The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-08-22

When Miss Magnolia carefully withdrew
the dress from the great cedar trunk, I'M
pinned the old damask tablecloth which
enveloped it and spread out its shining
folds for the admiration of her niece,
Rosine, that young lady clasped her pretty
hands and quoted Keats:
"a thing of beauty is a JOY forever" she
said
Miss Magnolia nodded and smiled. She
was small and round and brown as
maiden lady of II decidedly certain age
could be. But her heart, which had been
full of sentiment once, was a warm and
sensitive organ still. And she took deal
of interest in Rosine's romance.
eyes, my dear, it is a thing of beauty.
And to think l never wore it but twice!
Dear, dear!'
''You had lover then, auntie?" asked
Rosine.
eyes, pet. This was one of the dresses
got for my marriage. But he went away
on business, he sad-and he never came
back. 1t is just the gown for your fancy
dress ball." hurried on Miss Magnolia
"a tritie short, of course, but there is quite
piece turned in at the top that you
could let down, you shall 90 as a lady of
long ago.
Not so very long ago." protested
Rosine, with laugh. "But really, auntie
l don't like to take it, it is too lovely.
Not for raiment of war? Remember
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
purposed arraying herself was the obdurate
uncle of her handsome lover. He had
promptly and perversely opposed the
marriage of his nephew. The young fellow
would have ignored the refusal of his rela-
tive 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 Rosne should meet his
uncle, and put his prejudice to rout.
He is coming to visit an old friend of
his" Cyril had said-"Judge ChaI treau.
You know the Chartreau family. OF course
you have heard they are going to give a
fancy dress hall next month in honor of
the coming of their daughter Lisette. You
will receive card. You will attend.
You will meet Uncle Albert, and you will
take his heart by storm"
Hopefully he had planned his scheme;
enthusiastically had he explained it. But
Rosinc protested. 1t was to be a grand
ball, and she had nothing to wear. Be
sides, she did not like the idea of plotting
to make a person like her. And
BLESS you"' 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 southern girl he-he
II have to drop into slang, Rosine he sat
square down on me. 1t seems a 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 a regular old brick
Uncle Albertn'
"But have nothing to wear. And
what is more, cannot buy dress for the
Chartreau ball. We-Aunt Magnolia and
I-are as poor as the proverbial church
MICE
But just then Miss Magnolia came to
Rosint's relief like a regular little fairy
god-mother.
1.-The very thing!' she cried" my
primrose satin"
Rosipe regarded her obviously, delight
eddy. She knew her auut had always
guarded jealousy her trunkful OF treasures
her jewels, her laces, her rich, stiff, glisten-
ing old hrocades.
''Do you mean it, auntie?"
Miss Magnola's bright old eyes winked
very rapidly indeed.
Il do. was young once myself"
And that was how Rosine Wilde came to
be the belle of Nine. Chartreau's fancy
dress ball. The proposed festivity had
been the talk of New Orleans for several
weeks. The night long anticipated was
cool, crisp, sweet and pearly. The broad
balconied old residence of St. Charles street
was brilliantly lighted up, Many carri-
age rolled up, rolled off. When Rosine
descended rom the barouche of her chaner-