Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-03-24
CHAPTER K.

on New Years eve with a grand ball at
Shirley. It was to be a sumptuous
affair, with unlimited Chinese lanterns,
handsome decorations, a magnificent
supper and a band from Washington.
The Smiths were going to requite the
neighborhood's hospitality with the beat
ing Of drums, the clashing Of cymbals
and the flowing Of champagne. This
cordial, friendly people had welcomed
them kindly and must have their cour-
tesy returned in fitting style.
Mrs. Smith suggested simpler enter
fearing contrast and any ap-
pearance of ostentation, but the general
gagged his neighbors better. They were
at once too well bred, and too self salts
fed for any idea Of comparison to occur
to them. They would eat his fruit cake,
or make him welcome to their corn
bread with the same hearty unconcern.
His wealth and their own poverty trou-
bled them equally little. They were alb
stract facts with which hospitality had
nothing to do. But in their way they
were proud; having given their best
without grudge or stint, they would ex-
pect his best in return, and the general
was determined that they should have
it. The risk Of offense lay in simplicity,
not grandeur.
Mrs. Royal Garnett came over to
Lanarth day or so before the grand
event, bearing her family in her train,
to assist in the weighty matter of a suit
able toilet for Pocahontas. She was
tall, handsome woman, with a noble
bearing and great decision of character,
and on most Fundamentally those per-
tanning to the sacred mysteries Of the
wardrobe, her word with her family was
law. Grace's taste was admitted to be
perfect.
After an exhaustive discussion of the
subject, at which both Berke and Royal
ignorantly and gratuitously assisted and
were flouted for their pains, it was irrev-
ocably decided that Pocahontas should
appear in pure white unrelieved by a
single dash of color.
''She looks cheap and common in any
thing but dead black or pure white at a
party" pronounced Grace with sis
terly frankness, and of course that set
tied the matter, although Mrs. Mason
did venture on the modest protest that it
would look "bridelike and unusual"
81 want her to look unusual" declared
Grace; "to make her so is at present the
object of my being. l shall hesitate at
nothing short of cutting off her nose to
secure that desirable result. To be ad-
mired woman must stand out dis
tinctly from the throng, and I've set my
heart on Princess being the belle of tho
ball. Have you plenty Of flow ers, dear7
AS flowers are to be your sole garniture,
you must have profusion. can't toll
crate skinny, publishing bouquets"
None at all, Grace" confessed Poca-
hontas ruefully, except a single Gala.
cut my last white rosebuds and camel
las to send to Nina Byrd Marion the
very day before hear4rAbout the Shir-
ley ball. Isn't it provoking?"
"Then somebody must get you some"
Grace responded promptly, pausing in
her preparations and regarding her sis
ter with the air of an autocrat. "If the
men are not lost to all sense of honor
and decency you'll have plenty. OF
course you must have plenty. If only
they will have sufficient intellect to Sc
lect white ones! But they won't. I'd
better instruct Roy and Berkeley at
once"
On the morning of the ball Berkeley
entered his mothers room, where the
three ladies sat in solemn conclave re-
garding with discomfort a waiter full of
colored flowers which thoughtful
neighbor had just sent over to Poca-
hontas. He held in his hand a good
sized box which he deposited in his sis.
ter's lap with the remark:
Look, Princess! Here's a New Years
gift just come for you. don't know
the writing. l wonder what it isl"
"A subtle aroma ggests-fruit,
hazarded Grace, shifting curiously.
perhaps flowers" suggested Mrs
Mason, who that morning was a woman
with one idea.
Pocahontas wrestled with the cords
unfolded the wrappers and lifted thu
cover. Then she uttered long drawn
"Oh" of satisfaction.
"what is ity'' demanded the other
with lively impotence.
Pocahontas lifted card and turned i
In her hand, and smile broke over hel
face as she answered, "Flowers; from
Jim Byrd"
Then she removed the damp moss ant
cotton and lifted spray after spray o
beautiful snowy jasmine-Cape jasmine
pure and powerful, and starry wreath
Of the more delicate Catalonian. Onl.
white fowers-all jasmine, Jim's favorit
flower; and with them were tropica
ferns and grasses. As she held the OF
quisite blossoms in her hands and in
hailed their rich perfume the girl wa
conscious that when her old frien
1 pnrna the esder Tor tha FRAGRANT al