The Lamar register., 1903-05-06

ural result of her affiiction, but moth.
ing worse.
The remaining weeks at the seaside
passed uneventfully. Emma had been
rather impatient to get back to town
in view of the preparations necessary
for the ball, and for launching her
young charge into the gay world. The
next eight weeks were spent largely
in shopping. Eleanor was carried off
in the coupe after breakfast every
morning. on tour of the stores. 1t
took fortnight before all the materi.
ais were chosen, for Mrs. Stagg would
have nothing but the choicest and
the best, scrutinizing. considering and
reconsidering, hesitating and coming
back to shops after leaving them
once. and then leaving them again
without purchasing. And when the
1aDrics and colors were fixed upon. an
other fortnight was spent in trying on
and altering and trying on again un-
til Emma herself, to say nothing of
the fortunate young person in whose
behalf all this weariness of the flesh
was being undergone, felt fairly ready
10 drop' But to break down at this
stage was out of the question.
In the fashionable circles of the city,
anticipation as to the grand ball to
be given by the Harold Stages in
honor of their niece was running ram.
pant. Rumor said that it was to be a
most magnificent affair." and Mrs.
Stagg was firmly resolved to prove
rumor ignorant of the real truth. She
lay awake at night planning the min
utest details of the OCCASION with her
own eyes she superintended the pol-
ishing OF the dancing floor until 1t was
like wax, and then she was in a fit for
fear it might be too smooth: she
amazed the caterer by the definiteness
of her instructions as to hot ducks
and fresh relays of champagne in the
small hours of the morning, and con-
rounded the bandmaster by threats of
running his business in case the quail
ity or the music was not unexception-
able. The entire house was in arms
for month prior to the great event.
and little else was talked about In the
establishment.
Eleanor, too, to judge by her ejacu.
lations and manner, had caught the in
lection. She seemed all in a fiutter.
tripping about the house with bright
eyes and becoming flush on her
cheeks. silently inspecting the ar
rangements, now and again gliding
over the parquet floor in feverish trial
of her newly acquired steps, and un.
dergoing, in regard thereto, successive
troy ovte of nIf
despair. Her quiet reserve became
tlp-toe ecstacy in presence of the
sumptuous simplicity of her own dress
and the exquisite richness OF her
aunt's; and when on the evening it.
self the climax was capped for her by
her Uncle Harold's gift of flashing
diamond star, which he presented to
her as she made a shy but entranced
entrance, the last of the three, into the
brilliantly lighted ballroom, with the
cheering encomium, How charming
you look, my dear!" there were tears
l.. the little girls eyes. and her voice
was choked as she stammered out her
delighted thanks.
Her emotion brought answering
smiles to Mrs. Stages face, who felt
that at last the ugly duckling. thanks
to her fostering and persistent care,
was beginning TO do her credit. The
ordeal. before she had been able to
beget a proper temper and awake en-
thusiasm, had been long and wearing.
but her labors were finally crowned
with success. Eleanor stood before
her a thoroughly passable young wom-
an. exquisitely dressed, diffident, but
not awkward, and free from peculiari-
ties. AS she surveyed her with lynx
eyed scrutiny through her lorgnette,
she said to herself with complacency
that the child certainly looked re-
markably well, and was positively
pretty. Her heart warmed toward her
and she tapped her bare shoulders
caressingly with a fan after detach-
ing an offending thread from her
skirt. There was pride and content in
her heart; she felt that she had done
well by her niece. and that she need
not be ashamed Of her handiwork.
(To be continued.)