New-York tribune., 1888-03-25

heavy hair. Ono tgure in short sh!rtS Whltc PIMA
fore dark loose curls, long black stockings and patent
Gather shoes TO the hoad OF the stairs, and
leaning easily against the baniser stsics TRANQUILITY
at her til the L. NJ, usually the most collected OF
women, Is quite embarrassed Especially so when
ihe watcher begins TO report audbly on her appear
anco.
No, she lools tho same as any ono elso,' In
disappointed stage whisper, she's got bag-No
can't her hands, she's got gloves onI don't think
she's pretty, but she's got veil on so can't SEQ
wellD
Presently comes moro bustling and running OK feet
"Nsmms, where will take her, into the reception
NJ"
"The drawing room, Ethel"
"Ah no. Ethel, into the dinng-room We can ta'c
of tho cloth and SIT on the table and all sec Nh
be such fun
"Not your room, Ethel, cause then you won't lot
us all In Thnt'll bo real mean. You promised We
could SEQ II We good
"oh, the billIardroom; that would b splendid
Ethel could sit the billiard table and We could stand
round
"The school-roour, Ethel dear, that's the best"
Ethel now appears at the head Of the stairs and
desccnds She Is a charming debutante Of the season.
eghtecn slender, blooming as an American tea-rose'
she looks sweety embarrassed, bushlng deIicousIy,
and tries to be Indifferent, easy and dignihcd Tho
irreprossIbo sisters rather tho dignity of her ad
vent. They mass together at the stal>hcsd In
Ignored their claims, cry pleadlngly,
"can't We como, Ethelf"
"You said we could That's breaking your wordi'
awe won't disturb the what you-calum."
we won't mako tiny scrap OF noise"
"Msmms, can't we go and see Ethel manacledr
Mamma, Isn't she just too mean to live, not to
let comet
Mamma, tell her she's got to let us como and not
DO SO selfish and keep all the fun to herself
This all louder for Mammals retired eors The
phalan1 are driven to desperation by the tranquil
manner Ethels slim figure sdeS down tho stairs and
up to the f. NJ. They pause In their dcmonstratlons
peerlns each Others shoulders In hungry silence
Then loud sIoan OF baicd rage bursts from them as
they Gee the F. NJ rise, grasp her bag, and follow
Ethel down the hall Ethel, In truth, Is angry. She
wanted TO be calm, cignfed, so much of young
lady, and yet her thou ghts would wander, her looks
grow distract, the chorus at the stair-head rose
louder She so nervous about what those wretched
children would say next. She felt that the F. NJ
read her embarrassment IN her conscious glance. and
grew hopelessly mortified ard bewil1ered Passing
through the halls under tho bansters over which the
phalanx hang silently watching her She IS seized
with compunction, tempered 10y nais OF italian
vengeance, and raising her eyes to their cresfalen
faces, says loftily,
You may come II you care about it.'
whereupon the phaanx furiously hustllng
down the stairs. Those who hold the banlsters
somehow and burst wildly into tho schOoroom, out OF
breath delighted. enthusiastic They drag up chairs
and form scmcircle, the litflo ones, raising their
skirts with one hand as they sit down In a 1nh of
pettcoats They fight in subdued manner for places,
and not satisfied get Off their chairs and seizing them
by the seats draw them fraction nearer 1t IS all
thrilling and novel When the instruments are ar
ranged they hold their breath. Then they look from
the T. NJ to her row OF shining files and poshers and
back again. nudge each other with their elbows and
burst into delighted smothered filters. Whom Ethel
presents her hand to the f. NJ. the silence IS solemn
Ethel hosef Is rather nervous. When tho instruments
are applied tho little sisters frightened and with
drawn brows, shrink back and cry, Oh Ethel, does
It hur7D
Then getting no answer from their naughty sistor,
they heart, lean forward With bitten ps fnchins
and murmuring like sudden sufferer as the file gvcs
a rasp OIL the Z. NJ hcr pointed pIece Of wood.
"Um oh !-IIuch Ethel, that hurt awfIlly, ddn''
It l,gazng ptyngy Into their sisters tranquil eyes II
wouldn't have 10 done for anything, would your"
They are all crouchlng forward absorbed enhallod.
looking from the r. NJ to Ethel and from Ethel to the
F. NJ sometimes expcng their breath with soft
moan again drawing It In through their shut teeth,
With sizzling, waery rush. or leaning together and
graspng each other with nervous clutch. When the
pOwdering and polishing begin, they grow extremely
enthusiastic and close round the +. NJ till she is lost
to sight In the midst OF hollow square, breathing ad-
mraton.
How lovely. Ethell7
"um-just perfectly stnnningr"
They shine just though they were creased" In
a fond and tender tone OF pride In heir enthusiasm
they crowd so close that the f. NJ. has to shoo'
them of with her elbows which she lapS up and down
like ncp plent wings When 1t Is all over the children
escort her to the door, backing before her though
she was royalty, and gazing in silort unsming Gu
rosliy up her face the face Of some magician
wizard
1t Is past midday when the f. NJ pays her fourth
visit. This Is at hotel where she has been summoned
by message. She Is led upstairs and shown into
private parlor with furniture covered In red velves
On a handicapped table in the centre is basket Of
wired and chaotic mass OF newspapers and
paper-covcrcd novels. In the window sits the lady
who has sent FOR herMrs. slumgullon, late from the
West sho Is reading a yellow-backed novel and has
her feet comfortably raised on the rungs Of an ad
jacent chair At the demure approach OF tho +. M..
she lays the novel face down on her lap and folding
her hands on 1t looks her eye glasses At the
T. NJ. with lively curiosity.
"Yon're the MANICURE. Glad to You. Sit down
John7 raising her voice with such suddonness that
her Eyeglasses leap nervousy of her and plunge
into the loose front of her gown the manourcs here'
Enter John from adjoining apartment. He Is
large, red and gray, midde-aged. and looks rs II no
had bean asleep. lie comes In slowly and pondorously,
pulling down his walScoat, which he grips by tho bot
tom and jerks into place. He looks rather sheepish
when he sees the NJ. sitting stiy on the edge Of her
chair with the black bag in her lap and stands In the
doorway absently pulling his wsstcoat and looking
at his wife, She comes TO the rescue with ready
feminine tact.
Mr.. slumgulon wants his nails fxcd,' she says In
an easy explanatory tone, her chin drawn In, and
pattng about her dress for tho lost glasses he's
going dinner party" Sho finds them In fold,
adjusts them her nose, and throwing her head
well back on her shoulders, stares through them am
iably and says with the careless command Of tho
habtual ruler,
Just clear on that table and let her bogin.'
"Where'l put the booils, dear1" says John, who
Is disconnected by the F. MS cold hard eye
"On the chair. on the aoor. anywhere round Sit
down, John" She draws up chair " Have you
got everythlng1" shc asks the I. NJ