Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-01-30
MARGUERITE BRAIDS.

Inc bright morning SunllRnU S0OU QulV-
ering little shafts of light through the
tangled vines that shaded the wide, cool
piazza that ran along the side of Judge
Bradford's luxurious country house, and
cast fantastic shadows over the young girl
seated in low rocker busily engaged in
sewing on peasants costume for fancy
dress ball.
A wonderfully pretty picture did this in
dustrious little seamstress make as she sat
in her leafy bower this perfect June day.
Her complexion was the clear pearly white,
softly tinted, so often seen in New Eng
lands daughters, her features were deli
cate and regular, witha mouth of sensitive
sweetness, as expressive of every emotion
as her large violet blue eyes, that shaded
from deepest azure almost to purple but
her greatest beauty, her browning glory,
was her hair. 1t was not merely blonde
hair ilaXcn or yellow, but it was a pure
golden tint that shone in each glittering
thread like FURNISHED gold 1t waved in
thick silken masses off from her broad,
low forehead and was gathered at the back
of her shapely little head in two great
satin smooth brads that fell to her very
knees.
Her figure as it bent over the swing was
tall slender and graceful in every curve
and line, and she was as unconscious of her
own beauty as she was that there was any
merit in the laborious, self denying life she
led
Beth Thorntons father had been a re-
tired naval officer, whose half pay had bare
ly sufliced to support himself and his wife
and child without having any surplus for
the inevitable "rainy day" The year before
our story opens he had died. and with him
his slender income, leaving his wife and
daughter penniless, save for the tiny cot
tage in which they lived.
About this time Mrs Thornton's sight
began to fail her, with the awful prospect
OF losing it entirely without she submitted
to a delicate and costly operation.
This double calamity was a hard blow to
poor little Beth, then scarcely Is. Worst
of all WAS the know ledge that the terrible
misfortune which threatened her mother
might he averted if only she possessed the
money to pay for the services of IA skilled
oculist, a sum that appeared almost hope.
less for her to raise by her own exertions
But Beth was a sensible little girl who
knew that tears and repinings would not
remedy matters or keep the wolf from the
door, so she bravelv set herself to work.
All of her own girlish hopes and aspira-
tions were resolutely put to one side and
not being able to find more congenial EN-
ploymcnt in the sleepy Berkshire village
where size lived she began her battle of ex-
istcnce ao a seamstress.
1t was something of IA trial and humili-
alton to her proud spirit to work as a ser
want in families where she had formerly
visited as an honored guest. but like the
noble, truehearted girl that she was, Beth
went about her duties cheerfully and un-
complainngly, and tried bravely to stille
all rebclious thoughts and regrets.
Usually she was very successful in her
efforts to keep down the unhappy memo
ries, but this glorious June morning as she
sat diligently sewing on Edith Bradford's
Marguerite costume for the grand masque-
rade ball at the Courtenays' they arose and
triumphed over her. A little sigh escaped
her AS she thought how hard it was that
she must he shut out from all such pleas
ures and gayeties so dear to young girls
heart.
"There's lots of good times in the world,
only amt in 'em," Beth quoted with a
tremulous little smile, and she leaned her
head far back so that the tears, which had
rushed TO her eyes at the doleful words of
poor Glory MacQuirk, should not fall on
the delicate fabric in her lap and spot it..
And as she sat thus with her head raised,
her eyes-from which she had dashed the
pearly drops-wandered across the valley
TO where the gray stone turrets and gables
of Buchcroft, Philip Courtenay's magnif-
cent home rose in stately grandeur above
the lofty tree tops
Beth had received an invitation to Mrs
Courtenay's masquerade ball, which was
to be given in honor of her sons return
from Europe, where he had been for the
past ten years completing his education
Ny study and travel. 1t was not often that
4 Il.
partic, TO which she had invitations even
had it been possible for her TO have done
so, but this one she did long to attend
most earnestly
Could it he on account of handsome
Phil Courtenay2 Beth asked herself il
sudden terror. And the thought mad,
her pulses thrOb, as somehow he haC
made them do more than once during
these past few weeks since his return-anC
ne Edith Bradford's lover!
Just at that moment Miss Bradford her
self came up the piazza steps, looking 81
fair and elegant in her pearl gray tailor
made walking suit and her jaunty En-
,,ish toque with the blue plume curling
over her golden hair, which was the exac
shade of Beth's long plaits.
"Isnt it too provokingp" she cried,
little frown of impatient displeasure il
willow rocker beside Beth. even Gailart
annot match my hair for those Mar
,uerte braidsl What on earth shall d.
bout it' Give NJ my character or stay a
lomeS"
Beth was instantly relieved of the shar
title touch of pain the recollection o
Phil Courtenay had given her by the SCUM
# Edith's voice.
IL should not let such little thing a
he want of plat or two of false hal
leep me at home from Mrs. Courtenay'
masquerade if at all wanted to co." Bet
aid, quietly; but then, you know,
wouldn't want to go anyhow"
"You honest little Puritanl But, theI
you are so different from any other gil
hat ever lived should think you woul
terall stagnate going about the way 20
10 and drudging for everybody. BY tn