The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-05-22

M
urged the improperly Of allowing .
beautiful young girl to seek shelter
elsewhere than under her nearest reia-
tive's roof.
So Violet came to us, and, declining
the room set apart for her, next my
own, she chose an amply closeted
apartment on the upper story at the
head of the steep back stairs. We soon
found that she did not mean to be in
debted to us for even this, for she IN
sisted upon arranging all of our even
ing toilets; and I-who am not a beau
ty-had never been so becomingly
dressed before.
We really saw very little OF her dur
ing the first year, as she could never be
persuaded to appear in the drawing
room when visitors were present. She
was always busy, coming and going
swiftly and silently, often laden with
large packages which she carried up
and down the steep back stairs.
Must confess it? was jealous of her
beauty, as well as offended that dur
ing all this time she had never taken me
into her confidence, nor showed me any
of her work. must do her the justice
to admit that she never guessed my
feelings, her own sunny disposition be-
ing SO unlike my moody temperament.
as her charming face and figure were
unlike my own.
It was during her second year with
us that John Rutherford came on from
the west, for the winter, and became
our frequent visitor. With his advent
everything seemed changed. no long
er seemed to myself shy, awkward and
constrained, for 1 found I could talk
and laugh like other girls, and was
glad to appear at my best before him.
Up to the night of our reception, he
and Violet had never met. But on that
occasion my mother overcame all Fio-
let's remonstranccs, and insisted that
she should take her place among us.
The evening was half over; John
Rutherford was talking to me when
suddenly his attention wavered, and
saw him loking past me at some one
in the room beyond. turned and saw
her then-tall, fair and graceful, clad
in the simplest gown of gray, without
flower or lace or ornament of any kind.
1t was strange, but among all those
women she seemed
the most striking figure in the room.
"Who is she?" questioned Ruther-
ford, and there was no mistaking the
in his tone. A sudden mis-
cradle jealousy came over me. "Who?''
I repeated, Sharply. "Oh, you mean
that girl in gray? She is poor rela-
ton, my cousin, the dressmaker!
Mother tried to get her to give up
working when she came to live with us,
but she wouldn't, and it's so annoying!
Why, half the women here are in Violet
Tredwell gowns Ridiculous, isn't it?
She made this one of mine-do you like
it ?"
Exceedingly" he replied, "it is very
becoming" Then he changed the sub
ject and my momentary annoyance was
dispelled.
sHalf an hour later I came upon him
with Violet; but as my moth
er had insisted upon her presence, !
dared not show any feeling of chagrin.
After that night Violet was often in
the drawing-room. Her days were as
busy as ever, and she rigidly declined
all outside invitations, but she could
not now refuse to see those'among our
friends who asked for her.
Rutherford showed her little atten-
ton, to punish me, thought, for that
speech; but to my satisfac-
ton Violet seemed to care no more for
his society than for that of any other
visitor
The 1all and early winter passed
away, and the spring holidays came,
bringing my brothers home from
schoot, full of life and boyish spirits.
They fraternized with rutherford at
once, and to his keen amusement they
treated the already prominent lawyer
as a companion and an equal.
Gayeties rapidly succeeded one an
other, and we planned to end the old
year with a dance. The house had
been decorated with profusion of
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