Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-12-03
CHAprER NNII.

l I > tl tNflNl NN'lAhES W llAiN blN VI
course one wouldn't like to refuse an in.
vitation like this. Thcrell be lots of grand
people there. | suppose, and it's very po.
lite of Madam TO ask e so soon to dinner
after e came home
Poor Mrs. Caerlyon, like other virulent
democrats, was easily soothcd into COM.
PLEASANT admiration Of the aristocrats by q
little flattering attentisI.
at is" assented Winnie, quietly; but AT
the same time M intuitive knowledge pos.
sessed her that the note-written with
scented violet ink on coroneted paper
dashed off in Lady Mountrevor's careless
flowing ~penmansbip, had also its sole orr.
gin in Lady Mouptreyor's courteous con.
sidcration.
The request that she would put off her
visit on Monday, and come on Wednesday
instead, when they were TO nave a few
friends whom She might like to meet. pur.
ported to be from Madam Vivian certain.
ly; but Winnie, with all her loyal love to
her stately old friend, could not quite re-
concile it TO herself as having been, at all
events, from her dicjation.
Though why should Lady Mountrevor
take any particular notice Of me?" she
pOndered. "She is II grand, beautiful,
high-bred lady; but | should never have
expected her TO think twice of me!'
And. Winnie shook her head in uncon-
scious earnestness at its reflection in the
glass, wherein she saw it crowned with
great braids and masses of tiny curls of
lustrous golden brown, with q spray of
half-blown white roses and buds fastened
mt the side-for Winnie was dressing for
the dinner-ps,ty mt RosewOrthy, and all
Winnie's toilet was undergoing inspection
by at least half a dozen of Winnie's broth.
ers and sisters, who, their eyes full OF
wonder and delight, were gathered into
the little crowded bedroom, bestowing
themselves on beds and chairs, and the
fioor-anywherc, SO that they could get a
good look at 'sister Winnie"
winnie has black wells - black-lace
wells all over her beautiful silk gown"
Johnnie whispered in an awe-stricken
voice TO Tommy.
That's not vcils-that's ~gennydean and
net-ain't it, Sarah?" asked Louie, with
much contempt for masculine ignorance.
"You don't know, johnny. You didn't
see sisters necklace either, nor her brace.
lets, nor her slippers, all made of satin
real satiHy'
10th Johnnie and Tommy joined in a
sarcastic ''guffaw" at this last announce.
ment.
They'll stick in the mud, them" cried
Tommy. "Satin'M not keep out much
water-and the roads running like a mill
stream!"
Sarah Matilda, from her post at the
dressing-table as n loving but most inefi.
cient tire-woman, looked round with a
grand and lofty rebuke.
"A lady always goes to a party in a COW
cred carriage" she said to the abashed
boys. SISTER is going in Madam Vivian's
carriage and beneath the weight Of the
grandeur Of this announcement the boys
sank into silence, watching their sisters
adjoining with mingled amazement and
fascination.
1t was the first time that they had ever
seen anything like it in their lives-the
spectacle Of a lady ROBBED in silk and gauZy
black, with a white, bare neck adorned by
a necklet Of flashing jet, bare arms gleam-
ing pcaTnsy-white against the soft b~lackneSs
of her flowing robes, adorned with brace
let's, roses in her hair, and her feet shod
with black satin. 1t was an event as I'M
pANNN''N hNNN " Nv Va VI III NlC ilO-
n%otonous years of that poverty-hedged,
meagre household. Their sisters simple
attire was regal magni1cence in the chill
dren's eyes; and sister Winnien herself,
in virtue of her assumption Of it, had be-
come once more the mythical, far-on lady
in North America, who sent bank drafts
and beautiful presents-she could not be
one OF them, dressed ia silk and lace, and
wearing jewels AMI white roses, with an
intangible perfume of heliotrope softly
emanating from thegauzy glistening folds
Of her lovely black dress!
Somewhat of this was in the wistful lit
tie faces that hurried down the stairs af-
ter Winnie to see her get into the carriage
"a real carriage, with two splendid horses,
and the coachman in livery waiting at the
porchl They crowded round timidly and
respectfully, with eager eyes and parted
lips, watching Winnie putting on "a large
warm shawl. Her foot was on the step to
go in, when she turned back-how often
the children recalled it-hnw well they re.
membered it for years afterwards!-and
kissed them fondly all round.
my darlings, go in out of the cold"
she said, with tears in her loving eyes be-
cause Of those longing, wistful, timidly-
admiring ones watching her--''go in, and
we viii have a beautiful party of our own,
when we go into our new h~ouse-please
goodness!"
When the carriage-door was shut, and
SISTER Winnie's" bright, gentle face.
looking so lovely with its bright color and
sparkling eyes, was lost to view, the chill
dren ran back TO the fireside, singing and
dancing with glee. Sister Winnie" was
really at home-at home forever and al
ways! ''Sister Winnie" was at homeland
all the pleasant future and its promised
delights, which they should share with
her, appeared close at hand.