The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-11-15

herself. Old folks are so selfishr
Once moro Lilly frowned.
my mother Is not selfish" said she.
ooh, we'll we won't argue about
that" said Arietta, coaxingly. "But
there's no reason you shouldn't SEQ a
little life, once in a while, as long as l
and John are along to keep you COM
panyw
at would bo nice" said Lilly. 'Tve
almost mind to 60"
"Then make haste about Il" cried
Arietta. "I'll call for you as / como
down stairs. The earlier we are there,
tho better chance we have on the dan
cing-foor."
Lilly went into the back room after
Arietta was gone. Mrs. Booker sat
there, rocking her baby on her knee,
and to her the girl confded her desires.
81 wouldn't!' said Mrs. Booker,
shaking her head, soberly.
"Why notl'
"That Glceful Society don't bear the
best reputation, Lilly" sal Mrs. Book
er. "a lot of giddy girls aud reckless
young men that are bent on earning
their living some way outside of honest
work. 1 don't think your mother
would like you to got into such COM
pany as that while she is gone"
"Thcre's always some reason to keep
mo from enjoying myself, so far as
can see!' burst out poor Lilly Carl
eta Wales is going, and mean to 60,
tooW
Mrs. Booker looked pityingly after
her as she founccd out of tho room.
'Poor girl, it is sort O. hard upon
herr sho pondered. "And she SO
young and pretty, too, and worked so
steady all day! But that Gloe full So
ciety-it amt what I should like a
daughter Of mine to get mixed up in.
However, a willful girl will have her
own way"
Half an hour later there came soft
''tap- tap" on tho panels of Mrs. Book
er's door, and browo, handsome face
pecped in.
"Beg pardon, ma'am," said CHEEKY
! voice; "but is this Miss Germond's
room2 Pm her cousin Bon, and her
mother has sent me to bring her out to
tho country and make little visit
there"
sand Pm her Unclo Stevens" added
a second voice, ''and the teams wait
ing below, and there amt no time to
lose"
"Dear me, I'm so sorryr cried Mrs.
Booker, starting to her feet; "but Lilly
Germond has gone to bali"
"a ball!" echoed Uncle Stevens.
"Gone to o ballr reiterated Ben in
amazement.
"With her mother away" cried the
old man, "and my sister telling me how
quiet and steady she was! Come, Ben;
I don't know as we want no ball-gvina
young ladies out at tho old farm.
guess perhaps we'd bottor bo starting
for home"
"But wait minute; perhaps she lef
some word" said Mrs. Booker. "Hel
room is the next one beyond; I'll &C
and see."
Il guess it amt worth WHILE" infex
IDLY uttered Uncle Mark.
Mrs. Booker knocked at the door o
Mrs. Germond's room, as sort o
forlorn hope.
"Come imp called a soft voice.
And there sat Lilly at her sowing b.
the light OF shaded kerosene lamp.
"You look surprisod!' = cried Lilly
laughing. ''But you see decided
after all, to tako your good advice, Mrs
Booker"
'And I never was SO glad of any
thing in my life," said Mrs. Booker
my dear, here's your uncle and cousil
from the country, will. team, waitin
to take you to your mother"
Lilly uttered cry of delight as sh
jumped up, and flung her sewing int
the corner OF tho room.
'Really2" she cried 'truly3 or am
dreamiug9 Where are they9"
She ran out into the hall, and wa
kissing Uncle Mark and shaking hand
with Ben almost before they knew it.
$50 you didn't 60 to tho ball afte
ala sail the old man, his hard fac
softening as much under the blue joy
ousnes, of her eyes as beneath tho tou c.
of her rosy youag lips.
"No," said Lilly-although l wa
sorely tempted to forget mothers goo
advice. Bat never disobeycd her yet
and I'm not going to begin now. Blu
it was so dull and lonesome hcrew
Poor child! l should think so,
said Uncle Stevens, with look into th
dismal room. ''But now put on you
things-quick! Tho horses don't lik
standing there knee deep among ragge
children"
Lilly was not long in packing he
little bag; and when she ran to bi
Mrs. Booker goodbye, shs whi'pared
ut was your good advice hat turne
the scale. Thank you so much for il
l How much should have lost if ha
gone to the ballP'
"Shc's nice girl" said Uncle Mar
toh his wife that night, when Lilly WI
asle p ia the lavcnder-scentcd bedroom
that looked out upon the river. ''and
don't wond.r Mary's prou OF her. Br
did feel sort of queer, just for mil
ute whea thought she was a-larkin
rouud at balls with Mlry KNOWN notf
) ing about it,"
v l.. -ra,IJaff do potLi,