Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-11-26
CHAPTER x.
1AM INTRODUCED no KAvANAaH.


static pleasure before me of trying on ev-
erything and preparing a great surprise
for Taras. In this delicious occupation
/ spent two hours, and the time was not
a minute too long for my requirements.
There were unforeseen difficulties TO
overcome. Some Of the garments and
the method of fastening them were as
Strange to me a. they would have been
to a savage. My hands would not be-
come white like Miss Hopkins, and the
more / scrubbed them the redder they
seemed TO grow, and when l came to
dressing my hair, 1 thought l v
should succeed in making it present.
able. IL was so rebelllous, through
having had its own way all my life,
that no amount Of brushing would
make it lie fat and smooth. However,
the brushing made it very lustrous, and
l contrived at last to fasten it up In
loose curls on my head with the tortoise
shell pins Miss Hopkins had advised me
to buy. The choice Of dress gave me
less trouble; that pink silk tea gown
was too lovely to be set aside.
1 had only just got the fastenings
right when l heard the street door shut
andthe sonorous voice OF Taras calling
to Mere Lucas below. l lit the lamp
that stood on the table, and with doubt
aud hope palpitating In my heart looked
in the glass. l could scarcely believe
that the reflection l saw there was my
own. To be sure, l was unused to the
luxury of mirrors and now for the first
time, perhaps. looked at myself with in
terest; still 1 had seen my face often
enough to believe that all the
taunts it drew from the
malicious wits Of F%erryboat
Stairs were merited. But now, as /
gazed in the glass, l was almost freight
ened by the change made In my ap-
pearance By a beautiful dress, the care
l had bestowed upon my hair and still
more by the expression Of eager hope
which animated my features. 1t
seemed to me that 1 was no longer ugly,
but, on the contrary, nicer even than
Miss Hopkins. Would Taras think so
also and like me the better for it? 1
asked myself as | ran down stairs.
Iopened the door with a trembling
hand and went into the living room. II
was softly lit by half a dozen wax can
dies. Taras was reading. Hearing my
steps,, he lifted his eyes and glanced
across the table, then laying down his
book and rising exclaimed, "A1ra!" In
a low tone of establishment and stood
for a moment regarding me 10 silent
wonder.
Don't ye like lt?" l asked, taking
his silence for a token Of displeasure.
"Why, that's just what takes my
breath away. never dreamt of such a
marvellous change as this" and then he
said something about my bursting out
winged from the chrysalis which l did
not then understand.
Then ye do like it?" said /,
Frightening up under the signs OF APP
proval in his face and voice.
"Of course l do. It's charming in
every way. Why, you make the room
look ten times brighter"
"You won't find anything like this
down Shadwell way" said l, turning
round that he might see the long plaits
behind. "But l amt got my hair right
YETI
Then I hope you never may, for IL
cannot look better"
"Tm glad you like my dress anyhow,
cause l got a lot more up stairs-none
on 'em cheap-aDd a sealskin jacket
and gloves with ever so many buttons
and ali manner"
'Bravo!' said he, rubbing his hands,
with a smile; there's nothing like do
ing things thoroughly, Aura"
"My shoes is a caution" / said, step
ping out into the light and drawing
back my skirts to show the glittering
buckles.
pheasant to walk in, too, 1 should
say"
'sWalk! l feel like as II 1 could
Almost dance in 'em, I'm that light.
Just like a dream, where you feels II
you could fly. An it don't seem real,
neither. II kinder frightens me to
think as l may wake up presently and
find myself on the sacks up In the cor
ner Of Baxter's wharf"
Turn it about. Say that this IS the
awakening, and Bakers wharf the
dream to be forgotten"
I tried TO realize that, but my heart
and brain gave way under the strain
put upon them.
"It's too much for me all at once" l
said, struggling with my hysterical
emotion, "It's more'n / can bear. Don't
you say another word to me just for
a minute or two, or I'll make a fool Of
myself again. But though be did not
speak, and / turned away, biting my
lip to stop its quivering, the tears would
spring in my eys and choking sobs rise
in my throat.
"Tm a-goin of, I think" said I, with
a queer laugh, at length. SIT amt so
much these clos and things-it's this
kindness as comes over me. l amt
used TO it. This is twice I've give way
like this. Herel" suddenly turning,
In impatience with my weakness. Il
amt a-goin to carry on this here way no
more. I'm a-goin to be regular good,
l am"
Taras nodded spprovingly, and plac-
ing a chair for me seated himself.
There's the purse you give me; I've
only paid for the boots out of it." said
l, offering the purse.
keep il; you are sure to want other
things. You nav see some ornaments
that you would like for your room
this would look homelier for q few
trifes such as you girls delight in.
There's something in here though,
as I must give you, 'canse"-Not
knowing what excuse TO make, ! took
out the iron ring 1 bad stolen from him
in silence and held it q 70 him with a
shamed face.
He took IL, with q smile, and putting
On told me that II l wanted IL again
,uld have IL, but IN 3 tone which
= to think that thers was more In
lrds than l then understood.
fro BE coxTntED.]