The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-07-26
''The mermaid rose from her coral sea bed;

And what shall ] wear today? she said,
hummed Patty as she ran up stairs to her
own room.
1t would be impossible to tell how
many times Patty tried on that satin
waiStcoat, adapting it to the softer out
lines of her graceful form. and how, little
by little, her careful snippings trans
formed the old time relic into a jaunty
Jockey" or jacket that might have
graced any lady at the court of his mai
esty George Ill. But you can imagine
Miss Patty when the ball night arrived
dressed in her white satin petticoat and
the sky blue waiStcoat, her hair drawn
high over a cushion and allowed to fall in
ringlets behind. where it was confined by
a string of pearls talso an heirloom), q
bunch of asters at one side. long kid
gloves on her hands and a band of black
velvet round her white throat.
As she stood waiting in the hall for
her fathers coach box addressed to her
was left at the door. Patty opened it
with eager fingers, for she recognized the
handwriting, and after unfolding wrap
after wrap of tissue paper finally came to
an elegant gilt and ivory fan. its edges or
namented with swans down and the face
embellished with pink and yellow shep-
herds and shepherdesses.
"Oh, what a beauty" exclaimed Patty
And how thoughtful Reuben WASP
The next moment she heard her father
calling her name.
That stately assembly has passed into
history, and we have not the time to re-
produce in detail the glories of that even
ing, how grandly the building and
grounds were Illuminated. how carriages
rolled and grated on the gravel walks and
negro servants in white kid gloves handed
out ladies in velvet and satin and how the
two distinguished men. Rochambeau and
Lafayette. both toasted the bright eyes of
Miss Patty in the spiral stemmed cham
payne glasses Of the day.
"Grande ciel" exclaimed the gallant
Rochambeau. where has such beauty
been kept all this time? It's sin and a
shame to hide such light under bushel."
sit has not been hid. as my young
friend, Lieutenant Saltonstall, can testi
fy." observed Lafayette. as he turned
with smile to the noble looking young
officer who wore the uniform of the navy.
"Pardieu. mails mademoiselle est adora-
BILE! She will beat all the grand danes at
court. did not suppose ! should see so
beautiful a woman in America. There
must be blood somewhere" said Rocham-
beau.
at is young blood, count. Youth Ii al-
ways fair"
Not like that. marquis" returned the
count. mot like that"
1t was all like a dream of enchantment
to Patty, and she was more than salts
fed. She did not have single rival, not
CIR, Oh
minuet with Lafayette everybody asked
who that beautiful girl was.
"How lovely you are tonight. Patty"
whispered the lieutenant, as he led her
away from the marquis. her cheeks still
flushed from the compliments Of the gal
liant Frenchman. "And where did you
get that elegant dressT
Patty tapped his lips with her fan.
"Ungallant. you should never ask a wom-
an how she dresses. The prince never
asked Cinderella"
"True. but he might never have lost
her if he had and been to all the trouble
of hunting for the mate of the silver slip
per-"
"Well. I will tell you, but not tonight"
she whispered
And Patty did tell him not long after.
and when he had heard the story her
lover answered. well. you never looked
so handsome in your life as in that dress.
and your grandfather's waistcoat shall
be your wedding short gown. 1t Is my
wish"
So 1t happened that Patty Hampstead
wore her grandsire's waistcoat on her
bridal day. and there are those living to-
day who remember hearing old people say
that she was the most beautiful bride
they ever saw. Her husband took her
with him to Europe shortly after their
marriage. and her grace and beauty won
her many 6attering compliments alike al
the court of Louis XVI and that of