Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-02-12
AN EvENTFUL DAY.
ReceNlNc CONGRATULATIONS oveN
~ ENGAGEMENT.


a rlesslne Ceremony which Il Observed
In ssoe Faailies-rsa s.A sySlua Are
Fessed and Pasted by C.csss, Aunss ga
Chums-Ths Happy He.r Als.s.
Tom and Sybilla are engaged, and
the time has come when their friends
are to pay their compliments.
On the eventful day Sybilla is ready
to receive her cOngratulatory callers, q
picture Of blissful loveliness in what
her dressmaker describes as an IAN
nouncement gown 1t is not ali Of
white, for that would be too bridelike,
bnt there Is a skirt Of snowy embroid-
cred crepe Esse, and over that q long
empire coat of white satin, brocaded in
pale pink rosebuds, with a waistcoat of
silver embroidery on pink satin and a
cravat of old venetian point. Deep ruff.
fles of the same lace fall over the hands
and almost hide the diamond which ev-
erybody wants to see. Gloves are out
of the question. Some ultra fashiona-
ble girls may wear them. but not Sybii-
Ia, who feels that it would be wicked to
conceal SD much splendor.
Add to this charming frock the wear
er's shining blond hair, her big blue
eyes. her lovely color and the happy
smile that plays round her youth un-
consciously, and who can wonder that
she makes picture fetching enough to
send all the old maids of the family
away signing with envy and regret, and
to fill her former admirers with desper-
ate resolutions of becoming damp I'M
pleasant bodies" in the Charles?
The next younger sister sits at the tea
table, promoted for the first time to
that responsible post, impressed with
her new dignity of Psyche knot re-
placing the schoolgirl braids and the
immediate prospect of coming cut, now
that Sybilla is disposed of. There is a
constant stream of visitors. Congratu-
lations are hearty. though they are ex-
pressed with little variety. Tom, half
proud, half embarrassed stands by her
side. taking all phlegmatically from the
fearful blessings of his aunts to the tests
and raliyings of the fellows from the
club who have come primed with the
usual jokes intended for just such occa-
sions. Now and then he steals 4 glance
at Sybilla, whose bushes seem to have
burned themselves in indelibly, and
breathes an unconscious sigh of salts
faction.
Yes, he has certainly made a very
| good choice. So far as looks go. there
is hardly girl IN town who can bold a
candle to her; her figure particularly
is enchanting, and she wears her
clothes. simple @ as they are. TO perfec-
ton. As to character, they have al
ways hit it off admirably. and as their
tastes are the same there is no earthly
reason why they shonld no. he ut the be-
ginning of a long and very happy COM
partnership. Attic same time he realizes
all the joys of hachelorhood he is re-
nouncing. Already he has felt per-
ceptible' GOODNESS in the warmth with
which the feminine portion of society
receives him. for he is no longer eligi-
BILE and surrounded with the becoming
halo which invests a possible husband.
He is left ont of many jolly little par
ties of shooters bound for the cape, and
tho fellows who are laying plans for the
salmon fishing next year are leaving his
name out of the question. Then, too,
rs If by tacit consent. Well. to he sure,
just then he will he busy furnishing the
house he means to build for himself
and Sybilla and thinking of more seri-
Gus things than rod and reel, hut OH the
whole she is worth all he gives up, and
ms their eyes meet again and he sees her
loving heart in her. he thinks himself
little better than cur to have yearned,
even for q moment, for the flesh pots
of Egypt.
The nearest and dearest of the rela-
tives have been asked to remain for din
ner. The house is en- fete. and the long
table in the dining room looks as if
royalty We're to he entertained, with
all the hest silver, glass and china dis
played-maidenhair and La France
roses, pink shades for the candles and q
menu which proves clearly that the
cook has realized the importance of the
occasion and means to Guido all her
previous triu,nphs. Syhilla. as the OBJ
ject of honor. sits ut papa's right hand,
and Tom, who had cried out upon eti-
qnette, insists upon taking the chair
next her. The old aunt opposite has a
vague notion that he squeezes her hand
once or twice under the table, but her
eyes are dim and her glasses poor, 40 1t
re;nains forever unsettled,
a great deal Of laughing and talking
goes on from oysters to ices, and then
there are to I've speeches. Papa rises and
begins it. The uncles follow with good
wishes and congratulations, 30 cordially
and tenderly expressed that all the
aunts sniff audibly, aud mamma disap-
pears behind her handkerchief, not to
emerge for good 10 minutes. Tom
says few frank, manly words which
cause him to be regarded with open ia
v0r, and then they all adjourn to the
drawing room again, Sybilla and be
bringing up the rear and lingering a
moment in the hall. Both look a little
confused when they enter, and the fam
lily discreetly forbear to engage either
IN conversation Mt once.
There ARE singing and playing, and by
and by carriages begin to roll up ont.
4 CO. 4 =.