Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-02

not servant"
Thanks for small favors,' he re-
piled, rather nettled.
But / am very much ashamed that
you saw me prancing about like luna
tic she went on; 81 was only taking a
little exercise; and now, please go, for
Mrs. Caldwell does not like TO be kept
waiting"
will you fix an hour to walk with
me?" he pursued, eagerly.
NO, l can't; so don't mention it
again"
"Will you talk to me somewhere
anywherc?'
"How can ~" asked Felicia, ready to
cry, because, in her heart, she should
have liked nothing better than the com
panionship of this hearty, bright-faccd
young fellow
"l'hen | shall just go out Of this house
tomorrow" he said, like spoiled child.
"As If hadn't stayed on here a week
for nothing but to get another peep ut
you"
Don't, please" said Felicia, now
earnestly; and with an impatient gcs-
ture he departed.
That evening, one of Mrs. Caldweu's
periodical dinners, for which the invi-
tations had long been sent out and ac-
cepted, was to take place. Felicia. who
was by now used to such things at Sec
ond-hand, when sent down to give the
butler the dinner cards and the chart of
the seats, fingered, looking on at the
glittering table with its burden of sill
yer and wax lights and banks of maiden
hair fern and roses. She was no longer
SO much impressed with mere exter-
nails as at first. Grandeur, from her
point of view, had begun to pail on her.
But she had quaint. wistful imagnings
of what it would be to he led in to
table by such n man as Duncan Moore.
for example, and sit there MS part of
it. In this crisis of her rash fancies.
lIortense. Mrs. CaldwelIs maid. came in
search of her.
"lIurry. madcmoiselle," said Hor-
tense, with "A touch of authority. Mad
nm must see you Immediately, dams sa
chambre."
Madam. in her tea gown. sat before
her mirror. the picture of perplexity--
an open note in Der hand
Can you inuSlnc anyIn1nC mora
veXa,iousP' she exclaimed, pathetical-
~. Miss Clayton has n headache, and
cannot come. That girl is spoiled be-
yond all endurance by being set up as
the seasons beauty; and | don't be-
leTe in her headache in the least. |
have racked my brain TO think of some
one to replace her, and failed. should
not mind, but Mrs. Mammon. who
thinks il such tremendous condescen-
sion if she comes to you at all, will not
dine l3 on any account She would not
hesitate to call for her carriage and go
home, il she found out we were -.
There's no help for it. Miss Charlton,
YOU must come down and fill the vacant
place. Dress is, l suppose, your diff
Guilty, but lIortense is invaluable in sug-
gestion for such an emergency. In all
my things she can surely find some
thing you can wear
Felicia wanted to rebel against the
whole of the programme, but against
the latter part of t'she did not rebel.
81 have Il palc-bluc crepon that is
very nice" she said. quietly ct has
low bodice trimmed with a fall of Just
such old Malines lace as you have on
your pearl color, but finer. 1t was my
mothers lace" she added, seeing Ilor-
tense stare. 'If may wear that. Mrs.
Caldwell, to oblige you l will come
down."
certainly certainly" cried the re-
leved lady, breathing freer. Ter
suppose v won't wear ornaments,
Miss Charl, M"
Don't be afraid Of that" exclaimed
the girl, lightly, and then ran off to her
room.
Rescntful of her enforced position,
Felicia glided downstairs just as the
guests were falling into line 10 go into
the dning-room. From the shadow
under the stairway she was intercepted
and captured by Duncan Moore.
IL am actually, and without solicita-
ton, to take you in TO dinner" he said,
offering her his hand. 81 have been
looking for you ever since Mrs. Cnld-
well gave me notice of my good luck"
He did not tell her the notice was ac-
companied by profuse apologies at i'm
ing this service upon very good
frienc." In his heart, he rejoiced at
escaping that conceitcd Irene Clayton,
who could think and speak of nothing
but her own successes in the social world
at Newport; and. as the dinner pro-
crossed, he observed, with considerable
,,;,sysjAy Z w.