Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-03-09

but wears a long dress for the first
! timel
The hopes and fears. the anxieties
and longings connected with that gar
ment, no pen can describe. Since the
moment when she heard that Lady
/ I1etchford had included her-specially
I included her-in the invitation, Car
/ rie's thoughts have centered in long
dress. Hitherto her skirts have rare
ly touched the ground, leaving her lit
tie feet and ankles neat" to the rude
gaze OF cold, unfeeling world. Even
now it is not what Mr.. Worth would
call long dress-is not like Mays,
for instance, that drags fantail of
cashmere and silk behind it; but it
covers the Objectionable boots, touches
the ground, indeed, and Carries soul
is filled with ineffable satisfaction.
walk right around me, please"
she entreats.
And May turns from the glass, be-
fore which she is fastening her neck
let, and laughingly complies.
"All right, my dear child" she says;
you look pretty enough to hang on
Christmas-tree!"
"Oh, May" demonstrates Carrie.
not quite satisfied by this general ex-
preston of approval. But are you
sure ! am all right? l wouldn't have
anything wrong for the world tonight"
Certainly not! 1t would never do"
acquiesces May. Certainly not-that
would never do, The rising hope
and promise of our illustrious house"
Now, May you are making fun of
me again"
Never mind, dear" says May; "Tn
be serious, child You look-ahem!
Yes, you are all right, Carrie, at
every point of vantage; and you look
woman"
Really, Mayo
Really" assents May; though why
that should give you any pleasure
cant conceive. How times changes us!
In a few how very few years! the
most graceful compliment in your ears
will be to hear that you look like
girl"
you haven't reached that period
yet, anyhow You don't look woman
quite"
my dear, | am an old-old woman"
says May, gravely "At least" says
May, zone of us will be credit to the
house of Dalton, and if it knew tit
is on its trial tonight"
will it be very dreadful" asks
Carrie Sometimes l feel quite afraid
at the thought of sitting down beside
Lady Letchford and having to talk to
her-and Miss Vavasour too"
a rather fancy my Lady Letchford
sour will not be particularly anxious
to draw upon your-or my-stock of
conversation, Carrie. Will it be dread
full? | don't know. rather expect
1t will | feel like the man in the
fable who was asked out to dine with
the beasts of the forest? They may
dine on me, but, on the other hand,
they may not. They don't in the fable
YOU know"
You don't look very afraid" says
carrie. IF they dislike us so much,
why did they ask us?" she asks,
shrewdly.
"Ah, why, indeed" says May; that
is what is puzzling me. Why has Lady
Letchford, who has been so near
sighted as to ignore our existence for
two years suddenly regained the use
of her visual organs, and employed
them in our behalf?"
ut is YOU" says Carrie. at is you,
May, Of course. She was introduced
to you at the ball, and
Was smitten with remorse, no
doubt. No, that will scarcely do. Car
rie. | don't think it's much use
guessing"
Perhaps it was Sir Heron who told
her to call and invite us. At any rate"
concluded Carrie, hopefully, I'VE shall
have a friend in him, that's one con
ISOLATION"
Rather an underground one" says
May, concisely, unless cold bath
in the Thames in October is condu
Give to The growth of friendship. But
no matter. We shall soon know who
are our friends and who are our
enemies-now there goes seven
o'clock and there goes papa. Why
does he always walk up and down the
hall when he is waiting, like a senti
mel at the Horse Guards? Where's
Your shawl, child? Yes, Hortense
we are quite ready"
"a hn nnniinnnA