The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-12-03
CHAPTER XXI.

course one wouldn't like to refuse al i'll.
vitation like this. There'll 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 soothed into COM
PLEASANT admiration Of the aristocrats by q
little flattering attentiei.
cit is" assented Winnie, quietly: but nj
the same time M intuitive knowledge pos,
scssed her that the n~ote-written with
scented violet ink on coroneted paper
dashed off in Lady Mountrevor's careless
flowing penmanship, had also its sole orr.
gin in Lady Mountrevor's courteous cor
sideration.
The request that she would put Off her
visit on Monday, and come on Wednesday
instead, when they were to have u few
friends whom she might like TO meet. pur.
ported to be from Madam Vivian certain
~; but Winnie. with all her loyal love to
her stately old friend, could not quite re-
concile it to herself as having been, ut all
events, from her dictation.
Though why should Lady Mountrevor
take any particular notice of nie?" She
rendered. She is Il grand, beautiful,
high-bred lady; but l should never have
expected her to think twice of men'
And Winnie shook her head in uncon-
I scious eurncstness at its reflection in the
glass. wherein she saw it crowned with
great braidS and masses of tiny curls OF
lnstrous golden brown, with u spray of
half-blown white roses and buds fastened
at the side-for Winnie was dressing for
the dinner-p:scty Mt Roseworthy, and all
Winnie's toilet was undergoing inspection
by at least half Il dozen of Winnie's broth
ers and sisters, who, their eyes full OF
wonder and delight, were gathered into
the little crowded bedroom, bcstowing
themselves on beds and chairs, and the
tloor-anywhcre, so that they could get a
good look at sister Winhic."
Winnie has black wells -%black-lace
wells all over her beautiful silk gowu!'
Johnnie whispered in an awe-stricken
voice to Tommy.
That not veils-that's gennydean and
nct-ain't it, Snrahf'' 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 satin!"
Both Johnnie and Tommy joined in a
sarcastic "guffaw" ut this last
ment.
They'll sticki in the mud, then!" cried
Tommy. "Sat!a'M rot keep out much
water-and the roads running like u mill
stream!''
Sarah Matilda, from her post ut the
dressing-table as II loving but most inef1.
cient t~ire-woman, looked round with q
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 u lady robed in silk md gauzy
black, with n white, bare neck adorned by
a necklet of flashing jet, bare arms CLEAN.
ing peaE.y-white against the soft blackness
of her flowing robes, adorned with brace,
lets, roses in her hair, and her feet shod
with black satin. 1t was an event as I'm.
precedented as undreamed of in the mo.
%notonous years OF that poverty-hedged,
meagre household. Their sisters simple
attire was regal magnificence in the chill
ulSh Eyes. .oiStSl lHuiS lCISClll
in virtue of her assumption OF it, had be
come once more the mythical, far-off lady
III North America, who sent bank drafts
and beautiful presents-she could not be
one of them, dressed in silk and lace, and
wearing Jewels and white roses, with mn
intangible perfume of heliotrope softly
emanating from the gauzy glistening folds
of her lovely black dressl
Cnmawbot of thiS ,vuS in thu ,y;cffu1 1;t
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
porch! They crowded round timidly unG
respectfully, with eager eyes and parted
lips, watching Winnie putting on u large
warm shawl. Her foot was on the step tc
go in, when she turned b~ack-how Otter
the children recalled it-how well they re
membered it for years afterwards!-an6
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, timiSS
admiring ones watching her-"go in, n9t
we will have a beautiful party of our own
when we go into our new ~house-pleas.
goodness"
When the carriage-door was shut, anl
~"sister Winnie's'' bright, gentle. face
looking so lovely with its bright color an(
sparkling eyes, was lost to view, the chill
dren ran back to the fireside, singing ant
dancing with glee. "Sister Winnie" wa
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 will
her, appeared close at huhI.
ITS u terrible night, Miss Winnie" ole
Llanyon said, rs he received her, with I
certain kindly qualification beaming in hi:
withered old face, "a terrible night, in,
deed!" He lowered his voice a little
"Madnm's fretting a good deal. Miss Win
ME. You know the Captain ia coming
home in about ten days or 30, Madam WV
ian believes, and she is thinking of thi
storm, Miss Winnie. Madam often feel.
like that when Captain Stephen is-ahem
Madam's maid is waiting for you, Mis-
Winnie"
With u total change of manner the OLE
man ceased his communication, and, witt
O stif1iy dccorous bow aud wave of hi
hand, consigned Winnie to Madam's maid
standing a little way off, in her sill
founces and gold chain and guipure lac
cap-black-eyed Miss Trewhelln, with hel
crafty eyes grown ~crafticr and harder, he,
smooth deferential manner more like
badly-put-on mask than ever, her sallop
skin ever 30 much sailower.
How are you, Irewhella7" said Winnie
even pleased to meet her old enemy, an,
kindly shaking hands.
Pretty well, Miss Caerlyon-oh. thanl
you, Miss C~aerlyon-hem! Hope your,
quite well, Miss Caeriyon. YoI &c.
strong-so glad to see you look strong
better color than you used to have, Mis-.
Caerlyon; healthier-redder, you know
hemI"
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