The Opelousas courier., 1901-01-26

/ RA~SAAS "a J~4A
musicale at her house Wednesday
evening, June 9Th"
The girl to whom the note was ad-
dressed read it with flushing cheeks
and a cry Of delight.
She started to her feet, dropping Miss
Foy Parmenter's We~dding-dress In
a billowy heap on the floor, and ran to
the door of the fitting o of the
dressmaking establishment.
But her mother was busy trying q
dress on Mrs. Commodore Skreene and
could not be hurried. and the girl
turned back, impatient to announce the
news.
She whirled about In a little dance
before the cheval-glass In the privacy
Of the inner room. Catching up Miss
Parmenter's wedding-dress. she held
the shimmering folds before her.
How shall I look in an evening
gown?" she wondered, ecstatically.
"Oh, / suppose I am too silly, but I
have been SO hungry for good times
Of my own kind! They are my own
kind, those girls of Mildred Brewster's
set, though I didn't suppose they'd ever
acknowledge 1t. They never took the
least notice of me when ] went-so
frightfully shabby!-to the high school
with them. And Mildred Brewster
seemed especially proud-although she
was kind to get us the naval people
for patrons. A musicale, too! / won
der how she knew I should like that.
It may be that her brother Stanley
has heard me singing in the garden
when he has been canoeing on the
river.
20 mother, d~earest!v and she turned
to her mother, who had finally got
through with Mrs. Commodore Skreene
and now stood In the doorway. "An
invitation for me from Mildred Brews-
ter to a musicale! When I opened the
envelope l thought, of course, she had
only written about the chiffon for her
pink waist"
II don't know why she shouldn't in
vite you" said the little worn woman,
her seamy cheeks growing red with
pleasure.
"They r very aristocratic-very
proud Of their old family. They live
in a colonial house a hundred years old.
with family portraits and old silver
and things; and you and mother. dear,
are nobodies. I trim Mildred's pretty
gowns and she sends us her fathers
checks. Those are the only relations
that are to be expected between her
and me-"
"She hasn't seemed to think So"
said her mother, quietly, but with a
thrill In her voice. Mentally she vowed
that, whether money were plenty or
scarce; Betty should go to the musicale
in a lovely gown. For she knew all
about the hunger for good times and
girls, although neve a word had BEEN
said. Mother eyes are sharp.
Meanwhile the postman had left q
missiye in Miss Mildred Brewster's
handwriting at n of the old colonial
houses, with family portraits and old
silver things" 1t was addressed to
Miss Frances Penhallow, and that
young lady, who was Mildred's dearest
said she knew without opening
it that it was an invitation to Mildred's
musicale. She opened 1t, nevertheless,
and drew her brow into q frown az she
read:
"Dear Miss Martin: VIII you be SO
kind as to take the very greatest pains
In matching the pink chiffon to my
waist7 I am sure I can trust your
exquisite taste. but / should feel 1t to
be such a calamity If that delicate
shade Of pink silk were to be spoiled
by a deeper shade of trimming.
Hastily,
mildred Brewster"
"Just like Mildred! She has mixed
those children upg" exclaimed Miss
'This note was meant for
Betty Martin, the dressmaker's. daugh-
Ter. And she has probably got my In
Vitation! I'll drive round there and
carry this note, SO that Mildred's waist
may be sure to be all right. She has
more faith In those people than she
mas In Madame Fontenelle. I think I'll
get mamma to try them. I remember
hat the girl looked poor and forlorn
when she went to school, but she is
really effective now, she wears such
good gowns. And there is something
quaint about her, with her high fore
head and her little peaked chin and
ler corn-fower-blue eyes. II she could
manage to make me look as she
Frances critically surveyed the image
II the descendant of the PenLallows in
he long mirror, and deliberately
made up o face" Mt 1t. 1t is true that
he figure was stocky and the nose
.hick, and those discouraging points
struck the Wner Of the figure more
than did the honest clearness
IT the gray eyes, or the sympathetic
sweetness OF the mouth.
1t was Betty herself who opened the
loor of the reception-room, and her
quaint face lighted up at the sight
# the visitor. A friend Of Mildred
bore with her a Charmed
Frances, smiling q little in response
the shy radiance of the girls face,
Il remember you ut the high
and ! think you have such
ovely taste" She felt that Betty's
attitude demanded something more
Kindly than an immediate plunge into
BUSINESS. 81 have seer all the pretty