, 1888-03-01

ScdAh Gin NllCo al OLlD W JILL lllOlu
out"
81 could, of course, but you've no idea
what n fright / am without my crimps.
Robert never saw me with my hair
straight, and l know he would hate to
have his mother see me unless l was
looking my very, very best. OF course,
you know, l nave another bang in my
trunk" Edith made this frank confess
sion with a wild instinct that it would be
best for Roberts relatives to know the
worst at once, SO that IN possible con-
cessions to be made afterward, though
she would not yet acknowledge the pos
sibility of concession, would strike them
in the light of unexpected Improvement,
''but my trunk hasn't come; so if you
could lend me a pencill"
ell am afraid / have no slate pencil"
faltered Esther.
"Well, a pipe would do; haven't you
a pipe handler Just a common white
pipe, such as the children have for soap
bubbles, you know"
"1f thee will wait a moment l will
see," said the discreet Esther.
Edith in the meantime made her way
back to her own room and waited in
suspense, while Esther went slowly down.
stairs, questioning her conscience, and
yet very 1oath to disappoint the little witch
who was depending upon her. She had
made up her mind to be very tolerant of
the worldliness of Roberts fiance, but to
be suddenly called upon to aid and abet
her in it, was almost more thar could be
reasonably expected of her, even by Rob
ert. And yet it would be SO unfortunate
to begin the visit with a family jarl She
had n terrible consciousness that there
.r-ar 4, -,-a i, A. $1,000 D.l.- -
little nephew, had had it for soap bub-
bles only the week beforehand to tell a
lie, even a white lie, and permit herself
to be unable to find it, was something
more terrible to Esther's conscience than
even conniving at a curl. AS it hap
pened, however, she really could not find
it. Here wa certainly sufficient excuse
for going back empty handed; and yet,
and yet-when she came to the foot of
the stairs, Esther, instead of going up,
turned aside into the kitchen.
bridget, could thee spare q moment
to go across to the corner grocery and
get me a pipe-a common white clay
pipe2"
IA pipe, is it?' said the wondering
Bridget.
Eyes, Bridget; a pipe; a pipe for-for
blowing soap bubbles" stammered Es-
Their. Thee knows, Bridget-a pipe
such as Richard had for his play"
Eyes, I know" said Bridget, wiping
her hands on her apron, and then remov-
ing the apron. "And is it soap bubbles
they do be wantin' to blow already?
Faith, I'll send 'em up a plate full for
dinner"
Edith has won her first battle, - wrote
Mrs. Marvin to her husband that oven
ing, land without a wound or a scar on
either side. l only wish you had been
hero with our detective camera to get
an instantaneous picture of the two girls
when Edith opened the door and Esther
handed her the pipe"
AS Edith had confidently expected, it
was the first of a long series of victories
over Roberts relations, which she gained,
not by trampling down their ~prejudices
under the high heels of her French
slippers, but by quietly teaching them to
like her just as she was. She had an
infinite amount of the gracious tact
which comes with a certain kind of arts
t~ocratic, high bred worldliness, and she
was at heart a most winningly affection
ate and true hearted girl. Had she been
merely q wording, the French slippers
would not have fought for her or con-
quered her enemies, but Roberts rela-
tions made the surprising discovery that
a really sweet hearted creature remains
sweet even on high heels; and before a
week was over Edith was the acknowl-
edged ruler of the entire household.
1t was even decided in family c~onclave
that it would do to give her what, in the
worldly world, would be known as a
reception" They had no idea of doing
this in looking forward to her visit. It
was felt that it would be concession
enough for them to consent to receive as
a visitor into the bosom of their own
family the young woman who had disap-
pointed their fondest hopes for the Sc
curity of Roberts future. To nave their
friends to meet her, to see her in the full
blaze Of her ~effrontery of long silk gown
and perhaps even of diamonds, would be
to advertise their shame, the disgrace of
the entire family, in q way not to be con-
templated for q 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
fortnight preparations were on hand for
all their friends to come and see this
wonderful Edith, with full knowledge on
the part of the family that Edith would
undoubtedly surpass all her previous
efforts on this occasion in the art of deco
ration. Edith, however, 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 be-
hind, and then drew from her trunk q
little gown of pale gray cashmere, reach
ing barely to her ankles, and without a
ruffle or a fold, except the fewest possible
plaits at the waist, and absolutely guilt
less of ornamentation Of any kind. A
tiny scarf of white illusion was crossed
over her breast, and her contemplated
toilet was complete. Nevertheless, she
surveyed herself in the glass with evident
dissatisfaction.
"Dear me, mamma, it isn't half so bad
as 1 thought it would be. meant to
look like a fright, and after all it's rather
effective. If 1 were dressed for private
theatricals / should think myself i'm
mensc. Oh, dearl suppose they should
like mo best this way after all!'