The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-02-08
LETTY'S LESSON.

n heSheu Ddlll MY ueaI lJJle Blrl,
what can you be thinking Off
Lefty Ogilvie Aattened her fresh
round cheek against the window pane,
making believe 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 l am
talking of, to be sure. never attended
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 woman can find to fascinate
her in assuming the dress and personal
ity of somebody who died and was buried
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.
"In five hundred people there must be
some jarring element; and, under any
circumstances, I'd rather choose my own
associates" retorted Mr.. Hail.
"You can do as you please"
"And your Dear little Letty-my
queen rose of the garden OF girlsr"
coaxingly quoted Dallas, "you, also, will
do as please in this matter? can't en-
dure the idea of your mingling in this
fashionable crowd, in black satin mask,
and an outlandish costume. Promise me,
lovel"
Observation-Disclosures" un-
willingly conceded Lefty, still with the
fresh young face turned away.
1t was only half victory. yet, 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
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 monster
rose colored fan lay beside it,
"It 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 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.
81 can't do itl' said she. "It's too
pretty. I'll wait until Bessy Mordaunt
has seen it--and lulu Payner"
So she folded the bright colored trifes
away in lavender and rose leaves in her
bureau drawer, not to count a tear or
two that fell among the pink plumes and
glittered on the silver lacings of the
black velvet bodice.
"What a shamep cried Lucetta Va
rian, "You'Fe not going, after all? Good
ness me, 1 wish were two sizes smallerl
I'd go as the Spanish maiden myself
But what sort of fad has Mr.. Hall got
ten into his head now2 They say he is a
genius, but geniuses do get into such un-
comfortable grooves! OF course, he's
coming to read poetry to you all the
EVENING"
"Indeed he's notT said Lefty. "He
has got to work day and night at his law
business, to get things in shape for-for
the wedding"
''Oh, seer cried Miss Varian, jump
ing up and executing a low courtesy.
Niagara-the rapids of the st. Lawrence
Montreal Quebec all that sort of
thing. Don't l wish was your Well,
good-by my dearl If my Neapolitan
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.
Lefty Ogilvie," said she, GIVE got
such joke to tell you'll Where do you
suppose Mr., Dallas Hall is going to
spend Thursday EVENING""
cat work, suppose" said Lefty, al
most inclined to be offended at Lucetta's
tone and manner.
"Oh, yes-pretty work indeedi But,
Letty-mind, this is a profound secret
I'd no business to be prying and listen.
ing; but, out of friendship to you, got
close to the shadow of the stair door
where Dallas Hall was telling some
young man good-by. You know Miss
McCracken, my dressmaker, has hel
rooms ON the top floor of the BelknaI
building, where Mr.. Pink of-perfectioni
law Office is located?"
"But, Lucetta, stammered bewildereC
Lefty, ''do you think it is quite honor
able to-
Honorable, indeedl Oh, you egregioui
gooseT cried Lucetta, "do you know
what dupe you are? Listenl This il
what heard the knight errant say t
his friend as they parted; Very well, OF
Thursday evening next, at the Ladder
Lloyd's.' And friend answered back
On Thursday evening next at the Lad
don Lloyd's. So you see, Lefty, he'
going to the masquerade, and he mean
to have jolly good time-a sort of wind
up to his bachelor bliss, suppose-whill
you are moping at home, because mas
auerade balls aren't the proper thing
indeedr-with a fierce satirieal em
phasis.
Lettys eyes dashed, her cheeks red
dened,
''If it's proper for him, it's proper fo
me" said she, IN go, Lucetta. III
Spanish oestums sha'n't be wasted, afte
ALL
Luoetts clapped her hands, with a ga,
peal Of laughter.
"Will he know youl" she eFied. '.Ha
he any idea what you are going to wearf
ono, had meant it for a surprise"
Q "My dear" whispered Luoetta, ,"thing
J are happening providentially. If / coul
q only be by at supper time, when every
e body unmasks, and sec the expires
q sion Of his facet What character do 20
d suppose he win represent? Edgar RaV
d | enewoodf Ivanhoeg. Newer mind. pv