Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-09-28
The COMING OF the WHITE OWL.
BY MARY SPRAGUE.

mans tavern. As they approached
the great rambling gray house with its
protecting row of elms three girls ran
out to meet them, laughing and child
ing Polly for her late coming.
eve thought some accident had be-
fallen," said Anna, the tallest and
most buxom of the group. She
mounted the broad horse block and
assisted Polly in untying the parcels.
"Here, girls, do you take these inside.
Daniel, you can help. Timothy will
see to the horses. What! You can't
stay, Daniel?"
''No, Anna. My father said he
would need me in the field tomorrow.
''Be sure you come tomorrow night
with your brothers, then. Twill be
a merrymaking long to be remem-
bered. What do you think of this,
Polly? Two officers from General
Washington's own colony, who lately
came on to join the continental army,
are staying at Isaac Merrick's and have
promised my brother to be here. They
say that open war will soon begin, and
we'd better make the most of this
ball There! the last knot is united!
Come right in! Supper is all ready.
You, too, Daniel. 'Tis moonlight
now. and the road will be all the
lighter an hour hence.
SO, we'll laden with Polly's finery,
they disappeared within the hospitable
tavern.
Two hours later, Daniel being we'll
on his homeward way and the house
hold tasks disposed of. the four maid
ems bade the family good night and
repaired to the large double bedded
chamber where they were to sleep.
Several candles were lighted and
placed on the high, narrow mantel-
piece, whence they threw fantastic
shadows over the spindle-legged fur
niture and the opposite wall.
Nov, Milly," began Anna in her
brisk fashion, lyon do my hair, and
let Polly aud Priscilla see how we do
ours 'Tis all with rolls and cushions,
which we made today, and with puffs
and curls wonderful to behold. I've
full supply of powder, too"
So saying she brought forth from a
cupboard a large paper bandbox piled
with numerous articles ready for use,
at which the girls looked with spark
ling eyes. Anna soon had her beauti-
full dark hair unbound, and when she
had seated herself in low chair, with
an apron tied around her plump
shoulders, Milly began operations.
Very deftly her slender fingers flew
like white birds in and out among the
long, shining tresses, smoothing, part
ing, weaving, rolling, curling, pow
dering, until tall, elaborate structure,
truly marvellous to the sight, arose in
stately grace upon Annals head. She
sat quite patiently during the pro-
tracted ordeal, encouraged now and
then by glimpses of her growing
adornment in bit of broken looking
glass held before her eyes by one or
the other of the admiring girls.
''Pm sure can never do that in
the world" sighed Polly, envious of
Milly's skillful touch. ''How did you
ever learn, Milly?"
Milly's thin, dark face glowed with
satisfaction.
ooh, tits not so hard when once
you have tried It'll" she responded, as
suming an air of Indifference. "My
Aunt Bethia has dear friend in Mis-
trcss Alice Montford, wife to an Eng
lish merchant. Her maid taught me
how to do Aunt Bethia's hair. There!
Is that not truly becoming to our
Annals face? Rise, fair maid, and view
thy charms"
Laughing, they led her to the long,
narrow mirror hanging against the
wall, in which, by dint of turning this
way and that, she was able to see her
mass of white puffs and curls.
"Now, Polly, it is your turn next, "
said Milly.
"Why, 1 thought" began Polly.
ooh, I'd just as lieve do them all
as not, interrupted Milly, good natured-
ly. 81 love to see what new ways I
can discover"
Polly took her place in the chintz-
covered chair without further ado
Her golden locks received different
treatment from Annals dark ones, but
in due time she, too, emerged from
Milly's hands with a triumph of archi-
lecture nicely balanced on her pretty
head.
''How shall we ever be able to go to
bed?" she suddenly asked, while cram
ing her neck to view her newly ac-
quired possession. ST feel rs though
this would all fall off if / don't keep
very straight and stiff. -
"You'll soon get used to that" re-
piled Anna, with confidence born OF
experience. "But, of course, as for
going to bed, that is not to be thought
of. Come, Prissy!"
Blank astonishment looked from
Polly's blue eyes.
"Not go to bedi Who ever heard
of such thing?" she cried in wonder.
''How will we look tomorrow night. il
we don't get any sleep?"
''Oh, that is another thing! We saE
sleep we'll enough sitting up and lean
ing back in our chairs. Ladies o,