The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-08-13
Sad, but True
How a Young Girls Head was Turned
by Association With the Rich
and How She Awoke to q
Sense of Her Folly
Too Late.

Sense of Her Folly
q Too Late. y
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was just Is, and was unquestiona
bly, pretty. Our home at MeadowtowI
was the quietest of country homes, but i
did not prevent me from meeting Their,
what I felt wholly justified In calling
my "fate."
Robert Carroll was young artist VIII,
had come up one summer for the purpos,
of filling his portfolio with sketches unde
the most economical circumstances as re
garded his board per week, and Rober
and in the early part of the summer haC
met in mutually love at first sight sor
of way, which soon resulted In our en-
gagement.
Roberts immediate prospects as con
cerned personal support were several wa
ter colors of by no means remarkable
value and an oil painting which he found
it impossible to sell. But he whispered
to me confidential things before Ions
and a neglected yet heir presumptivt
grandson.
But in the middle Of the summer some
thing very unexpected happened.
received an invitation from my aunt
Mrs. Grosvenor Abercrombie, to come
and visit her at Newport.
accepted the invitation In fear anC
trembling. l made no attempt at any
thing like a strain in the matter Of cos
tune, for my simple dresses / well knew
would stand me in better stead than al
the country made fnery which l nigh
have had hastily stitched up" At leas
l was sure of one thing about myself
had not a suggestion of vulgarity in ap
pearance or manners that could shocl
these high bred relations.
l think Mrs Abercrombie recognized
this fact FIVE minutes after meeting me
She was a superb looking woman, witt
great gray puffs at either temple, a deli
cate, peachy complexion, strangely un
touched by time and manners that were
Queenly with quiet dignity.
Aunt Cornelia had one daughter
Helen. Very much Of her mothers state
ly grace belonged to Helen Abercrombie'
style. Her small head, where thick
masses of blue black hair lay coiled and
twined in glossiest abundance, was ex
quisitely set upon her swanlike, slopine
shoulders. Her face, thoroughly bru
nette In type, had dreamy sweetness Of
expression that struck you at glance as
most winningly lovely. She was great
belle, as soon perceived, In Newport so
ciety.
Aunt Cornelia's house and its appoint
ments were regal to my rustic eyes. The
luxurious ease in which she lived seemed
almost marvellous - servants bowling al
every turn; no task to be done by your
own hands except just what they wished
to do: splendor. wealth, grandeur and re-
finement everywhere. All, me. what won
der that my head was turned with 1t all!
/ rapidly accommodated myself to this
new life. Helen was charming to me
without any irritating touches Of condo
scension, and Aunt Cornelia was full OF
the most genial hosthood.
/ was made in the most delicate way to
understand Immediately upon my arrival
that my few simple dresses would be
wholly unsuitable for the gayeties OF
Newport, and very soon I was attending
balls, dinners, kettledrums and heaven
only knows what else IN costumes that
Aunt Cornelia's charming method of be
stowal made it no embarrassment to ac-
cept.
The change from Meadowtown to New
port, from rural Inducements to a per
petual round of merrymaking, was a
change intensely radical, as all will ad-
NIT. After three weeks of this utterly
new life, when the time came for me to
go home, | remember having q drearily
depressed feeling that not even the
thought Of seeing Robert once more could
do anything except mildly alleviate.
But, ah. until l was really back in
Meadowtown once more never knew
how radical my mental change had been
Fight against it as l would, discomfort
and dissatisfaction besieged me at every
turn. Our modest household customs, ar
rangements and conveniences struck me
as ridiculous, meager, contemplate, after
the glories of Aunt Abercrombie's New
port mansion and the wealth stamped
surroundings Of her fine friends.
Poor mother! She bore with me very
patiently, as it was her sweet nature al
ways to bear with everybody's crotchets
and shortcomings. Robert bore with me
patiently, too, at first. for verify believe
that his love was then strong enough tc
make nearly my worst faults take Dor
towed ideal light of virtue.
But here is a specimen of how ! would
sometimes treat him during the month
that followed my return:
"You have come for me to take walk
Robert ?"
Eyes. Ada" with the pIeasantest OF
looks In his large. soft brown eyes.
"Graciousv' rather pettishly.) at is
altogether too early in the afternoon
This blazing sun will ruin my complexion
Cousin Helen and all the ladies at New
port would never think of walking out al
this hour"
81 thought it rather cool, Ada. But
Just as you wish We can sit here and
talk for awhile on the piazza. if you pre-
fer"
positively, Robert. Pm almost asham
ed to sit with you while you have on that
horrid, careless looking arrangement
which you dignity by the name of a coat
None Of the gentlemen at Newport
ssWell," Robert here interrupted, with
Just the least tinge of pronounced pique
in tone and manner, "what about the gen.
tlemen at Newport"
ooh, pshawl Don't show jealousy. II
is such dreadfully bad style, you know"
Is II WISH AW otC Va NNAA1o JSee~
GUS, Ada. | hope there is no reason fol
any such feeling"
GAN meant, Robert, was that the
Newport gentlemen" with faint, fiut-
tering, retrospect sort of sigh at this
point, "are so very neat IN their cos
tunes"
This amiable little confab is only one
of the many which took place between
Robert and myself during the month that
succeeded my eventful visit. Did final.
ly see signs of impotence in his manner
touches Of manly intolerance at my treat
ment, periods of GOODNESS in his general
demeanor? Well, if / saw them, / chose
not to see them, and so the days passed.
At length, one autumn morning, rush
ed into the room where mother was seat
ed, holding an open letter in my hand.
''Oh, mother, mother" I cried, what
do you think?"
swell, Ada?' was the placid question
"You remember" sped on, "how IN
my last letter to Cousin Helen / jokingly
invited her to MeadowtownP OF course
/ never dreamed OF having her come and
Just put in the invitation as means Of
filling up my stupid letter, and now she
writes me that she will take me at my
word-that she is very anxious to taste 9
real bit Of country life before going back
to next winters gayeties in New York
and-and-oh, shall die OF modification
at the thought Of having her herel'
But have her was forced to do, ant
modification spared me any such terrible
result as that prophesied. She came
looking the thorough lady she was, dress
ed with suitable quietness and accepting
all our homespun hospitality with q
sweet, thoroughbred lack Of surprise.
IT want you to appear your very best,