Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-01
ROSINE'S ROMANCE.
Was It She or Her Aunt That
Conquered the Dragon.


drew the dress from the great cedar
trunk, unpinned the old damask table
cloth which envelopcd it, and spread
out its shining folds for the admira-
ton of her niece, Rosine, that young
lady clasped her pretty hands and
quoted Keats:
"a thing of beauty is a JOY for
everr" she said.
Miss Magnolia nodded and smiled.
She was small and round and brown
as a maiden lady of a decidedly GER
tain age could be. But her heart,
which had been full Of sentiment
once, was a warm and sensitive organ
still. And she took deal of interest
in Rosine's romance.
Eyes, my dear, it is thing of beau
ty. And to think never wore it but
twice. Dear, dear"
you had a lover then, auntie?'
asked Rosine.
Eyes, pet. This was one of the
dresses l got for my marriage. But
be went away-on business, he said.
And he never came back 1t is just
the gown for your fancy dress ball"
hurried on Miss Magnolia. a trihe
short, of course, but there is quite n
piece turned in at the top that you
could let down. You shall go as lady
OF long ago"
Not so very long ago" protested
Rosine, with a laugh. But really,
auntie, don't like to take it 1t is too
lovely!n
Not for a raiment OF war. Remem-
ber you are going to conquer the
dragon"
THAT is so. And the master should
have written: Thrice is she armed
who wears n pretty Dress
The foe against whom Miss Rosine
Wilde purposeo arraying herself was
the obdurate uncle of her handsome
lover. He had promptly and perverse-
" 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 indeed
taken the place of his dead father So
he had decided that Rosine should
meet his uncle, and put his prejudice
. rout
= "IIe is coming to visit an old friend
OF his" Cvril had said-"Judge Char
treau. You know the Chartreau fam
ily. OF course you have heard they
are going to give a fancy dress bali
next month in honor of the coming
out Of their daughter, Lisette. You
will receive a carl. You will attend.
You Will meet Uncle Albert And you
will take his heart by Storm
Hopefully had he planned his scheme;
enthusiastically had he explained it.
But Rosinc protested. 1t was to be
Grand ball, and she had nothing to
wear. Besides, she did not like the
iIea of plotting to make a person like
her. And
BLESS you" cried Cyril, "he doesn't
dislike YOU. l don't believe he even
knows your name. His resentment Is
general, not particular. As soon as
told him | was in love with southern
girl. he-he Il have tOdrop into slang,
Rosine)-hc sat square down on me-
1t seems a southern girl Tilted him
when he was young, and he is bound
TO save me from like awful fate
But when he once sees you, he is
bound to capitulate. He is a regular
old brick Uncle Albert
But have nothing to wear. And,
what is more. | cannot buy dress for
the Chartreau ball. We-Aunt Mag
nolia and I-are poor as the proverbial
church mice"
But just then Miss Magnolia came
to Rosine's relief, like regular little
fairy godmother.
The very thing" she cried-"my
primrose satin"
Rosine regarded her obviously de-
lightedly. She knew her aunt had al
ways guarded jealousy her trunkful
of treasures. her jewels, her laces, her
rich, stiff. glistening old brocades /
DO you mean it, auntie?'
Miss Magnolia's bright old eyes
winked very rapidly, indeed.
Il do, my dear! was young once
myself"
And that was how ROslne Wilde camel
to be the belle of Nine. Chartreausl
fancy dress ball. The proposed fes-
tivity had been the talk of New ORR
leans for several weeks. The night
long anticipated was cool, crisp, sweet
and pearly. The broad balconied old
residence on ST. Charles street was
brilliantly lighted up Many car
rage rolled up, rolled off. When Ro-
sine descended from the barouche OF
Ter chaperon, she felt little nery-
Gus. a little elated, and conscious that
she was looking remarkably well-as,
indeed she was Quite a picture was
the pretty young figure, in the cling
ing gown Of pale yellowish satin, pic
turesquely pulled and quantity fash
toned. The corsage, cut roundly,
revealed the firm, full throat Dainty
mouse-skin swathed the arms, which,
if slender, were also exquisitely
rounded: and the small, olive-tinted
face was lit to loveliness by pansy
black eyes. A flash of alteration sue
ceeded the serene nonchalance Of
Cyril Rodney's countenance as he
caught sight of her. He made his
way to her side.
Queen Rosine" he murmured.
you're by far the prettiest girl here
tonight. Poor Uncle Albert How
complete will be his surrender"
She swept him a mocking courtesy.
"An.m she said smili nply, IF that