The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-01-10
ROSINE'S ROMANCE.
Was It She or Her Aunt That
Conquered the Dragon.

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-
ton of her niece, Rosine, that young
lady clasped her pretty hands and
quoted Keats:
"a thing of beauty is joy for
ever!'" she said.
Miss Magnolia nodded and smiled.
She was small and round and brown
as maiden lady of decidedly GER
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.
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.
YES, pet. This was one of the
dresses l 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. GA trife
short, of course, but there is quite a
piece turned in at the top that you
could let down. You shall go as a lady
OF long ago"
Not 50 very long ago." protested
Rosine, with a laugh. But really,
auntie, don't like to take it. 1t is too
lovclyw
Not for raiment of war Remem-
Der, you are going to conquer the
dragon"
That is so. And the master should
have written; Thrice is she armed
who wears pretty dress!'
The foe against whom Miss Rosine
Wilde purposcd arraying herself was
the obdurate uncle of her handsome
lover. lie 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. Sc
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 a fancy dress bal
next month in honor of the coming
out of their daughter, Lisette. You
will receive a 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 q
grand ball, and she had nothing tc
wear. Besides, she did not like the
idea of plotting to make 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 a southern
girl, he-he Il have to drop into slang
Rosine)-he sat square down on me
1t seems n southern girl Tilted him
when he was young, and he is bouEC
to save me from like awful fate
But when he once sees you, he i:
bound to capitulate. He is a regular
old brick Uncle Albert"
But l have nothing to wear. And
what is more, l cannot buy dress fol
the Chartreau ball. We-Aunt Mag
nolia and I-are poor as the proven bia
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 trunkfu
of treasures, her jewels, her laces, hel
rich, stiff glistening old brocades.
''Do you mean it, auntie?"
Miss Magnolia's bright old eye:
winl1ed very rapidly, indeed.
81 do, my dear! l was young once
myself"
And that was how Roslne Wilde came
to be the belle of Nine. Chartreau'.
fancy dress ball. The proposed fes
tivity had been the talk of New Or
leans for several weeks. The nigh
long anticipated was cool, crisp, swee
and pearly. The broad balconied ole
residence on ST. Charles street wa!
brilliantly lighted up Many car
rage rolled up, rolled off. When Ro
sine descended from the barouche o
her chaperon, she felt little nerv
Gus, little clated, and conscious tina
she was looking remarkably well-as
indeed, she was. Quite a picture wa:
the pretty young figure, in the cling
ing gown of pale yellowish satin, pic
turesquely puffed and quantity fash
toned. The corsage, cut roundly
revealed the firm, full throat. Dainty
mouse-sllin swathed the arms, which
if slender, were also cxquisitely
rounded and the small, olive-tinteC
face was lit to loneliness by pansy
black eyes. A fash of alteration sue
ceeded the serene nonchalance o
Cyril Rodney's countenance as h,
caught sight of her. He made hi
way to her side.
Queen Rosinel" he murmurod
you're by far the prettiest girl her,
tonight. Poor Uncle Albert How
complete will be his surrender"