The Lamar register., 1903-05-06

perfectly proper. If she were like
most girls, | should naturally advise.
on grounds of respect, waiting for an
other year; but, you see, Eleanor was
eighteen last autumn. and If she were
to wait she would be twenty before
she came out which, considering her
excessive shyness and quietness,
would be the worst thing possible for
her. l am afraid of the poor child
becoming morbid. All she seems to
care for is wandering through the
woods or sitting on the beach by her.
self for hours. or else reading. 1t can't
be good for her. like to see girls at
her age bright and taking an interest
in things. It's to be expected that
she should mourn her father, but it
isn't healthy to allow her grief to prey
on her mind"
1t is the green-eyed monster that
doth make the food 1t feeds on
Shakespeare" said the young banker
jollily. No, that's jealousy; but it
applies to grief just as well. You let
yourself get harping on thing and
it's all up with you"
Then you agree with me?"
"As to what?" said Harold, noticing
his wife's anxious air.
"The propriety of her coming out
after the list of January.
ANY plan that you and Eleanor fix
on will suit me, cherub. leave it all
in your hands"
You have said you mean to give
her ball." Emma remarked, medi-
tatively.
so do; handsome one. It'll be
good excuse for throwing open our
new house."
We'll. then, I shall consider 1t set
tied; only shall have to be thinking
about her clothes at once. don't
suppose the child will make any OBJ
jections."
She felt. nevertheless, a little anx-
ious on this last head until she had
talked to Eleanor, who, however, said
that she was not competent to decide
as to the proper time for laying aside
her mourning. and that her aunt was
the best judge.
Il should be very sorry, dear, to
give you the impression that | was lax
in such matters" said Emma, serious
ly. but think your future happiness
may be very dependent on your COM
ing out this winter; SO it seems to me
you do right in being little less
strict in following custom than in or.
dinary cases"
Eleanor merely assented; but next
day, when they were alone together
after breakfast. she suddenly con
fronted her aunt with the inquiry why
there was any need of her coming out
at all.
Need of your coming QUIT" Emma
said, in a tone of establishment. Then.
after moments attempt to grapple
in her own mind with the extraordi-
nariness of such proposition, she re-
piled, with dignity: your Uncle Har-
old depends on your coming out, El-
eanor."
The girl looked at her vaguely.
Il should be very happy without It,"
she said.
Emma surveyed the calm recalci-
trant in a dumbfounded fashion that
was still more naughty. She felt that
she was called on to combat frame
of mind radically out of gear. and
that she must speak unequivocally.
"It is not question of your present
happiness or of your unhappiness. El-
eanor, but of your whole future. II
you do not show yourself in the world
and become familiar with its usages,
how are you to fit yourself for your
part in life, whether as wife-for
you are likely to be married-or, even
your Uncle Harolds niece and my
niece?"
Mrs. Stagg conscientiously based
her argument on high moral grounds
She had no patience with the cynical
or misinformed people who habitually
stigmatized society as hollow and friv-
olous, or who declared that girls came
out merely to find husbands. Such
critics were either envious, or did not
know what they were talking about. 1t
was too much the custom for those on
the confines of good society to sneer
at those on the other side of the hedge
without knowledge of their feelings
and privileges.
But | cannot dance" answered
Eleanor, which was an objection quite
apart from the real ones which had
prompted her to speak.
Her aunt felt inexpressibly relieved.
Misled by notions that are common
among persons of her class, Mrs.
Stagg had begun to fear that her
nieces scruples were born of that
dreadful democratic spirit which ar
CUES that a country school-ma am
without social experience is the peer
in breeding and elegance of any lady
in the land. Horrible visions of the
consequences of such standard had
f1oated before her eyes, which now
beamed benevolence on the culprit, as
she said:
81 wrote last night to make arrange