Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-02-02

them observed how, lower and lower
still, Barbera's head was dropping
abcYe her book.
"5he don't seem to be enjoying her
self particularly well at present,
murmured Miss Belford, malioiously.
"We must get her to sing agein fol-
us to-day" giggled Paulita Ponscrby.
And there was a second partially re-
pressed burst of laughter behind
ringed hands and glistening fans.
"Oh, it's all very well to laugh,
said Mrs Frank Howard, shaking he1
pretty crepe head, "but you girls had
better look out what you're about.
Mr.. Hilton likes that 'violet-by-a-
mossy-stone' sort Of thing. Did you
see him hanging over the pianostool last
night when she sang that remarkable
effort?"
"Nonsense !" cried all the girls, with
one accord.
Gracious me - said Miss Belford.
where is she? When did she go out
Lulu Howard, you spoke too loud"
''No, she didn't" said Audrey Ais
ton, with third yawn. "The girl
has been very ill with typhoid fever
or something, her father said, and she
has to rest herself good deal. Prob
ably she's gone to lie down"
"Poor thing Kitty Everdale's
dimpled face peeped in among the
group. "Why didn't you tell me SO
1 would have talked to her a little.
"Talked TO her?' Aubrey opened
wide her glittering blue eyes. "What
for? She has no business here. She's
quite out of her sphere in place like
this, and l can't see how Uncle 10 ever
came to ask her here. A good, sharp
lesson will do her good. And as for
Mr.. Hilton, I'm not in the least
troubled about him. "
Miss Ponsonby shrugged her shouI-
ders.
Don't be too sure about that, 80
said she.
While poor little Barbara, shut into
her own room, relieved her surcharged
heart by a passionate burst of tears.
Yes, Miss Audrey Aston was quite
right She had no business in a
place like Aston Grange. The little
brown wren should never venture
near the jungle of radiant birds of
paradise and glittering paroquets
How cool and Indifferent all the ladie
we're! How little notice they took Of
her, beyond the merest requirements
of politeness
Kitty Everdale was the only person
who had spoken kindly to her-poor
Barbara!
She took out her white muslin frock
for the evening party, smoothed its
folds and pulled ont its cherry satin
puf's.
How beautiful she had thought it
when her father ordered it down from
New York, and yet-and yet it did
not look like Mrs. Frank Howard s
dead-white silk dinner dress, nor Miss
Belford's tulle gown, all dotted with
golden starsl
81 wonder if Mr.. Hilton likes
white?" she said to herself then she
looked up with a blush as scarlet as the
satin bows.
1t was only Miss Alston's maid, with
her lady's compliments, and lunch
would be served an hour later than
usual.
eyes, thank you, I'll remember, "
futtered Barbara.
And then she grew more crimson
than ever as she saw the reflection of
her face in the glass.
I- do believe - it's-on-one-
side :" she gasped, putting both hands
to her hair. 81 wonder if the girl
roticed it? think not, She would
have looked surprised"
But Barbara Hay had no idea of the
capabilities of Miss Alston's maid S
face.
"She's pretty young lady enough
if she only had a maid rs could dress
her decent, said Maria to herself, as
she tip-toed down the stairs; "but as
sure as / live and breathe, she wears a
-wigr'
Toward nightfall the party of mis-
tletoe hunters arrived, laden with
glossy leaves and spectral berries, and
then came the fun and frolic of hang
ing them everywhere.
The twilit rooms we're full Of
laughter when Mrs Howard glided up
to Audrey Alston's side.
"Aha, Juliet" she whispered,
"where is your false Romeo now|
In the soft red glow of the freight
stood Barbara Hay, her hazel eyes
lifted to Mr.. Hilton's face, one solitary
sprig Of mistletoe in her hand, and her
lips all smiles.
Audrey shot one glance at the pair,
then burst into a hard, mirthless
laugh.
"Turn about is fair play" she said.
my inning will come next"
Barbara looked very lovely in her
white gown that night, with one sprig
of mistletoe in her bosom but she