Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-02-01


Mr.. Maunder had displayed mucl
diplomacy about obtaining the invita-
ton to the garden party /; but his sens
Of complacent satisfaction was chang
ed to something very like dismay
whom he discovered there were furthe
obstacles ahead.
II suppose a faded blue organdy, o.
white one of remote antiquity
would not be exactly appropriate foI
your mothers lawn 7" said Bernar
dina, with less than usual of her ga,
good humor. Somehow that bit O
pasteboard had opened vistas of exhil
arating possibilities to Bernardina
shut up in her world of books anC
maiden dreams as she had been. unit
the chance advent of this deferentia
young prince of the gay outer world
He had won over the quiet mother
by the charm of his frank youthful
ness and courteous bearing, and t,
Bernardina he had come as a revela
ton of youth and congenial comrade.
ship.
The summer days had drifted on
with ever-increasing condolences be-
tween these two. and that perfect alb
sence of constraint which more con
ventional acquaintance might have
engendered. Scarcely day passed
without their meeting, and to-day Mr.
Maunder was intent upon gaining his
point. Bernardina should 90 to the
fete.
Beauty is like rich stone, best
plain SET" he quoted sagely, with his
young eyes looking unutterable things
But Bernardina knit her pretty brows
Grossly. "Thanks," she said, shortly
"only l should prefer some of the
baggage of virtue, once in a way
And then Bernardina looked as
though she were quite out of patience
with the "slings and arrows Of
outrageous fortune"
"Let me buy you dress, Dina,
said Jack audacicusly, but blushed
the while at his own temerity. "It
would be a purely business affair.
am sure you have wasted enough time
posing for 'Titania' -
Thank you" said Bernardina, as
if she were not in the least obliged
however. any selfrespect is worth
even more to me than new dress
Mr.. Maunder."
But this lofty attitude was not
natural to Miss Ray, and she was al
ready a little ashamed Of her i'll
humor.
"You are good fellow, Jack,
she said, unbending into smile, anC
extending her hand with a gracious
ness which Mr.. Maunder was no
slow to accept with a servile and alb
ject show of satisfaction.
81 have read about girls maxim.
themselves picturesque out of OLE
window hangings and their grand
mothers dresses" said Bernardin,
after this reconciliation. Mother,
as that gentle lady appeared in tn
doorway: Have you any ancestors
or brocaded dresses, hidden away il
your trunks upstairs p
81 fear not, my DEAR" said tn
mother, smiling quietly, as her eye
always did when they rested OIL
Bernardina. "But there are those
that have been lying away ever sine
you were a baby, Dina-if the,
would be OF any use
But Bernardina was already away
"You are worth dozen ancestors
mother DEAR" she cried, gayly as she
disappeared.
| Presently then, behold Mr.. Maun
der, seated modestly beside the window
with pair of scissors grasped frml,
in his hand, and mass of dimity be
fore him, prayerfully anxious to be
helpful in the work Of demolition
for as Bernardina grandiloquently
put it, dispatch was everything"
That was joyful week, with Jack
and Dina running races down the
seams, both of them in the widest
spirits, while the placid mother sat
smiling as she sewed. What would
have been Mrs. Maunder's emotions,
could she have beheld her son at the
mercy of this young Delilah3
"Now be candid with me, Jack, "
said Bernardina, upon the eventful
Thursday, as she turned slowly and
seriously about for Mr. Maunder's in
spection. Do l look amateurish ?
Have l a homemade appearance r.
with consuming anxiety in her blue
eyes, and an evident distrust of her
own charms. II have a painful
misgiving that it requires to be pull
ed tight in front, to make it fl right
in the back and vice versa" she
went on, with somewhat nervous
laugh, while Jack pulled at his NOUS
tache, and looked profound.