Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-19
THE STORY OF A SATIN GOWN

ILL jun VI Il Oh LIN uU W "
Teresa, ready dressed for the first real
grown-up party of her life, had come to
look at herself in the largest mirror in
the house, the one that hung between the
windows.
She descended in state, treading daintily
in her pale blue slippers over the slip Of
Venetian carpet that ran down the center
of the old staircase, black and polished as
ebony with age and incessant rubbing
Old Chloe walked behind her, carrying
her train, that it mig hit not be soiled. The
beautifully embroidered white petticoat
revealed the silken stockings, and the pale
blue satin caught and threw back many a
CLINT and CLEAN from the bright fire in the
great CRATE.
The Judge sat in his arm chair, and
looked at the fair daughter whose coming
had cost him her mothers life.
Many thoughts were in mis- mind, but he
only said:
e" If l am any judge of young lady's
costume, my dear, your dress becomes
you"
Praise from Judge Shandon is praise
indeed" said Teresa, with a courtesy. al
you did not like it, should go back to my
room and stay there, papa. Oh, how nice
train is One feels so much more digni-
fed, Oh, papa, you are not ready"
''Sho' 'nuff, you's got to hurry Judge
said Chloe, with the freedom of woman
who had nursed him as babe. "Nigh
Almost seven, an ant no kline of a decent
road to Denviegh's Place"
The Judge laid down his book with a
smile, and vanished up the stairs his
daughter had descended. Teresa's neice
and namesake, four-year-old Tessy, danced
about her aunt in childish admiration.
You're as pretty as my doll, aunty,7
she cried.
"You doll" said Chloe. "You doll is
mighty handsome; can't shake a stick
alongside Miss Teresa, dough. rs goin'
over to de Denviegh's to help dat lazy
Cornell wait, jes for to see Miss Teresa
cut out all de oder ladies wild de beaux.
Our ladies always is the handsomest any
where, but Miss Teresa-she caps de sheaf."
And away marched Chloe, tossing her
yellow turban, to see that the Judge had
one of his finest handkerchief, and did
not forget the rosebud in his button-hole.
Teresa walked about the parlor and
Eauntered out into the hall. There, in its
corner, stood the tall clock, with its round.
foolish face, its broad black hands, a ship
in full sail browning all; and below, a
round and glittering pendulum swinging
to and fro, as though the moon had come
down to earth to play with the great iron
weights hanging beside it in the glass
case" little Tessy often thought
As Miss Teresa stood there, young man
entered at the open door and walked up to
her and held out his hand.
She put hers into it with smiling frank
ness.
"Going with us, Mr.. Giford?" she
asked, gaily.
"The Judge is kind enough to say
may" said the young man.
His eyes were taking in all the beauty
of the picture before him. This delicate
brunette, clad in the palest blue satin,
with pearls about her throat and fragrant
roses in her bosom, was to him the love-
lest woman on earth. And she was to be
his, he fondly hoped-there seemed to be
no obstacle.
"Papa is dressing" said Teresa. 1--WE
are always late, because he reads to the
last possible moment"
The young man bowed. His mind was
too full of an intention to make bright
answer. He put his hand into his pocket
and drew out dainty envelope. In that
year-it is very long ago-they had in
troduced little adhesive seals to fasten en-
velopes with The ones which held this
together bore tiny silver dove.
81 have wanted TO say something for n
good while" he said, "and am not good
talker. | have written what | wished to
utter, and / entreat you to read it when
you are alone tonight"
He extended the snowy envelope to-
ward Teresa, who took it from him. As
she did so, her eyes dropped beneath his,
and a wild rose flush swept up into her
face
How could she fail to know of what
young Clifford had written, when his
glance had said it all so many times?
There was little doubt that she would
give him kind answer.
But here was the Judge, once more an
elegant figure in his evening dress, and
here was Chloe holding his dark blue
AlpdNs eS S4lE I44--llb nave llNl0 lis " nv
embroidered one when he was baby, and
Teresa dropped the letter into her pocket
rather quickly.
The carriage drove up to the porch
They entered, Teresa in her soft wraps
leaning forward to kiss her hand to Tessy,
whom Chloe held aloft on the porch to see
the last of them.
q l want to go, too" said Tessy.
SO you shall, honey" said Chloe. "Jes'
as soon as you grow up. You hurry and
grow up"
"ShaIl 1 have dress like auntie's ?"
asked Tessy.
"sure huff, jes' like said Chloe.
Jes' de berry image of dat dress, trail an
all"
Meanwhile the happy little party in the
carriage were nearing the scene of fes-
tivity. They saw the windows of the
house all ablaze with light, and the col
ored lanterns hung OUT upon the broad
lawn from the branches Of the ancient
pine trees.
The carriage stopped at the steps, and
an old negro came out to assist them.
At this instant figure interposed itself
A dark face, crowned by slouehed hat,
thrust itself before the servant.
ledge Shandon, I'm Bud jerome" said
an angry voice.
Good evening, SIR" said the Judge.
jim Jerome is my brother" said the
man. "You sent him as horse thief day
before yesterday"
The jury had come to that conclusion,
sir" said the Judge.
And l came to another conclusion lest
then, Judge" said the man" to shoot
YOU on sight" and he fired.
What followed no one ever quite knew,
except that Teresa suddenly threw herself
before her father.
The smoke cleared away, the murderer
firing his revolver at intervals, dashed to-
wards the woods, crowd of gentlemen
and negroes in hot pursuit, and the host
ess, with the remaining guests, gathered
about the Judge, who stood unframed,
holding the Iifeless body of his daughter
in his arms.
Teresa was dead. They could not be-
heve it at first. They bore her to an up
per room, and did their best TO restore
her. Removing the pretty dress lest they
s.auld spot it with water or cologne, they
eelSH1 that the bullet had entered the
heart. There was little red stain under
the flowers, nothing more.