The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-16
Il n ANNA. mamma, what DO you
N Think" cried LYDIA Stuart.
ss she rrshed into the rom


I'M Think" cried LYDIA Stuart.
as she rushed into the room
where her mother sat. with flushed
cheeks and disheveled hair. 81 have
found two tickets for the ball tomorrow
night-no name or anything on them by
which could trace the owner-and. oh.
mamma. 1 want to use them; 1 want to
CO."
But. my dear expostulated Mrs.
Stuart. as LYDIA paused breathIessly,
how
why, you kept one or two of my
evening gowns. you know, mother, and
I an sure the white one would do beau
tifully. and Tom is still quite presenta-
BILE in his dress suit. even II 1t is bit
highland here are the tickets, so why
not? The only thing is that / want you
to go too. darling" with an emphatic
kiss on her mothers cheek
Il should not care In the least about
II. dear. and am afraid you Will be dis
appointed"
"Oh. / know I shall be in it. and not
of It. but that does not matter. 1 shall
enjoy Just watching II all, and hearing
the music. ! may combine business with
pleasure. too, mamma. by getting some
new ideas for my sketches"
I'VE will see what your brother says.
dear" Mrs. Stuart answered.
She would have been 10th indeed to
deprive this daughter OF hers of any
pleasure that might come in her way, for
in the reverses that had fallen on the
family since Mr.. Stuart's death. his
wife's greatest grief had been for LYDIA.
This disaster had come on the very eve
OF her coming out, and ever since they
left their beautiful English home and
came 10 this big. seething. lonely Ameri-
can city. LYDIA had worked steadily at
illustrating
Now she was making a success at IL,
and there was also beginning TO be
quite a demand for her dainty water
color work.
When Tom came home. LYDIA imme-
diately bounced upon him, and related
10 take her. but he warned her that
they would not be likely TO meet any of
their few acquaintances. and that. there
fore, she would have to be satisfied
to dance with him, or be simply a
spectator at her first ball
The next day they scanned the papers
for some mention of the tickets, but
usin- them.
That night LYDIA was all excitement.
The white gown had required very little
alteration, and as Mrs. Stuart put the
finishing touches to her daughters tot
let, she felt very pardonable motherly
pride IN her.
How do you like me. Tom?" LYDIA
asked as she entered the little sitting
room.
| Tom whistled "By Jove." he ejacu-
lated. as he gazed at the picture framed
in the doorway. She laughed happily,
taking innocent pleasure in his astonish-
ed admiration.
'I knew you were good looking, LYDIA.
but you're quite too stunning tonight,
isn't she. mother"
she does look pretty. but we mustn't
|
much hattery. Remember. 1t is only for
one night" Mrs. Stuart answered a lit
/ tie sadly.
/ Tom wished that his own head were a
/ t-ife steadier. II had been aching most
| feerfulIy all day, but he would not say
word TO mar Lyda's pleasure or tc
cause his mother any anxiety.
He felt rewarded for the effort he had
made when he saw how much LYDIA en-
! joyed her novel experience. and in listen
/ ing TO her bright comments on the gilt
tering panorama.
Tom feared that dancing might tax his
powers of endurance too far. and was
wondering what excuse TO make TO LYDIA
when q hearty voice exclaimed: why
/ il ii isn't Tom Stuart!'' And a FRIEND
I from his native land shook him vigor-
ovsiy by the hand.
LYDIA was soon gliding round with this
friend of her childhood. She naively ex.