van
essa's style unapproachable except in
court circles.
"Now have my own way of telling
stories, and you must pardon the inter
ruptiOn, but / wish to remark that |
am coming to the part of my tale
which, when l have presented it in lit
erary form, is always objected to as
sensational. l have therefore striven
to no purpose when l have essayed to
soften it. To resume: E+
''You would not suppose that two
lovely young women, secure in the af-
rection of their husbands, and enjoying
the respectful admiration of all their
friends, could possibly be affected by
the passing favor or a foreign adven-
turer; for so all those professional sing
ers were looked upon, no matter how
greatly they were courted or how high
ly their attainments were valued. But
it became evident to all that Vanessa
was furiously jealous of Lily Van Cott.
Search as you may for hidden springs
of action, I am convinced that vanity is
as powerless force among us as love
or hate or revenge. 1t
"Signor Bolacca was a guest at my
grandfather's house, and in his honor
ball was to be given. The tickets
had been out for days-they did not
use cards 80 commonly as now-and
my mother had written invitations to
her particular friends, and received
their replies. Vanessa's note was on
her writing-desk, when delicate little
package was brought addressed to Sig
nor Bolacca, AS he was in constant
receipt of pretty trifles from his many
admirers, my mother ordered the SER
want to take it to his room, merely re-
marking that the address resembled
that Of the note lying before her.
''The ball was to take place that
night, and my mother was just putting
the finishing touches to heI toilet.
when she heard little tumult in the