The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-01-02
LETTY'S LESSON.

the cat with a wind swept autumn leaf
In the garden path outside. A moisture
dimmed her eyes. She bit her lin.
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 serfated 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
lty of somebody who died and was buried
century ago, in putting on mask and
mingling in an indiscriminate crowd"-
Mrs. Laddon Lloyd's guests can hard
ly be called an indiscriminate crowd {"
pouted Lefty.
SIN FIVE hundred people there must be
some Earring element and, under any
circumstances, I'd rather choose my own
associates" retorted Mr.. Hall.
"You can do as you please"
And you? 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
Lowell"
"I-suppose-I-shall-have-to,"u I'M
willingly conceded Lefty, still with the
fresh young face turned away.
1t was only half victory, vet, with
such asit-was, Dallas Hall was forced to
be content.
When he was gone, Lefty Ogilvie went
up stairs, and looked sorrowfully at a
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 a monster
rose colored fan lay beside it.
cit 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 a pretty thing
merely to look at it.
In the Ogilvie family things were
twisted and turned in variety of ways
before they were pronounced to have
outlived their usefulness.
But she dropped them again.
ri can't do iti' said she. "It's too
pretty. I'll wait until Bessy Mordaunt
has seen it-and Lulu Payne!"
So she folded the bright colored trifes
away in lavender and rose leaves in her
e bureau drawer, not to count a tear or
two that fell among the pink plumes and
glttered on the silver lacings of the
black velvet bodice.
"What shame!" cried Lucetta Va
rian. You're not going, after all? Good
ness me, wish were two sizes smaller!
I'd go as the Spanish maiden myself.
But what sort of fad has Mr.. Hall got
ten into his head now? They say he is a
genius, but geniuses do get into such I'm
comfortable grooves! Of course, he's
coming to read poetry to you all the
evening"
Indeed he's not" said Lefty. "He
has got to work day and night at his law
business, to get things in shape, for-for
the wedding"
ooh, Sect cried Miss Varian, Jump
ing up and executing low courtesy.
Niagara-the rapids of the st. Lawrence
Montreal Quebec all that sort of
thing. Don't l wish was you? 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 ourv-
ed in sarcastic smiles.
Lefty Ogilvie," said she, I've got
such joke to tell you! Where do you
suppose Mr.. Dallas Hall is going to
: spend Thursday EVENING""
"At work, suppose" said Lefty, al
most inclined to be offended at Lucetta's
tone and manner.
'.Oh, yes-pretty work indeed! But,
Letty-mind, this is profound secret!
I'd no business to be prying and listen
ing; but, out Of friendship to you, I 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 her
rooms on the top floor of the Belknap
building, where Mr.. Pink-of-perfection's
law Office is locatedT
"But, Lucetta, stammered bewildered
Lefty, "do you think it is quite honor
able to-
Honorable, indeed! Oh, you egregious
goose!" cried Lucetta, 'do you know
what dupe you are2 Listen! This is
what heard the knight Grant say to
bis friend as they parted; Very we'll; on
Ehutsday evening next, at the Laddon
lloyds.' And friend answered back,
On Thursday evening next at the Lad
pn Loyd's. So you see, Lefty, he's
bing to the masquerade, and he means
Shave jolly good time-a sort of wind
yp to his bachelor bliss, suppose-while
Au are inoping at home, because mas
dorado balls aren't the proper thing,
ndeedr.-with a fierce satirical en-
nasis.
n..LoI Io~ oLoolys roI