Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-11-07
VII.

6OutIis WHO Idppcueu 10 De visiting ScOtlanO,
were invited to stop at Mount Morven on
their way to the highlands, and were accus-
toned tn meet the neighhnrs nf tho Lini0ya
1t dinner on their arrival. The time for this
yearly festival had now come round again;
the guests were IN the house; and Mr.. and
Mrs. Linley were occupied in making their
arrangements for the dinner party. With
her unfailing consideration for every one
sbout her, Mrs Linley did not forget Sydney
while she was sending out her cards of invi-
tation. "Our table will be full at dinner"
she said to her husband; miss Westerfieh
had better join us in the evening with Kitty"
II suppose SC" Linley answered with some
hesitation.
"You seem to doubt it. Herbert hyT
II was only wondering"
"Wondering about what?''
HAS Miss Westerield got . gown, Cath
crime, that will do for party?"
Linley's wife looked at him as IL she doubt
ed the evidence of her own senses. Fancy
man thinking Of thatr' she exclaimed
Herbert, you astonish me-"
He laughed uneasily. II don't know how
I came to think of it-unless 1t is that she
wears the same dress every day. Very neat;
but (perhaps I'm wrong) little shabby,
too"
upon my word, you pay Miss Westerfeld
q compliment which you have never paid to
mel Wear what may, you never seem to
know how am dressed"
II beg your pardon, Catherine, / know
that you are always dressed WELL"
That little tribute restored him to his place
In his wife's estimation. II may tell you
now" she resumed, with her gentle smile,
fl,at Ind - -hak I hoA
thought Of already. My millmer is at work
be your gift"
"Are you 1okingY'
II am In earnest Tomorrow Is Sydney's
birthday; and here Is my present" She
opened jewelers. case and took out plain
gold bracelet Suggested by Kitty" she
added, pointing to an inlaid miniature por-
trait Of the child. Herbert read the inscrip-
ton; To Sydney WestcT1cld, Nth Catherine
Ltnleys loUc. He gave the bracelet back to
his wife in silence; his manner was more &C.
fious than usual-he kissed her hand.
The day Of the dinner party marked an
epoch in Sydney's life.
For tho first time in all her experience she
could look In the glass and see herself pretti-
ly dressed, with gold bracelet on her arm.
II we consider how men On one way) and
millinen Tin another) profit by it, vanity is
surely to be reckoned, not among the vices,
but among the virtues Of the sex. Will any
woman who speaks the truth hesitate to &C
knowledge that her first sensation of graft
fed vanity rank among the most exquisite and
most enduring pleasures that she has ever
feltf Sydney locked her door and exhibited
herself to herself-in the front view, the side
"a hon II vyfa f,~,, 10. I,~,.1 ~
with eyes that sparkled and cheeks that
glowed tn delicious confusion of pride and
astonishment She practiced bowling to
strangers in her new dress; she practiced
shaking hands gracefully with her bracelet
well In view. Suddenly she stood still be-
fore The glass and became serious and thought
full. Kind and dear Mr.. Linley was in her
mind now. While she was asking herself
anxiously what he would think of her, Kitty
arranged In her new finery, as vain and as
happy as her govemess- drummed with both
fists outside the door and announced at the
top OF her voice that 1t was time to go down.
stairs. Sydney's agitation at the prospect of
meeting the ladies in the drawing-room add
ed charm of its own to the flush that her
exercises before the glass had left on her
lace. bhyiy following instead of leading
her little companion into the room, she pre-
sented such charming appearance of youth
and beauty that the ladies stopped in their
talk to look a. her. Some few admired
Kitty's governess with generous interest; the
greater number doubted Mrs. Linley's prl-
dence in engaging girl so very pretty and
% very young. Little by little Sydney's
manner-simple, modest shrinking from OBJ
servati0n-pleaded in her favor even with
the ladies who had been pejudiced against
her at the outset When Mrs Hnley pre-
sented her to her guests the most beautiful
woman among them (Mrs. MacEdwin) made
room for her on the sofa, and with perfect
tact and kindness set the stranger at her ease.
When the gentlemen came in from the din
ner table Sydney was composed enough to
admire the brilliant scene and to wonder
again, as she had wondered already, what
MI. Linley would say to her new dress.
Mr.. Linley certainly did notice her-at .
distance.
He looked at her with momentary fervor
OF interest and admiration, which made sgd
ney $50 gratefully and so guiltlessly attached
to him) tremble with pleasure; he even step-
ped forward as If to approach her, checked
himself, and went back again among his
guests. Now in one part of the room, and
now In another, she saw him speaking to
them. The one neglected person whom he
never even looked at again was the poor girl