The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-01-17
ROSINE'S ROMANCE.
Was It She or Her Aunt That
Conquered the Dragon.

trunk, unpinned the old damask table.
cloth which enveloped 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
evcr!'" she said.
Miss Magnolia nodded and smiled.
She was small and round and brown
as maiden lady of decidedly cer-
tain age could be. But her heart,
which had been full of sentiment
once, was warm and sensitive organ
still. And she took deal of interest
in Rosine's romance.
"Yes, my dear, it is thing of beau
ty. And to think never wore it but
twice Dear, dear!'
''You had lover then, auntie?"
asked Rosine.
"Yes, pet. This was one of the
dresses 1 got for my marriage. But
he 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 trifle
short, of course, but there is quite
piece turned in at the top that you
could let down. You shall go as a lady
OF long ago."
Not so very long ago." protested
Rosine, with laugh. But really,
auntie. don't like to take it. 1t is too
lovelyr'
"Not for 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 pretty dressr
The foe against whom Miss Rosine
Wilde purposed arraying herself was
the obdurate uncle of her handsome
lover. He had promptly and perverse-
ly 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
to rout.
"He is coming to visit an old friend
of his" Cyril had said-"Judge Char
treau. You know the Chartreau fam
lily. Of course you have heard they
are going to give q fancy dress bali
next month in honor of the coming
out of their daughter, Lisette. You
will receive q card. 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 Rosine protested. 1t was to be
grand ball, and she had nothing to
wear. Besides, she did not like the
idea of plotting to make person like
her. And
'Bless you'll" cried Cyril, she doesn't
dislike you. don't believe he even
knows your name. His resentment is
general, not particular. AS soon as
told him was in love with q southern
girl, he-he Il have to drop into slang,
Rosine)-he sat square down on me.
1t seems southern girl Tilted him
when he was young. and he is bound
to save me from a like awful fate.
But when he once sees you, he is
bound to capitulate. He is a regular
old brick Uncle Albert"
"But I 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 Rosinc's relief, like regular little
fairy godmother.
1.-The very thing!" she cried-''my
primrose satin!
Rosine regarded her obviously, de-
lightedly. She knew her aunt had al
ways guarded jealously 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.
II do, my dear! I was young once
myself"
And that was how Rosinc Wilde came
to be the belle of Nine. Chartreau's
fancy dress ball. The proposed fes-
tivity had been the talk of New Or
leans for several weeks The night
long anticipated was cool, crisp, sweet
anu pCdIly. hC OfOoo OoASOhASd OAo
residence on St. Charles street was
brilliantly lighted up. Many a car
riage rolled up, rolled off, When Ro-
sine descended from the barouche of
her chaperon, she felt little nerv-
Gus, q 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 puffed and quantity fash
ioned. The corsage, cut roundly,
revealed the firm, full throat Dainty
mouse-skin swathed the arms, which,
il slender, were also exquisitely
rounded; and the small, olive-tinted
face was lit to loveiiness by pansy
black eyes. A fash 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 Rosinew he nlurmured.
"You're by far the prettiest girl here
tonight. Poor Uncle Albert How
complete will be his surrender
She swept him mockina courtesy