Middletown transcript., 1900-11-10

UEOuSnL n0t mOsneLp NAo Oh OoAosAAOAAS "
thick engagement-book, found that she
should have a few days to spare in the
course of the month.
OF course, 1 might have given the
message about the pink waist, reflected
Frances. as she fecked q fly off her tat
pony's back, "but was afraid she would
suspect how things were. She was SO
pleased! To keep her from knowing
that it was mistake seemed the one i'm
portant thing.
The pony was forced to go at a pace
which shook his fat sides and caused him
to turn questioning and reproachful eye
upon bis young mistress, whose views OF
life generally conceded very satisfactorily
with his own.
Out on Paradise road, just where the
air begins to be sweet with the locust
trees, Frances met Mildred setting out
with her brother Stanley and his friend,
Lester Wyman. Mildred sent the young
men on ahead, in obedience to an impera-
tive private gesture from Frances, and
then heard the story of the dreadful
blunder.
at was stupid of me" said Mildred,
with pucker of her serene brow. "But
/ don't see how she could have thought
I meant to invite her! How awkward
for you to have to explainW
Awkward Isimply didn't explain.
She was so pleased about the invitation
She thought you must have heard how
fond she was of music. And don't
think that good times have ever come
much in her way. I didn't say a word
about your pink chiffon. 1 thought you
would rather leave it to Providence than
to run the risk of hurting her."
"Why of course, anything would be
better than to hurt her," said Mildred,
slowly. $50 far as the pink waist goes.
l could write to hear about it now. She
is perfectly presentable, but wish it
could happened some other time, If I had
got to make such a blunder. I did not
want Lester Wyman, who is diplomats
son and accustomed to the incest people
everywhere, to meet the very cream of
Old Harbor society,"
"She's the very creamiest thing in the
town as far as looks 60, and he need
never know that a dressmaking sign
hangs out over her door! Give the girl
a good time, and don't take it SO hard"
sagely, as she touched the fat pony with
the whip.
"Hey, Betty Martin, tiptoe fine p"
The little hard-worked mother gave her
girl playful push toward the long
mirror, and the mirror reflected the
prettiest gown that its experience had
known. 1t was OF pale blue silk muslin
over pale blue silk, and to its girlish sim
plicity was added the indefnable quality
known as "style." The slip of a girl,
her blue eyes wide with haif-increduious
delight, looked Ikea princess-or rather
as princess ought to look and is no more
likely to look than any one else.
But as Betty turned away, from the
mirror-away,galso from her mather's
eyes-the delight faded suddenly, as
candle is blown out by the wind, and the
sensitive little peaked chin quivered with
a haunting recollection Of the expression
on Frances Penhallow's face and the
forced tone of her congratulations. There
had been mistake made, somehow It
was not likely that Miss Brewster had
meant to invite her.
She said that to herself at one moment,
and tried to think the next that she had
grown morbid and fanciful by much
brooding over Frances Penhallow's look
of surprise-a look of surprise, that was
all. She had not known Of the invita-
ton. Betty had not breathed hint of
her suspicion to her mother, whose de- !
light had been even greater than her own. |
Il would go, for her sake, over redhot !:
Betty said to herself, !
giving little kick to her beautiful, SHIN |
mering, light blue train.
That train was gracefully carried on J
the night Of the musicale, and so was the !
small, ash-colored head-only trifle too |
high. And "a red and a restless spark
burned on Betty's cheek. But when she !
found, among all the throng of young |
people, no stare of surprise, or anything
out the friendliest courtesy, she gradually
put away even the suspicion that their
minds had been prepared, and was gay
With the rest.
Her heart grew warm toward Mildred
Brewster and Frances Penhallow, who,
without singing her odt in any embar-
'asslng way, constantly took pains that !
me should not feel herself stranger. 1t
rev 80 warm that when Mildred showed
ler chagrin that Madame DAlmati, the
charming singer of English ballads, had
allied to appear, she threw her shyness
% the winds and said, with evidently a
lmple eagerness to be of service: "Oh, I
can sing ballads-if You think anyone
would care to hear me! I have not
arge voice, but it has been trained. 1
have an uncle who is musician" |
Tiff you will be so good" faltered
polite, but as she afterward con-
essed to Frances Penhallow, feeling can
Iwful dread"
But the "awful dread" was quite un-
necessary. Betty had not, as she said, |
large voice, but it had the thrilling, pa
hetic quality, the wild weird sweetness
ound seldom except in an Irish voice |
md most effective of all in simple ballads.
Betty made success. Before she went
home, in carriage from the livery-stable
hat was only few doors from the dress
maker establishment, she had promised
Q sing at another musicale in another of /
he old colonial houses.
Now We shall know what to do for
ri" said Mildred, joyfully, to Frances,
whom she had kept for n private com