Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-10-10


pined for something besides the daily
routine of writing, and evenings
spent in listening to her mothers remi-
| niscences of former grandeur-for Mrs.
Ackland had been belle and beauty
and an expectant heiress when she mar
ried the dashing young captain-it was
| the mother who bemoaned herself.
At last, tea being over, it was dis
covered that the storm had passed, and
| that moon and stars were shining, and
Effie declared that she would run down
to the little stationer's and get some note
paper of the proper sort on which to re-
ply to the kind invitation and offer of
the general and his lady.
1t was quiet neighborhood and very
late. and Efiie wrapped herself in thick
| cloak and tied little blue hood over
her head, and ran lightly down stairs
and down the street toward the
stationer's shop. However, when she
reached its door she found it closed.
The old woman who kept it had expected
no customers and had retired early.
Effie knew of another shop of the same
sort a few blocks further on which was
always open late, and turned her steps
that way-at least, she intended to do so.
But there are still portions of New York
city where it is very easy to lose ones
self; and besides, Effie was not an old
resident of that part of the town. Some
how she missed the right corner, crossed
the street at wrong angle, and shortly
discovered that she was lost.
1t was a gloomy and unpleasant street
in which she found herself, and the girl
was somewhat frightened. However,
she decided that the chest thing she could
do was to keep on walking until she
came to decent shop or met police
man of whom she could ask the way.
She acted on this resolution with her
usual promptitude, but for long while
she went on seeing nothing but liquor or
cigar shops and meeting not a solitary
guardian of the peace, and came at last
to an old building with blank wall, in
the center of which an arched gate stood
open.
Just as she stood opposite this gate
two drunken men came bowling down
the street, and in terror .of them she
stepped beneath the arch. They passed
without seeing her; but before she dared
to venture out light'shonc in her face,
and, turning, she saw figure in black,
with red shoes, red cap, fhorns, hoofs,
. long tail which he carried over his arm,
and in his hand a great paper parcel-in
fact, Satan as we see him portrayed in
ancient pictures, acting for the ,nonce as
messenger-boy.
Startled beyond expression, ,Efiie was
about to fly, when the demon ispoke.
"Well, mamselle, I've been waiting
for you long while, )" was his character
istic remark. 81 came so tar to save
time. Won't you get aroastingl"
Then he tossed the parcel into her
arms, turned and fed.
Effie fled also. What,the demon had
given her she did not know, but she
quite mechanically clutched it as she
flew along the lonely street, and by mere
accident took the right direction and
found herself at the corner of an avenue
she knew. She arrived atshcr own door
just in time at least, so her mother de-
clared-1to save that lady going out of
her mind with terror. She had no paper,
but she had the parcel which; the de-
moniac parsonage had crammed tinto her
hands to prove that she had not merely
imagined the meeting with him, and now
she unfastened the many pins that held
it, unfolded the paper and sundrymuslin
wrappings within, and behold-a dress
the loveliest ball costume of golden
satin and black lace that could be i'm
agined!
The demon had presented her with a
dress in which to attend the ball.
"What does it meana" she calculated.
''Really 1 feel as if was out of my
mind"
SIT must be providential, said the
mother. "Try it on, my dear"
Effie obeyed. The costume fittediher
perfectly.
"You look like an angel" said the
mother.
''But the demon said should have
good roasting" said Effie.
"It was only man in some queer
Dress" said the mother.
"Of course" said Effie.' cat least, l
suppose So"
'And now you can go to the ball"
said the mother.
''Shall dare9 Will I not find my
costume vanishing, like poor Cinderella's,
in the midst of my dance, with whatever
stands for the young prince at the officers
ball of the regiments / doubt if it will
be here in the morning; besides, l ought
to advertise 1T: If the fiend who presented
a young lady with black lace ball dress,
in dark alley on the night of the -th,
will kindly call, or something of the
sort"
"Oh, we will look into the papers, of
course" said the mother. "But don't
believe we will find anything--fate in
tends you to go the ball."
So it seemed indeed.
Effie went to the ball, and her dress
was pronounced charming. In passing,
l will mention to the reader that 1t was