The record-union., 1897-08-01

received enough attention from the
other sex to escape the anxious care
of an amiable hostess or her mothers $
uneasy, commiserating glance.
Her everyday life and thoughts were
entirely untouched by the modern cur
rent of women's activities. Scarcely
conscious of the vague misery and dis
content which overwhelmed her spirit,
it never occurred to her that it was
possible for her, by her own action,
to alter the dreary order of things. She
only knew of one possible way out of
the dreariness-the way of marriage,
which in her heart Of hearts she knew
would never be opened to her. This
certainty was the more bitter as she
knew how dearly her mother cherished
such a hope Once, when she was
about Is she had asked her mother to
buy her some new bedroom furniture.
My dear child, what is the use?" her
mother had said. You will be mar
rying one day, soon, and it will have
been a needless outlay
She remembered this with a bitter
smile as she lay on her bed in the WIN
try darkness of her birthday morning,
anu lldl TIE purchase VI HCt liNW LUZ II
iture had been postponed from year to
year in the hope that that contingency,
which grew less and less likely, might
yet take place.
She still lay thinking wearily when
there came a soft tap at the door, and
her mother entered, now grown white
haired and bent, bearing in her hand
great nOSegay of hot-house flowers
My love to you, dear child she said,
leaning over the bed and gazing at
her daughter with her loving, wistful
look. 1T is your birthday-your 29th
birthday. Will you get up? We have
your favorite savory omelette for
breakfast" BeHa drew down the low
ing old face to hers and kissed her
mother and when the door was again
closed wept tears into the camellias
and maidenhair.
When she cane down into the break
fast room Bella found a letter lying on
her plate. 1t was from Mrs. Allen, her
fathers cousin, and the mother of the
little maids who had been to see her
dressed for the first ball. These had
now developed into rather pretty young
women, and the letter was an invita-
ton to join their party at a ball to
be given on Christmas Eve-the next
Wednesday-in aid of the local chari
ties. You'll go, dear, won't your" said
her mother, pleadingly, as she poured
out the coffee.
Don't you think it time I retired from
such pomps and vanities, mother dear?
am already in my thirtieth year-think
| Of a - col RnlIo fai i1t1
Don't speak in that way, my child" :"
implored her mother. You are still
quite young''-yet thinking in her heart
how haggard her daughter looked. and
how thin and dull her hair.
well, if you wish me to say Yes 1
suppose [ must CO." continued Bella,
with the same sad smile. 81 believe you
would have me go on dancing when my
hair is gray and there isn't a partner
left whom l haven't at some time dand
led on my knee So Bella went her
cousins calling for her on their way.
Bella took her seat in the carriage beside
Mrs. Allen, and the two girls sat op-
posite with their white skirts spread out,
looking as fluffy and soft as powder
puffs, and bubbling over with chatter
and low laughter.
How pretty your yellow dress is, Cou-
sin Bella" said one, as they were re-
moving their wraps in the cloak-room;
''but why do you look so tragic and
stern?" They had unconsciously
grouped themselves before pier-glass,
and Bella turned hastily away, dis
mayed at the contrast presented by their
figures.
fI,o< 1a11 tl,.x, L.
Bella. She had been dancing listlessly
enough with the few dull youths who
usually sought her in default of some
younger and fairer partner, when. in the
pauses of clumsy twirl, some one
brought up to her for introduction a tall,
sandy Scotchman, slightly bald and
with a stOop, into whose eyes, as their
glances met, there leaped a look of in
terest and pleasure. He at once put his
name down for three dances on her pro-
gramme, and from that moment life
changed for Bella. She forgot her TWEEN
ty-nine years of dullness and disap-
pclntment, and springtide of hope and
joy overf1oWed her weary heart. In the
lobby, among the festive palms. she sat
out dance after dance with her new
partner, who, a stranger to the rest.
seemed to have found in her the COM
panionship he wanted Their talk was
of everything under the sun. She found
herself formulating opinions in a way
she had never thought herself capable
OF. Her eyes Sparkled, new sound came
into her laugh She heard herself SAYING
quite smart things, and once or twice
the Scotchman, out of keeping with all
tradition, threw back his head and. clos
ing his eyes, emitted a great guffaw. 1t
was altogether a delightful new sensa-
tion. She saw the little fluffy cousins
laugh and whisper as they passed her.
Once she showed her partner the strange
beads of the long necklace she wore.
and as he fingered them the string broke
and the beads flew hither and thither.
He patiently gathered them all up. but
would not give them back to her.
must first make good my clumsi-
ness. Tell me where you live. and Won
snail have them back strung again into
necklace. But perhaps you will LET
me call and deliver them myself?"
Bellas heart thumped so against her
bodice that she could scarcely repeat the
ugly name of the road in which she lived.
and the fact that her mother and herself
were always to be found at home on
Sunday afternoons-it was all so ro-
mantlc, and like what she had shyIy pic
tured herself long ago in her young days
A moment later her cousin, Mrs. Allen
came bustling UP to them. Il am afraid
must deprive you of your partner"
she said to the Scotchman, with a look
OF amused surprise that affected Bella
uEpleaslngly. But we must all be off
now 1t is time my own little girls were