The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-09-01
in IVORY AND BLACK.

IN IVORY AND BLACK.
'Gracious me, Eda! how came you
with Polly Mitchenson's FAM"
A question so unexpected, so sur
prising, that Eda Norris could not
answer it. She had been displaying
her birthday gifts to an old school
friend, reserving till the last the
present received from her betrothed,
when NAMES sharp black eyes had
fallen upon it, and brief, very brief
scrutiny evoked the above exclama-
ton.
Il do not know what you mean"
said Eda, little stif1y, when the in
quiry was repeated. II have not
seen Miss Mitchenson half-a-dozen
times since left school; my mother
did not wish me to keep up the &C.
quaintance.
And no wonder, for Polly is an
awful firt; makes herself notorious
with the number of her lovers. But
she is an attractive little thing, no
one can help liking her; and she was
always fond of you, Eda; that's why
she remembered your birthday"
''But she did not remember it"
was the response. ..Nor should
have accepted present from her if
she had. The fan you are looking
at was given to me by Laurie. It is
very pretty, is it not?''
Very" said Mamie. picking it up
and laying it down again, with such
"a peculiar smile upon her face. that
provoked Eda to ask the cause.
''Why do you look at me so oddly?
And what made you think this fan
had ever belonged to Polly Mitchen-
son? Laurie bought it for me at
Blanks, in Regent street; you can
see their name upon the box"
ooh, yes. l know it came from
Blanks" replied her friend, in the
same curt manner;and then she would
have launched into raptures over a
dainty little lady's companion, if an
'noyed Eda had not prevented it.
81 wish you would speak out plain
ly, Mamie. What is it you know, or
fancy you know, about this FAM"
my dear, would not, for worlds,
make mischief between two fond
lovers, so don'tcatechise me. wish
had not recognized the thing. And,
after all, what matters? It was
Polly's. but it is yours; and it proves
that she is not as INSCRIPTIONS as
she is represented"
Explain yourself. am as much
growing red and angry. What was
Polly Mitchenson to her, or. rather,
to her intended husband, the clever
rising young fellow, of whose abil1-
ties and affections she was so proud ?
Nonsense, Eda; you know, and
everyone knows, it is reported that
she accepts every thing that is offered
at her shrine, and never returns the
gifts of her votaries. A foolish
cousin of mine, who fancied she
meant to marry him, presented her
with a very valuable ring. She
almost broke his heart, and he went
abroad, but she still wears the ring.
Isn't it heartless of her?"
t'And do you mean to imply that
this fan was originally given to her
by--by Laurence Hayward? Re-
turned to him, and then presented to
me?" queried Eda, very slowly.
Mamie hemmed. hesitated, and fin
ally said:
''Well, really. dear, it looks like it.,
doesn't it?"
''No"' was the passionate response.
's'It is false! it is a cruel SANDER!
Laurie is incapable of such mean
ness. What! deliberately offer to
me, his promised wife. gift that
had been bestowed on such a girl as
Polly Mitchenson? 1 never, never
will believe it,"
>Eda burst into angry tears, and
Mamie ran for water and salts, and
did her best to soothe the weeper.
.'Pray drink this, dear, and think
no more about my foolish revela-
tions. How could l be so silly!
Mother often says talk too fast, and
so l do; but indeed and indeed ]
hadn't q thought of making mischief,
and l couldn't help recognizing the
fan. could /? You see it was always
in Polly's hands at one time, and she
never would say who gave it to her,
though was very curious to know
because she made such a mystery Of
1T"
Eda sat for some minutes with her
face buried in her handkerchief, then
started up and dashed away he,
tears.
s.YoH are goose, Mamie, and am
a greater one for listening to you.
OF course you are deceived by fan.
,cied resem blance. There are plenty
of ivory and black ostrich feather
fans imported from China and Japan
every year, and the one you saw in
that girls possession was, daresay.
broken and spoiled long ago.
"Polly did break one of the sticks, ,
Mamie admitted; ..but she took it to
Blanks, and they mended it so neatly
that it was only by the most careful
examination that you could detect
the flaw"
Then here" cried Eda, snatchine
up the pretty toy and unfurling it
@.here you have convincing proof Of
Hour mistake. Look for yourself and
acknowledge that you have done
Laurie the greatest injustice"
But even as she spoke her color