Mower County transcript., 1890-04-16


ing every new style that camo in.
When she went upstairs, after her
conversation with her mother regarding
the impending visit of her Cousin Eliza,
she was In any thing but an agreeable
state of mind.
II suppose I'll have to take hor out
with me occasionally" she thought,
but I'll keep her in the background IS
much as can, and I'll tell every body
that she Is not really my oousin-only
the daughter of q cousin of mothers.
And that isn't very near relation"
Eliza came the fallQwing day, and
was quite as devoid of style as Alice had
anticipated.
Her travelling dress was plain brown
WOODEN, made with ruffle around tho
bottom, and looped up in the back.
AS she took the young guest to the
room which had been prepared for her
reception. Alice wondered how she
could manage to hint to her that all
skirts hung straight now, and rutf1es
were thing of the remote past as re-
garded fashion.
ELIAS trunk was old, heavy, and had
seen hard service. A stout rope guarded
1T against possible accidents, and Alice
wondered If straps were not sold in
Brooktown, or if tho rope were a mat
ter of taste.
She helped her cousin unpack, and
her heart sank as she saw the slender
STOCK OF wearing apparel; the loose
sleeved tbeaver-cloth sack, cut after q
fashion prevalent several years back;
the best hat, with it's cheap feather;
the homemade muff and the cotton
gloves.
'Mother may call this good discipline
for me-" she thought, "but it will al-
most kill me to go out with her dressed
in these things. And what ,oiW Maud
Westerly think?''
''You don't know how I've looked for
ward to coming to see you," said Eliza,
breaking in on her thoughts. "Ive al
ways longed to visit tho city, but it
never seemed as if l could get off.
Mothers been in such poor health the
last three years, that I've had plenty to
keep me busy out of school hours. But
now I've come. l mean to enjoy every
moment and go everywhere. Father
gave me plenty of money, and told me
to spend it freely, for thia is my first
vacation of any sort.
Alice smiled slightly. She supposed
''plenty of money meant with Eliza
about ten dollars. The entrance of q
servant prevented her from making any
reply. The girl came to say that Miss
Belle Waite was in the parlor, and
wanted to see Miss Alice at once.
Alice excused herself to her cousin
and ran down stairs. Belle was impa-
tiently walking up and down the par
lor, suppressed excitement pervading
her.
''Alice you would never guess what
has happened!' she cried. 1T is terri
BILE! Laura Moore has sore throat, and
the doctor says she can't sing Wednes-
day night"
''Oh, Belle!'
lawful, isn't it? Maud Westerly IS
almost wild. She has been driving
around all morning trying to find some
one to take Laura's place. But there
are SO few girls who could sing that
part. The only one I know besides
Laura who could do it is Ella Grayson,
and she is in Florida. l came over to
see If you could suggest any one.''
II don't know of any one at all," said
Alice, after moments reflection.
IL can't imagine what we are to do.
No changing of parts would fix it either
Maud and l went over that. Oh, dear.
why don't girls learn to sing? It is too
provoking; and Maud has put all her
heart and soul into this thing, and it
promised to be such a success. Every
seat has been sold, and now-oh, what
can we do?"
"Perhaps Maud will find some one by
the time rehearsal begins," said Alice
who was in a chorus, her voice not De-
ing sufficiently strong for any thing
higher. "We must hope for the best -
Belle went away, and Alice hurried
into her msther's room to tell of the
catastrophe that threatened them.
Mrs. Stoker was properly sympathetic
and anxious.
The concert had been arranged by the
pupils of Mrs. Sayles' fashionable semi
nary for the benefit of hospital for
poor children, and had been widely ad-
vertised. The principal feature was to
be cantata, the parts being taken by
young ladies dressed to represent gyp-
sizes.
Laura Moore had been given the
principal part-thatof of the Gypsy Queen
for she possessed remarkably fine
contralto voice. And now she would be
unable to appear!
Alice could scarcely realize the mis-
fortune which had overtaken them; but
she felt certain pride in keeping the
matter quiet, and asked her mother to
say nothing of it to Eliza.
''For know Maud will bring it out
all right some way" she said, land
Eliza need never know there was any
trouble"
'She will probably enjoy it more if
she does not know of any change of
parts," said Mrs. stoker, $50 will say
nothing.'
II don't suppose she can tell one tune
from another" said Alice. "She has
probably never heard any music except
that of cow-bell or jew's-harp."
At luncheon Mrs. Stoker asked Alice