Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-06-25

slippers 10 wear with II. 10 be sure
the slippers were size too large, iu
accordance with one OF fathers hob
bies that women should wear loose
shoes, but / was too happy to oe put
out by triHes, and went away sure
should have the happlest time girl
ever had, and SO lido.
Everything was new and delightful
to me, and it was not long until there
was always some one at hand to help
me enjoy this season Of delight, for
Maurice Halsted followed me like a
shadow and his shadow soon grew
dearer to me than any others sun
shine. So the days few Dy until it
came the night of my first ball"
Wear you rose silk, tonight, Bee,
said Aunt Rhoda, and hours before
time to dress had laid the rose pink
in shining folds oss my bed. while
the dainty slippers | removed from
the box and left standing on the toi-
let table. | remember it all so well
for when | went to my room to dress,
| met little cousin Nell just coming
out. Somebody sent you some love-
ly flowers cousin Bee,' she said, and |
took them up myself.
She laughed as she said it, and l
laughed too for was very, very hap
py. Sure enough, there were the
flowers, a great bunch of roses, pink
and white lying right across the white
slipper
was all dressed and ready but for
my roses when Aunt Rhoda came in.
You look very nice, she said ap-
provingly, and your flowers are pret-
ty, from Mr.. Halstead of course?
Wear the pink ones by all MEANS
But the white ones are SO pretty, |
pleaded, do look at these lovely buds.
Yes, but so are the others and will
match best with your costume. Put
them on quickly, for it is time to CO.
So with little sigh | left my white
roses, and placed the great pink beau
ties in my bosom and in my hair, and
went away to my first aud last ball.
happy as young queen, for loved
Maurice Halsted with all my heart,
and by all the signs and tokens he iov-
ed me also, and some way l had
feeling that he would choose that night
to tell me so.
But | was bitterly undeceived. 1
had not been long in the room until he
came and asked for the first waltz, but
after that he hardly noticed me, but
laughed and talked with others. 1t
was the old story, foolish girl daz-
zled by her first dream oflove, and a
man of the worlds wicked triaing.
But life was never the same to me
after that night. went home in
few days and never have | worn the
pink silk or the white slippers, and |
grew to be what you see, a cross old
maid
No, no, the dearest auntie in the
world' cried Dollie, throwing her
loving young arms around her aunts
neck, and not so very old either
Forty eight next birthday. But
never mind about that, let us talk of
your affairs awhile.
Just one question, please auntle.
What did you say your lovers name
was?
Maurice Halsted.'
4 thought SO, said Dollie, 'the same
name as the young man | met at Min
ME Thorp's party
Very likely, said Miss Belinda, mo
doubt he is married and has children
grown. But beware of him, Dollie,
like father, like son.
Dollie made no reply and Aunt Be-
linda might have taken warning had
she noted the dropping eyes and
flushed cheeks before her. But she
did not, and went calmly home through
the gathering darkness leaving Dollie
to dream of Clnderella's slippers and
fairy princes who had dark eyes and
smiled like Maurice Halsted.
Commencement night came at last |
and no one looked fairer or sweeter
than Dollie Jordan, as she stood
among her mates, for the pink silk |
had been altered to suit the prevailing
fashion and suited the girls fair love-
liness to perfection.
But after the exercises, came an
unexpected pleasure that had been
kept for complete surprise. One of
The faculty, whose memory of youth
full pleasures must have been vivid,
invited the entire class 10 reception
which proved to be veritabe ball,
with all the elite present
Little Dollie was bewildered at first
but youth and happiness soon conquer
difficulties, and the little white slip
pers were soon keeping time to the
music of the waltz as their wearer
aoated around the room on Maurice
Halsted's arm. Yes, ! am all alone
in the world, he was saying, MY faith.
Or and mother are both dead and /
never had a brother or sister,
How sad, murmured Dollie SYM
pathetically.
OF course there is Uncle Maurice,
;he young man went on, but though