The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-06-01

you know"
'If thee will wait a moment l will see, -
said the discreet Esther.
Edith in the meantime had made her way
back to her own room and waited in sus-
pense, while Esther went slowly down
stairs, questioning her conscience, and yet
very 10th to %disappoint the witch who was
depending upon her. She had made up
her mind to be very tolerant of the world
illness of Roberts ~fiancee, but to be too
suddenly called upon to aid and abet her
in it was almost more than could reasona-
bly, be expected Of her, even by Robert. And
yet it would be so unfortunate to begin the
visit with a family jar. She had a terrible
consciousness that there was n pipe in the
house; Richard, her little nephew, bad had
it for soap bubbles only the week before,
and to tell a lie, even a white lie, and per-
nit herself to be unable to find it, was
something more terrible to Esther's con-
science than even %conniving at a curl. AS
it happened, however, she really could not
find it. Here was certainly sufficient ex-
cuse for going back empty-handed; and yet,
and yet-when she came to the foot Of the
stairs, Esther, instead Of going mp, went
into the kitchen.
"Bridget, could thee spare a moment to
go across to the corner grocery and get me
a pipe-a common white clay pipe?"
ga pipe is it 2" said the wondering
Bridget.
eyes, Bridget, a pipe; a pipe for-for
blowing soap bubbles, stammered Esther;
''thee knows, Bridget, a pipe such as Rich
ard had for his play"
Yes, know" said Bridget, wiping her
hands on her apron, and then removing the
apron. ''And is it soap bubbles they do
be wanting to blow already? Faith, FL
send en- up a plate for dinner"
edith has won her first BATTLE Mrs.
Marvin wrote 10 her husband that evening,
'and without a wound or a scar on either
side. only wish you had been here with
neous photograph Of the two girls when
Edith opened the door and Esther handed
her the clay pipe"
As Edith had confidently expected, it
was the first of a long series of victories
over Roberts relations which she had
gained, not by trampling down their preju-
dices under the high heels of her French
slippers, but by quietly teaching them to
like her just as she was. She had an inf
mite amount of the gracious tact which
comes with a certain kind of aristoeratic,
highbred ~worldliness, and she was at heart
a most winningly aifectionate and trne-
hearted girl. Had she been merely a world
ling the French slippers would not have
fought for her or conquered her enemies,
but Roberts relations made the surprising
discovery that a really sweet-hearted crea-
tnre remains sweet even on high heels; and
before a week was over Edith was the ac-
knowledged ruler of the entire household.
that it would do to give her what, in the
worldly world, would be known as a ''recep-
tion." They had no idea Of doing this in
looking forward to her visit. 1t was felt
that it would be concession enough for them
to consent to receive as 81 visitor into the
bosom of their own family the young wo-
nan who had disappointed their fondest
hopes for the security of Roberts future.
To lave their friends to meet her, to see
her in the full blaze of her ~effrontery of
long silk gown, and perhaps even OF dia-
monds, would be to advertise their shame,
the disgrace of the entire family, in a way
not to be contemplated for a moment. They
would endure, but they would not publish
to the world the fact of what they were
called upon to endure.
And yet-and yet at the end of a fort
night preparations were on ham for all
their friends to come and see this wonder
full Edith, with full knowledge on the part
of the family that Edith would undoubtedly
surpass all her previous efforts on this &C.
casion in the art of decoration. Edith how
ever, had her own plans. On the evening
before the solemn entertainment, she
slipped up stairs, took off all her bangs,
brushed her hair down perfectly smooth
and straight over her little ears, twisting it
very plainly behind, and then drew from
her trunk a little gown of pale gray cash
mere, reaching barely to her ankles, and
without a ruflle or a fold, except the few
est possible plaits at the waist, and abso-
lutely guiltless of ornamentation of any
kind. A tiny scarf of white Illusion was
crossed over her breast, and her contemplate
cd toilet was complete. Nevertheless, she
surveyed herself in the glass with evident
dissatisfaction.
Dear me, mamma, it isn't half so bad
as I thought it would be. | meant to look
like a fright, and after all it's rather eifec-
tive. If were dressed for private theatre
Gals | should think myself immense. oh,
dear. uppose they should like me best
this way after all y
Ii was a sorrowful blow to her hopes on
this trump card to find herself still exceed
ingly pretty. She was perfectly conscious
of a certain piquant charm in novel appear
ance that might undo her after all. Still
she would run the risk. She was n perfect
little actress. If anything had been need
cd to effect Roberts complete snbiugation