The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-05-11

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had regular rummage."
"Dolly, what goose you are"
"I just am, Margery. or course there
was nothing there but cobwebs aud little
bright-eyed mice, and old rags that the
ragman's at-grandmother would have
been ashamed Of. But / found this old
cream colored silesia back of the mahog-
any chest of drawers. It,ll make better
curtains for this room than yonder faded
moreen things. Oh, Margery, how pret-
ty those narcissus flowers look in your
hair. Sit still a minute-only min
ute"
She draped the pale yellow stuff artist
ically over Margery's tall shoulders; she
fastened it with n knot of deep gold mar
cissus; she showered the other flowers in
a yellow drift upon the jetty braids OF
her black hair.
"Margery," she cried, gleetully clap.
ping her hands, "what lovely straight
profile you havel shall turn artist and
paint you, and call you 'Spriugtime.'
Margery uttered a sudden exclamation
which made Dolly whirl swiftly around,
and there, to her infinite embarrassment,
stood her brother Arthur, the young
bank clerk, with another gentleman
Mr.. Somerset, of Skipton Court.
''Is it a tableau2" said that young
man, smiling, "or full dress rehearsal2"
Margery flung off the pale yellow
draperies narcissus stars rained
down on the shabby carpet ,at her feet.
'It's only Dolly's nonsense" she said,
with a glance of smothered indignation
at her sister.
'Oh, but what pity to spoil the
effect2" said Somerset. "Such lovely
flowers My sisters are besieging the
florists to get Just such blossoms for the
ball decorations. Speaking of the ball,
Miss Peak, we are determined that you
shall reconsider your refusal to come,
because"
And Dolly, going from the room in
conscious disgrace, lost the rest of the
sentence.
Down in the kitchen-the only other
room in which there was a fire-therc
ensued lively discussion between old
Rebecca and her young lady.
"My dearie sweet" coaxed the an
| CleuJ SeTNllTcSS, YOU eau VI
"But can !" said Dolly.
"But you mustn't, Miss Dolly"
"But l willp cried Dolly, with a
stamp OF her ill-shod foot.
"You're Peak, dearie, of Peak
Hill"
"But you're not, Becky. Dear Becky,
good Becky, if you put on the old
sleighing hood and blue spectacles, no
one will know you. Aud poor Margery
Think of Margery! oh, Becky, you
will-you must!"
The soft kisses on Rebecca's cheek,
lip, brow, were euticing beyond every
thing. She felt herself yielding.
"La, child" said she, "don't stifle
me II must, must"'
sauntered down to the old greenhouse.
''If the flowers are really there" said
she, 'I may as we'll pick them and send
them to Skipton Court. It'll be a neigh
borly thing to do, and-Why, where are
they! Dolly, thought you said"
In the middle of the old place stood
Dolly in the attitude of tragic muse.
''They've all been picked and taken
away in the night" SAID she, dramati-
cally-"every one!"
"Goodness mel" cried Margery.
"Who ever heard of such thing2 Who
can have done it2"
"Of course" sighed Dolly, "the door
is never locked. Any one could have
! done it."
The night of the ball, at Skipton Court
arrived. Once more the sky glowed yell
low as the sweet spring jonquils them
selves, aud the wind howled down the
chimney of the nursery. Once more
Margery sat on the old fur rug, thinking
sadly.
"NIargery |" breathed soft voice.
"Dolly, are you there2' cried the
elder, with start.
"Yes, Pm here. Listen Margery.
When we were children, don't you re-
member how we used to play at Making
Believer Well, let's make believe now.
Suppose we had grandmother, like the
story heroines, and she had wedding
dress; would you like it to be like this ?"
She shook out the clouds of Il soft,
white tulle dress, threaded with woven
CLEANS of gold, and knottad up here and
there with punches of yellow narcissus.
Margery sprang to her feet ecstatically.
"Oh, Dolly!" she cried. "Am l
dreaming3"
"Nol" cried exultant Dolly; cts real
truth / bought the dress and old Becky
made it-after the pattern of your last
white muslin-and 1 trimmed it with
howers-my flowers"
"Child, where did you get the money!"
Cheeky sold the pansies aud the mar.
cissuses and the jonquils. The florists
would have given any money for more.
They had big order from Skipton Court.
Now, Margery, l know how to earn
money and help Arthur along. AS for
YOU"
"Well, as for met"
"Why, here's the great-grandmother's
dress, and there's the enchanted / ball
room, waiting at Skipton Court, aud the
yellow gold pieces raining down, in the
the shape of narcissus and jonquils. And
| shouldn't a bit wonder" she added
roguishly, "if the royal prince himself
wasn't so very far off, because Mr.. Somer-
set told Arthur that he never had seen
any one as beautiful as you were that
night when you sat in the freight
draped in amber silesia and crowned
with flowers. Quick let me help dress
you, Margery. There isn't moment to
lose"
"Yod dear little good fairyl' cried
Margery, with swimming eyes. "But l
must stop long enough to give you a
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