San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-03

ginia," She Continued. ~ irur,sd yog
were too sensible to follow the herd, and
waste the best years of your life in
folly"
Folly" echoed family.
Yes. folly. What else is it but folly
to sit up night after night, until the
small hours Of the morning. waltzing
with brainless young menT
But, Aunty, my father wishes me to
go into society"
balls and parties? Re is under the thumb
Of your Aunt Helen, At your age he
was working hard for his living, and
learning to be Of use in the world"
"But | have not co earn my living"
said |.
$50 much the worse for you, Humph!
You have found that out, have youY"
understood that she referred to what
~- sH-Las "a.
my father had told me. Yes, | know
my father is very rich If do not go to
parties, how am | to learn anything
about lifeg'
"Life You are very simple child, if
you expect to learn what life is by dane
ing the german. The first thing we
shall hear is that you are engaged TO
some young dandy who is after your
fortune. Then you will be snuffed out.
You will become a fashionable simple
ton, who goes TO bed at four and gets up
at noon Life. indeed!
co
soon upon what had lately heard, cut
like knife. answered firmly:
My father has already warned me to
be on my guard against insincere per-
sons"
Much good a warning would do if
You Were to take it into your head to
like anybody! Tell me! may not I'M
dersJand girls (this was a thrust at
Aunt Helen, but know the DISPOSE
tons of my own family. When Har-
Ian gets a fixed idea it takes deal of
pounding to drive it out; and you're a
Harlan, Virginia, if there ever was one"
This last reflection seemed to console
her little, or at least to suggest the fu-
tility of trying to alter my determine
ton; for after speaking of other matters
for few moments she exclaimed:
We'll! girls will be girls, suppose,
to the end of time"-and rising she
went to an escritoire and took out
small parcel, which it was evident she
had intended to present to me from the
first There, Virginia, if you are bent
ON being frivolous, is bit of old lace
that your Aunt Helen, or anybody else,
would have to hunt a long time to equal.
You will find a Iocket inside which |
wore when your father was married. |
shall never use such frippery again, and
you might as well have them now as
when am dead"
Knowing that she meant to be gracious,
| thanked her warmly. But having
doubts regarding her taste, abstained
from opening the package until reached
home. Then found that the lace even
surpassed in exquisiteness the estimate
Aunt Agnes had put upon it, Aunt
Helen was fairly envious, and spent the
evening in wondering where on earth"
her rival could have come into possession
of such a treasure.
But the locket-a cameo, bizarre, and
out of the run of ordinary personal orna-
ments-excited her contempt.
at is fit for a woman of forty, and
would make you look like guy. Vir-
ginia."
The idea of looking different from
other people did not disturb me. Indeed,
had resolved to be thoroughly indie
pendent SO, ON the evening of Mrs.
Dale's ball, announced my intention of
wearing the locket, and of reserving my
necklace of pearls for some more brill
liant occasion. Aunt Helen, who super
vised my toilet, was greatly distressed at
my obstinacy. Nevertheless left the
house with it on. But at the last mo-
ment my courage failed me; slipped it
off and put it in my pocket, thus mal:-
ing courtesy to conventionality on the
threshold of society.