Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-12-02
MARGUERITE BRAIDS.

trfnR little shafts OF light through tle
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 Ia n 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, with mouth OF sensitive
sweetness, as expressive OF every emotion
rs 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. fiaxcn or yellow, but ii was pure
golden tint that shone In each glittering
thread like FURNISHED gold. IL waved In
thick silken masses or from her broad,
low forehead, and was gathered at the back
Of her shapely little head In two great
satin smooth braids that fell to her very
knees.
Her figure as 1t bent over the swing was
tall, slender and graceful in every cnrve
and line. and she WAS ms unconscious Of her
own beauty as she was that there was any
merit in the laborious, self denying life she
led
Beth Thornton's father had been a re.
tired naval officer, whose half pay had bare
ly sufIiced 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. Thorntou's sight
began to fail her, with the awful prospect
OF losing 1t entirely without she submitted
to a delicate aud costly operation.
This double calamity was a hard blow to
poor little Beth, then scarcely Is. Worst
OF all was the knowledge that the terrible
misfortune which threatened her mother
might be averted IL only she possessed the
money to pay for the services Of skilled
oculist, a sum that appeared almost hope
less Tor her TO raise by her own exertions.
But Beth was sensible little girl, who
knew that tears and repinngs would not
remedy matters or keep the wolf from the
door, so she brayely 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 eongcnial EN-
ployment In the sleepy Berkshire village
where she lived she began her battle of ex-
istence as u seamstress.
II was something of n trial and humili-
alton TO her proud spirit to work as a ser.
Want In families where she had formerly
visited as mn honored guest. but like the
noble. truehearted girl that she was, Beth
went about her duties cheerfully and un-
complainingly, and tried bravely to stifie
all rebelllous thoughts and regrets.
Usually she WIS 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 masaue-
rade ball at the Courtenays' they arose and
trinmphed over her. A little sigh escaped
her as she thought how hard It was that
she must be shut out from all such pleas
ures and gayeties so dear to n 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 ia her lap and spot 1t.
Aud as she sat thus with her head raised.
her eyes-from which she had dashed the
peariy drops-wandcred across the valley
TO where the gray stone turrets and gables
OF Buohcroft, Philip Courtenay's magnifi-
cent home, rose in stately grandeur above
the lofty tree ops.
Beth had received an invitation TO Mrs
Courtenay's masquerade ball, which was
TO be given in honor OF her sons retnrn
from Europe, where he had been for the
past ten years completing his education
by study and travel. It was not often that
she cared about going to the neighborhood
parties 10 which she had invitations, even
had il been possible for her TO have done
30, but this one shetdid long to attend
most earnestly.
Could it be on account OF handsome
Phil CourtenayS Beth asked herself In
sudden terror. And this thought made
her pulses throb, as somehow he had
made them 10 more than once during
these past fe weeks since his return-and
be Edith Bra ford's loverl
Just ut that moment Miss Bradford her
self came up the piazza steps, looking so
lair and elegant in her pearl gray tailor
made walking suit and her jaunty En-
Iiish toque, with tho blue plume curling
over her goldcn hair, which was the exact
shade Of Beth's long plaits.
isn't II too provoking2" she cried, a
little frown of impatient displeasure in
her pretty face. az she sank down in a
willow rocker beside Beth. "Even Gaillard
cannot match my hair for those Mar
sueritc braids What on earth shall do
about itf Give mp my character or stay at
homer
Beth was instantly relieved OF the sharp
little touch Of pain the recollection OF
Phil Courtenay had given her by the sound
II Edlth's voice.
Il should not let such little thing as
The want Of plat or two OF false hair
keep me at home from Mrs Courtenay's
II at all wanted TO Co." Beth
'sid, quietly, "but then, you know, |
wouldn't want to go anyhow"
"fou honest little Puritani But. then.
you are 60 different from any other girl
hat ever lived. should think you would
literally stagnate going about the way you
10 and drudeing for everybody. BY the
way, as yoa arS % h-l.. 49, .....s acre. |
want your private opiuian--miud. Beth.
your very, most heartfelt opinion--about
Philip--the one only man ever saw whom
loved"
Her heartfelt opjnioni The unconscious
sarcasm pierced her 10 the heart, and il
was alariningly near her quiyering lips,
aserted from Ediths eyes, to say that he
was the one Gully man she, too, had ever
loved or would evsr love. Instead she an
'wered quietly;
Mr.. Courtney ought to make You n
blessed MoifInn Miss Hrahfnrd y