Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-06-07
A DRESS REHEARSAL.
GOOD STORY OF A YOUNG MISS WHO
YEARNEp FOR SOCIETY.

Her Premature Entrance Into the Charm
ed Circle and Its Results-An Amiabie
Feminine Cousin and Perfectly Horri-
fed Mamma.
A good story is told concerning one
Of last winters debutanteS. and since
the heroine tells 1t on herself there Is
no impropriety III making it public.
The winter before last Miss NJ. was
still in the schoolroom, and though
she possessed social aspirations they
were not gratiied by her mother. A
cousin from Philadelphia came to spend
the month Of january with the family,
and, being al heiress and accustomed to
going about great deal, her wardrobe
was a thing of wonderful fascination
to little Miss NJ, Singularly enough.
the figures of the two girls were Of an
exact size, and the younger found con-
slant delight i'll arraying herself in the
frippery belonging TO her good natured
cousin. Many an hour was devoted to
| flouncing about the third story with
long skirts and hair tucked up under
the latest bonnet importation. and there
was much secret practice with lorgnette
and fan.
Mrs. NJ and the rich cousin were
plunged to the eyebrows in social gave
| ties, to the envy of the young daughter
of the house. One day Mrs NJ. was
indisposed, and the rich cousin was con-
fronted with the necessity of attending
by herself musicale, three teas and
making the cabinet calls When she be
moaned the fact of going alone he
youthful kinswoman WAS seized with an
inspiration ''Oh, WELL" said she.
lend me some of your clothes and let
me go with you. Mother will never
know anything about it
Being as amiable as rich, the visitor
consented, promising herself treat in
beholding her young cousins entrance
into society. Only short time was nee
essary for the changes of costume, and
when the heiress appeared at Mrs.
Blanks musicale every one turned to
look twice at the stunning little figure
1t was vision of bright eyes behind a
tantalizing veil, rebellious yellow curls
carelessly knottcd and feathers, laces
vclvets and silks irresistibly Frcnchy.
If she was the sensation of the must
| Gale, she was the universal rage at the
| teas. Every ono wanted to meet her
| Young men fell over themselves and
others to obtain for her an ice OF mar
ron.
And all the time the little society
flcdgling was quaking and fearing and
| blushing and suffering agonies behind
the veil. 1t was embarrassing to ac-
| knowledge that she was not going to
this and that social function, had not
| seen the latest theatrical success, did
| not even know the visiting nobleman
| all the girls Were raving over. Deeper
and deeper she became involved. and
the number of fibs necessary to invent
paral wed her conscience.
And the little Miss Nj. breathed a
| sigh of relief when, arrayed in her own
angle length gown, she was safely in
| stalled i'll her own home. Presumably
her trials Were ended. But not SO; there
| were consequences 10 be faced
The next morning Mrs NJ. appeared
at the breakfast table, and in the bunch
| of mail there Were several small cnvel.
| opes addressed to Miss M. Also there
were Others with the inscription MIR.
and Mrs. NJ. and Miss NJ" Mrs. NJ.
passed these over with only an elevation
| of the eyebrows, but her daughter
thought it wise to leave the room. Open
ing her private letters, Mrs NJ. read a
note from a friend apologizing for So
cial error and inviting Miss NJ to assist
at her at home that afternoon. A second
note contained an apology for not hav-
ing invited Miss Nj. to a debutante
luncheon on the previous day.
Mrs. NJ. was completely mystified,
but an early visitor soon opened her
eyes. This visitor called hurriedly
| to say how surprised she was that Mrs.
| NJ. was introducing daughter. and
compliments were profuse upon the
beauty and success Of that daughter
"She was quite the sweetest thing yes
terday at the musicale Every one fell
in love with her. want her to fill an
unexpected vacancy in my young peo-
pies dinner tonight
Mrs. NJ. gasped out: "There must he
some mistake. l have no daughter in
society,""
why, Your niece introduced her to
me, interrupted the astonished visitor.
But by this time Mrs NJ. was ring
ing the bell furiously and both niece
and daughter were hurricdly summon
ed. Explanations followed, and ulti-
mately forgiveness, but it was some
time before Mrs. NJ. managed to con-
vince society that she was not launching
a beautiful daughter that season.
Last winter, when this same charm
ing girl came out formally and correct.
~, and in her own instead of borrowed
finery, there must have been several so.
ciety men saying TO themselves: "By
Jove, where have seen somebody like
Miss NJ? Must have been some one
met last season. "-Washington Star.