The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-09
THE DEMONS GIFT.
A Dream of Gold and Black Fine
Enough for any Fairy.

my DEAR" said Mrs. Ackland as her
daughter entered the room, her dripping
waterproof and umbrella giving evidence
of a sturdy battle with the storm that
could be plainly heard even through
closed shutters and dropped curtains on
that upper floor. "The most polite letter
from Col. B, and knowing that l
forsook society long ago. Mrs. Col.
B will take you with her own girls;
it is really charming of her. Here is the
ticket"
The elderly lady's frail fingers drew
two elegant squares of pink and gold
pasteboard frouan envelope as she spoke.
But the girl, having hung the water
proof in an adjacent kitchen, and perched
her umbrella where it could drip harm
lessly into the stationary tubs of said
kitchen, did not even pick them up.
SIT would be better to publish the
fact that / have retired from society
also, mamma" she said, a little sadly.
"Your' cried her mother. At 90,
EfieT'
SIT comes to that when one has
black frock, said Efie, s'and thatpatched
at both elbows
"You could go in white" said her
mother. "You look very girlish. Gen
tlemen admire white, or used to. White
and a few flowers and no jewelry-no
one could find fault with that style.
The greatest heiress in Boston when I
was a girl was known for her simplicity
always white"
81 fancy should be if I went in a
sheet and pillow case costume" said
Fife. REALLY that would be the only
white one l could manage. That poor
old white dress that still exists in your
memory is short in the waist, shorter in
the skirt, won't meet in the belt, and
has a sleeve that would not go over my
wrist. I've grown a great deal in five
years, mamma"
lis it five years since you went to
your cousin Jennie's wedding in it,"
cried Mrs. Ackland. "Dear, dear, how
time flies. Couldn't you make over one
Of my old silks%
Il should be a laughing stock, mann
ma" said Fife. "Well, 1 can live with
out going to the ball, though I should
enjoy it very much"
'"The daughter Of Capt. Auckland ought
to have opportunities said the widow.
"How you are to marry if you never
meet any one I cannot think. A pretty
girl like you was never meant to be a
spinster and work for her bread"
"Things point in that direction now,"
said the girl. "Typewriting is not a
lively amusement, and I am as likely to
marry as l am to go to China. Don't
sigh SO bitterly, mamma. Itwould only
make you lonelier if I went to the ball,
and I should be up late and make mis-
takes next day-lose my place, perhaps.
I'll write a very polite regret when I
get some fine note paper. Now, let us
have tea"
The little brown teapot, the two blue
cups and plates to match, were soon on
the table. Efie Ackland had a way of
making excellent little dishes out of next
to nothing--it was very convenient I'M
der the circumstances-and though the
girl pinned for something besides the
daily routine of typewriting and even
lngs spent in listening to her mothers
"reminiscences of former g~randeur-for
Mrs. Ackland had been a belle and q
beauty and an expectant heiress when
she married the dashing young captain
1T was the mother who bemoaned her.
self.
AT last, tea being over, it was discov-
cred that the storm had passed, and that
moon and stars were shining. and Efie
declared that she would run down to the
little stationer's and get some note paper
of the proper sort on which to reply to
the kind invitation and offer of the
colonel and his lady.
It was a quiet neighborhood and very
late, and Fife wrapped herself in a thick
cloak and tied. a 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 wom-
an who kept it had expected no custom
ers, and had retired early. Fife 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 SC. But
there are still portions Of New York city
where it is very easy to lose ones self,
and besides Fife was not an old resident
of that part of the town. Somehow she
missed the right corner, crossed the
street at the 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 best thing she could
do was to keep on walking until she
came to a decent shop Or met q police
man of whom she could ask the way.
She acted on this resolution with her
usual promptitude, but for a 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 q 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 a light shone in her face,
and turning she saw a figure in black,
with red shoes, a red cap, horns, hoofs.
a long tail, which he carried over his
arm, and in his hand great paper par
al - fan4 Co4ar au uro go 1;ro 4.