The Monticellonian., 1895-01-11
ROSINE'S ROMANCE.
Was It She or Her Aunt That
 Conquered tho Dragon.

everr" she said.
 Miss Magnolia nodded and smiled. She was small and round and brown tain age could be. But her heart, which had been full of sentmen t once, was warm and sensitive organ still And she took deal of interest in Rosinc's romance.
 "Yes, my dear, it is thing of beau ty. And to think l never wore it but twicel Dear, dcar!'
 "You had lover then, auntie?" asked Rosine.
 "Ycs, 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. It is just the gown for your fancy dress ball, " hurried on Miss Magnolia. "A trifle short, of course, but there Is quite a piece turned in at the top that you could let down. You shall go as lady of long ago"
 Not so very long ago. protes ted Rosine, with laugh. But really, aunte, don't like to take it It is too lovelym
 Not for raimcnt of war Rcmem- Der, you are going to conquer the drag
 That is so. And the master should have written: Thrice is she armed who wears a pretty dress!'
 The foe against whom Miss Rosine Wilde purposed arraying herself was the obdnrate uncle of her handsome lover. He had promptly and pervcrse- ly opposed the marriage of his nephew. Tho 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 dcad father. So he had decided that Rosine should meet his uncle, and put his prejudice to ront
 "Ile is coming to visit an old friend of his," Cyril had said-'Judge Char treau You know the Ghartreau fam fly. of course you have heard they are going to give fancy dress bali next month in honor of the coming out of their daughter, Lisette, You will receive a eard. You will attend. You will meet Uncle Albert. And you will take his heart by storm!"
 lopefully had he planned his scheme; enthusiastically had he explained it. But Rosine protested. It was to be a grand ball, and she had nothing to wear. Besides, she did not like the idoa of plotting to make person like her And
 "Rless you" cried Cyril, "he doesn't dislike you. I 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-hc q have todrop into slang, Rosine)-he sat square down on me. It seems 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 regular old brick Uncle Albert!'
 "But l havenothing to wear And, what is more, l cannot buy dress for the Chartreau ball We Aunt Mag noiia and l--are poor as the proverbial church mice"
 But just then Miss Magnolia came to Rosincs relief, like regular little fairy godmother.
 "'fhe very thing!" she crled-"my primrose satin!'
 Rosine regarded her dubiously, de- lightcdly. She knew her aunt had al- ways guarded jealously her trunllful of treasures, her jewels, her laces, her rich, stiff, glistening old brocades.
 Do you mean it, auntie2"
 Miss Magnolia's bright old eyes winked very rapidly, indeed.
 "I do, my dear! I was young once myself"
 And that was how Roslne Wilde came to be the belle of Mime. Chartreau's s fancy dress ball. The proposed fes- tivity had been the talk of New Or long anticipated was cool, crisp, sweet and pearly. The broad balconied old residence on St. Charles street was brilliantly lighted mp. Many car riage rolled up, rolled of. When Ro- sine descended from the barouche of Ter chaperon, she felt a little nerv- ous, little elated, and conscious that she was looking remarkably we'll las, indeed, she was. Quite a picture was the pretty young figure, in the cling ing gown of pale yellowish satin, pie turesquely puffed and quaintly fash, toned. The corsage, cut roundly, revealed the firm, full throat Dainty mouseskin 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 adoration sue ceeded the serene nonchalance of Cyril Rodney's eountenanee 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 mocking courtesy
 An" she said smilingly. If that conviction were but mine"
 The sentence ended in long, sof' sigh.
 "si te pas gagne," he began. Con found it, l never can get my tongue around your creolisms! The saying is however, that if there were no signing in the world the world would stifie Now, prepare to face the music.. And off he went. He soon returned By his side was a sturdy old gentle man.
 D i.