The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-03-26

us having been used. And poor
Queen Emma's disaster needn't spoil
my st. Valentines Eve, after all. y
All the week, while Queen Emma
broodcd patiently on her eggs, much
wondering, doubtless, in her way,
why the gold-striped little ducklings
did not clip the shell, and what all
this delay meant. Ursula was secretly
busy up in the garnet with scissors,
patterns, and work basket.
"Of course, / can only work while
the sun shines in the window" said
she, because / should freeze tc death.
else. And it's very hard TO get aside
Of Aunt Jacintha's questions; but
whatever she knows, Uncle Ezra will
know, too; so shall have to 90 over
to Ada BloXou's to dress and sleep. |
do wonder what they will think of
my japanese costume? At all events, it
viii have the credit OF being original.
| was so lucky to find all that scarlet
and silver brocaded ribbon in the store
bureau-drawer. do believe Aunt
Jacintha had forgotten that she ever
owned it. What on earth could she
have used it for?"
Ursula Bennett had good deal OF
| ingenuity, and between the palm-leaf
patterned gown, with the headlight.
ming flashes OF pale blue through its
pattern, the old broceded ribbon, and
store of peacocks' feathers that she
coniiscated to her own uses, sho had
contrived to invent really striking
costume, which, ms she said herself,
was unlikely to resemble any other Of
the caprices Of the evening.
'Orrin, she said, to the tall,
brown-sSinned young man who was nj
once tn" hired man and the entire
equal OF Uncle Ezra's New England
household, you'll be there on st.
Valentines Evc?"
81 don't know whether | shall or
no" said Orrin, putting down the
Hubbard squash which he had brought
from the barn cellar. 81 rather calcu-
late not"
Ursula's color changed.
"fhey have invited you, haven't
they?"
"Oh, yes, they've invited me fast
enough; but you are going to be gone
all night, and think some one ought
TO stay Mt home and keep the old folks
company"
"Fhey won't expect it, Orrin"
perhaps not, but it's somebody's
duty all the same. They are old and
feeble. Something might happen.
don't set much store by dancing my
self, and most of the company at Mr..
Bloxon's will be strangers to me; so
guess I'll stay Mt home and read the
newspaper to your uncle"
Ursula pouted and kept silent. She
did not quite like it that Orrin Parker
could so easily reconcile it to himself
to remain away from II party where
she was to be.
He viii never see me in my pretty
dress now" she thought, "and serves
him right !"
Ursula went to the Bloxon house
early in the afternoon of the thirteenth
day of February, and helped to deco
rate the pretty rooms with the last
touches of flowers and bunting and
evergreen boughs
Then she dressed herself and came
in as an Eastern flower girl; and very
pretty she looked in the quaint palm
leaf patterned gown, looped with sill
yer brocade and Frightened with pea
cocks plumes.
More than one of Mrs. Bloxon's CITY
guests asked where she got that lovely
gown and for once in her lie Ursula
enjoyed thorough triumph.
Or it would have been thorough
triumph if Orrin Parker had been
there
cit was so hateful of him to stay Mt
home" she murmured to herself
when he knew our waltz steps suited
so exactly. And there are so few
merry-makings in the neighbor-
hood"
1t was past / o'clock of freezing,
stnr-llghted winter night when DR..
Ford's big double sleigh, loaded down
with every one who lived anywhere in
line with Almeda Ford's homeward
way, stopped at the garden quito to
leave Ursula Bennett at the old home
stead.
She stood n moment listening to the
departing jingle of the bells, then ran
up the snowy path, with % white
worsted cloud" wrapped around her
head.
On the porch-step sho paused, with
a sudden thrill of terror.
The house was all lighted MP. Was
any ono sick? Had anything hap
pened!
She tried to open tho door; it
was bolted on the inside. She
knocked.
Her summons was answered by
Jethro Hardy, the village constable.
Its you, is it?" said he.
"What has happenedF' she cried,
breath!essly.
''Y'r UncS' Fzry's lost his money ="
said Jethro, shifting his tobacco lois
urely from one cheek to the other.
Give thousand dollars i'm clean Uni
ted States four per ceut. coupons. I've
jest took mp Orriu Parker for the
theft He slep' i'm tho bedroom open
IN outen tho garrett, nn1 they wurnt
10 one else could n-took 10 but him. "
Give thousand dollarsl didn't
know Uncle Ezra hal itl" gasped
Ursula
"Guess nobody moved It. but his
sell, observed tho constable. still
WORKING fhe tobacco book md forth iu