The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1907-12-05
Observation-Disclosures
UNDER
FALSE C0L0RS
By VIOLET ErYKsE MITCHELL
For de land sakes, Miss Dorothy.

recklessness Of metaphor, as, pausing
in the center Of the kitchen. she re-
garded in deep surprise the clouded
face Of pretty Dorothy lie Strange.
The young girl seated herself defect.
eddy upon a chair.
"Oh. II is poverty, always poverty,
wept Miss lie Strange, who, being
motherless and still very young, had
grown TO treat Aunt Dinah with GER
tain affectionate friendliness born Of
their mutually fallen fortunes. For, In
the good old ante-bellum days when
Dorothy's mother had been the belle
Of Charleston and her father reckoned
as one of the weslthiest as well as
proudest men In the state, Aunt Dinah
had held the sway Of an empress In
the lie Strange kitchen, and her orders
had been meekly carried out by half
a dozen satellites. But, alas! with
the decadence Of southern prosperity
fell also the fortunes Of the rich bank
er, and when, ten years later, Doro-
thy's blue-eyed mother, dying In want
OF the luxuries to which she had been
accustomed, faded out OF a world
which no longer held any charm for
her, she had left her baby in the arms
of the one faithful servant who,
through storm and sunshine. had fol-
lowed in the footsteps of her beloved
mistress.
Bound by the tie Of strong affection
to the family, Aunt Dniah struggled to
keep alive in Dorothy the proud spirit
OF her mother, and with the skill of
veteran officer ruled the kitchen,
watched with belligerent eye Miss lie
Strange's northern associates, and
could, by shake of her turbaned
head, upset many a plan of her mas
ter's making.
"Sho! Poverty mighty mean. What
he ben doin' to yo' now, Missy, dear?"
Dorothy unfolded letter. balancing
herself deity upon the chair, spread 1t
out upon the lap of her faded green
cashmere dress.
I've got an invitation to the ball at
Armitage's," sighed she, between little
sobs. "All the Evarts girls are going,
and Surlie Williams. Even Catheryin
Bates will be there in brand new
lemon-colored taffeta. Everyone has
something to wear but me, and it's the
very first big dance to which | have
ever been asked wish / could die
yes, do. This being proud and poor
is curse to anyone"
Huh" Aunt Dinah's eyes closed
sharply, like the swapping to of box
lid, as If she would shut out from some
inner temple all distracting influences.
"Lemme think; dar's yo' mas ole
blue silk, mought be made over"
Don't talk of that" exclaimed
Miss lie Strange, fiercely. That dress
has been made over five times. Be-
sides, Harry Mortimer spilled half a
cup of bouillon over the front breadth.
cans use it,"
How much money yo' got in yo'
III brown purse?' queried the old wo-
man, opening her eyes, momentarily,
to flash the question at her mistress.
Money" laughed Dorothy, scorn-
fully. Just three dollars and ten pen
nies-not one cent more, and | ought
not to spend that, for there is the coal
bill coming in next week and the arm.
chair in the parlor is bleeding saw
dust all over the carpet"
A few crystal tears brimmed over
her blue eyes, and falling upon the let
ter lay there like drops Of dew.
Cant do much on three dollars"
murmured Aunt Dinah, contemplating
the young girl, with her head on one
side like big, black canary bird, "but
we must do somethin'. Yes, honey,
we p'intedly gwan do something to get
yo' ready TO dat ball. / amt gwine
to have yo' disappointed"
II was the night of the ball, and the
handsomely decorated rooms Of the
Armitage mansion were ablaze with
electric lamps and gay with the merry
sounds of music and laughter While
it was still early in the evening a
group of young men lingering at the
door of the dancing room were attract.
ed by the exquisite loveliness of a
fair-haired girl who, leaning upon the
arm CT an aristocratic old gentleman,
evidently her father, made her en-
trance by an opposite door.
"By George! There's a beauty"
exclaimed Sir Reginald Beauchamp, q
young Londoner who was, Just then,
the guest of Arthur Armitage.
Arthur turned, smiled with evident
satisfaction, as he perceived that the
young lady was Dorothy LIE Strange
for. whom, indeed, he had evinced 9
strong, II unreciprocated, admiration
1T is Miss lie Strange" returned
he, quietly, while the baronet, his
handsome face aglow with eager In
terest, begged for an introduction.
Talk about your peaches and
cream" cried he, "look at that girls
complexion. And her dress--perfectly
charming. A creation of worth'i
probably, imported to the tune Of sew
eral hundred dollars. Your country