The Prescott daily news., 1907-12-06
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UNDER FALSE COL0RS
By VIOLET ErYNoE MITCHELL
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(Copyright.)

cried Aunt Dinah, with characteristic recklessness of metaphor, as, pausing in the center of the kitchen, she re- garded in deep surprise the clouded face of pretty Dorothy Le Strange.
 The young girl seated herself deject- edly upon chair.
 "Oh, it is poverty, always poverty" wept Miss Le Strange, who, being motherless and still very young, had grown to treat Aunt Dinah with a cer- 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 wealthiest as we'll as proudest men in the state, Aunt Dinah had held the sway of an empress in the Le 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 CT, 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 Le Strange's northern associates, and could, by shake of her turbaned head, upset many 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 deftly upon the chair spread it 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 1 have ever been asked-I wish l could die yes, do, This being proud and poor iS O curca tO quvope"
 Huh" Aunt Dinah's eyes closed sharply, like the snapping to of a 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 Le Strange, fercely. That dress has been made over five times, Be, sides, Harry Mortimer spilled half cup of bouillon over the front breadth. I cans use It."
 How much money yo' got in yo' li'r 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 I 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 fo dat ball. I ain't gwine to have yo' disapp'inted.
 It 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 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 of an aristocratic old gentleman, evidently her father. made her en- trance by an opposite door.
 By George! There's beauty!" exclaimed Sir Reginald Beauchamp, a young Londoner who was, just then, the guest of Arthur Armitage.
 Arthur turned, smiled with evident as he perceived that the