Smyrna times., 1895-09-18
Rosine and the Dragon.

NO0ll1C dl1O lllC LII dkOI.
When Miss Magnolia carefully with
drew the dress from the great cedar
trunk, unpinned the old damask table,
cloth which enveloped it, and spread
out its shining folds for the admira-
tiOn of her niece, RosiDe, that young
lady clasped her pretty hands and
quoted Keats:
"a thing of beauty is joy forever ?"
Miss Magnolia nodded and smiled.
She was small and round and brown as
a maiden lady of decidedly certain
age could be. But her heart, which
had been full of sentiment once, was
warm and sensitive organ still And
she took a deal of interest in Rosine's
romance.
"Yes, my dear, it is a thing of beauty.
And to think that never wore it but
twice Dear, dear ~
"YOu had a lover then, auntie? in
quired Rosine
"Yes, pet. This was one of the
dresses l got for my marriage. But he
went away-On bushes. It is Just the
gown for your fancy dress ball." hur-
ried on Miss Magnolia. "A triAe short,
of course, but there is quite a piece
turned in at the top that you could let
down. You shall 90 as lady of long
ago"
"Not so very long ago." protested
ROsine, with a laugh. "But really,
auntie, 1 don't like to take it. 1t is
too lovely r'
mot for a raiment of war. Remem.
Der, you are going to conquer the drag
on!"
THAT is so. And the master should
have written, Thrice is she armed who
wears pretty dress !"
The foe against whom Miss Rosine
Wilde purpOsed arraying herself was
the obdurate uncle of her handsome
lover. He had promptly and per-
versely opposed the marriage of his
nephew. The young fellow would
have ignored the refusal of his relative
were it not that the old gentleman had
always been very kind to him; had in
deed taken the place of his dead father
So he decided that Rosine should meet
his uncle, and put his prejudice tc
rout.
He is coming to visit an old friend
of his" Cyril had said /; Judge Chart
reau. You know the Chartreau family
Of course you have heard they ar,
going to give fancy dress ball mex
month in honor of the coming out o
their daughter, Lisette. You will re
ceive a card. You will attend. Yol
will meet Uncle Albert, and you viii
take his heart by storm"
Hopefully had he planned hi
scheme; enthusiastically had be ex
planned it. But Rosine protested. |
was to be a grand ball, and she ha,
nothing to wear. Besides, she did no
like the idea of plotting to make
person like her.
And
"Bless you ~ cried Cyril, The doesn
dislike you. / don't believe he eve
knows your name. His resentment
general, not particular. AS soon as
told him was in love with Souther
girl, he-he II have to drop into slang
Rosine)-sat square down on me, ]
seems Southern girl Tilted him whe
he was young, and he is bound to saw
me from a like awful fate. But whe
once he sees you he is bound to capitl
late. He is a regular old brick-Uncl
Albert ~
'But l have nothing to wear. An
what is more, l cannot buy dress fC
the Chartreau ball. We-Aunt Ma,
nOlia and I-are poor as the proverbs
church MICE"
, But just then Miss Magnolia came
Rosine's relief, like a regular lit
fairy godmother.
"The very thingl" she cried. IN
primrose satin !"
ROsine regarded her obviously, d
lightedly. Che knew her aunt hs
always guarded jealously her trunkf
of treasures, her jewels, her laces, b,
rich, glistening old brOcade.
"Do you mean it, auntie ?"
Miss Magnolia's bright old ey
winked very rapidly indeed.
II do, my dear 1 was young on
myself"
Aud that was how Rosine Viii,
came to be the belle of Madame Chai
II reau's fancy dress ball, The propos
festivity had been the talk of Ne
Orleans for several weeks. The mig
long anticipated was cool, crisp al
sweet. The oad-balconied old re
dence was brilliantly lighted. Many
= carriage rolled up, rolled off, VIII
: Rosine descended from the barouc
y of her cbaperon, she felt a little n,
IT vous, little elated, and conscio
that she was looking uncommonly W
"a "a --as indeed she was Quite a pictI
ee was the pretty young figure, in I
clinging gown of pale yellowish sat
picturesquely puffed and quantity fa
= ioned. The corsage, cut round,
yealed the firm full throat, Dali
y mouse-skin swathed the arms, VIII
we're also exquisitely rounded; a
the small. olive-tinted face was lit
u loveliness by pansy black eyes.
A fash Of alteration succeeded