Smyrna times., 1889-12-24
LETTY'S LESSON.

making DelleVe to watch the gambOlS OF
the cat with a wind swept autumn leaf
in the garden path outside. A moisture
dimmed her eyes. She bit her lip.
Thinking Off she repeated, impul-
sively. "Why, just exactly what am
talking of, to be sure. Inever attended
a masquerade ball in my life. And I've
always so longed for chance; and now
and now"
The cat, the red leaf, the serrated line
of the fence, all mingled in one blur be-
fore her eyes.
Dallas Hall looked gravely at her.
TASTES differ" said he gravely.
"What a woman can find to fascinate
her in assuming the dress and PERSONAL
ity of somebody who died and was buried
a century ago, in putting on a mask and
mingling in an indiscriminate crowd
''Mrs. Laddon Lloyd's guests can hard
ly be called an indiscriminate crowd"
pouted Lefty.
Gin five hundred people there must be
some jarring element; and, under any
circumstances, I'd rather choose my own
associates" " retorted Mr.. Hall.
"You can do as you please"
"And you? Dear little Letty-my
queen rose of the garden of girlsp"
coaxingly quoted Dallas, "you, also, will
do as I please in this matter? I can't en-
dure the idea of your mingling in this
fashionable crowd, in black satin mask,
and an outlandish costume. Promise me,
lovew
"I-suppo -I-shall-have-to, un-
willingly conceded Lefty, still with the
fresh young face turned away.
1t was only half a victory, vet, with
such as it was, Dallas Hall was forced to
be content.
When he was gone, Lefty Ogilvie went
up stairs, and looked sorrowfully at a
coquettish little costume Of black velvet,
plentifully slashed with pink satin, and
accompanied by a Gainsboro' hat Of
black velvet, overshadowed with pink
plumes. A lace mantilla and a monster
rose colored fan lay beside it.
cit would have made such a lovely
Spanish maiden" said Lefty to herself.
''And now there's an end of it."
She took up her scissors to rip the gay
little combination apart; for Lefty Ogil-
vie was no pampered child of wealth,
who can afford to keep a pretty thing
merely to look at it.
In the Ogilvie family things were
twisted and turned in a variety of ways
before they were pronounced to have
outlived their usefulness.
But she dropped them again.
/ 10 Il
pretty. I'll wait until Bessy M6rdaunt
has seen it-and Lulu Payne!"
So she folded the bright colored trifes
away in lavender and rose leaves in her
bureau drawer, not to count a tear OF
two that fell among the pink plumes and
| glittered on the silver lacings of the
black velvet bodice.
"What a shame" cried Lucetta Va
rian. "You're not going, after all? Good
ness me, 1 wish were two sizes smaller
I'd go as the Spanish maiden myself
But what sort of fad has Mr.. Hall got
ten into his head now? They say he is {
genius, but geniuses do get into such un
comfortable groovesl OF course, he'
coming to read poetry to you all tn,
EVENING""
"Indeed he's noty' said Lefty. "H,
has got to work day and night at his Law
business, to get things in shape for-fo
the wedding"
"Oh, 1 seep cried Miss Varian, jump
ing up and executing a low courtesy
Niagara-the rapids of the st. Lawrence
Montreal Quebec all that sort O
ftiror IlaT,sk II rrrsc1, 7
good-by my dear! If my Neapolital
flower girls costume is to be ready,
must prod up that snail of dressmaker
That same evening Lucetta came back
her big, black eyes glaring, her lips curv
ed in sarcastic smiles.
"Letty Ogilvie," said she, ''Pve 20
such joke to tell you'll Where do yor
suppose Mr.. Dallas Hall is going t.
spend Thursday EVENING""
cat work, 1 suppose" said Lefty, al
most inclined to be offended at Lucetta'
tone and manner.
"Oh, yes-pretty work indeedl But
Letty-mind, this is a profound secret
I'd no business to be prying and lister
ing; but, out of friendship to you, &c
close to the shadow of the stair dooi
where Dallas Hall was telling som
young man good-by. You know Mis-
McCracken, my dressmaker, has he
rooms on the top floor of the Belkna
building, where Mr.. Pink-of-perfection
law Office is located?"
"But, Lucetta, stammered bewildere
Lefty, "do you think it is quite honor
able to-
+. Honorable, indeedi Oh, you egregiou
goosep cried Lucetta, "do you kno,
what dupe you are? Listenl This
+. what heard the knight errant say t
:, his friend as they parted: Very well; o
Thursday evening next, at the Laddo
IS Lloyd's. And a friend answered bacl
'On Thursday evening next at the Lac
don Lloyd's. So you see, Lefty, he
Il going to the masquerade, and he NEAR
d to have jolly good time--a sort of winC
up to his bachelor bliss, suppose-whil
n you are moping at home, because ma
% 4uerade balls aren't the proper thing
S Indeedl"-with a fierce satirical en-
g phasis.
LettyS eyes flashed, her cheeks rec
iened.
re ''If it's proper for him, it's proper fc
me-" said she. "rn go, Lucetta. T
"a Spanish costume sha'n't be wasted, aft
" ALL"
d Lucetta clapped her hands, with g
peal Of laughter.
"Wil he know your she cried. "H
he any idea what you are going to weal
- ''No, 1 had meant it for a surprise. :"
"My dear, whispered Lucetta, ''thin
are happening providentially. If cou
only be by at supper time, when ever
}, body unmasks, and see the expr'
sion Of his facet What character do y
suppose he win represent? Edgar RI
enswood? IvanhOep Never mind; /
/ been to lot Of these masquerades, a
never yet saw a disguise that could
unravel. How amazed he viii bel
call for you, dear, at nine. There'll
. plenty of room in our carriage, a
, nobody win suspect that you're not
; bed and asleep"
: OF all the guests at Mrs. Ladd
!. Lloyds that night there was no m'
|: graceful dancer, no more exquisite c
= tune than that of the "Spanish maidei
= Close to her hovered the "Neapolit
- flower GIRL" with her shallow wicl
tray Of rosebuds and her scarlet sa
And stately Austrian halberdier /
Da attached himself to their party wit
certain pertinacity.
The Spanish maiden said never W,