The Irish standard., 1908-04-25

must be carried there, and gladly &C.
cepted Stella's offer of help with the
dressing.
Miss Hamilton's lingerie was hardly
less costly and dainty than my lady's 8
Of to-day. White silk hose and satin
slippers: multiplied skirts more lace
than cambric; the combination Of lace
and blue silk tissue that was the f1lmy
little gown-with careful hands Stella
nnpacked and laid them, a snowy
heap, on the he'd.
The toilet went slowly. Stella had
been taught a decent respect for the
human body; and her innate love Of
beauty and order had blossomed into
an honest personal neatness. But
such complicated hair.dressing. such
caressing Of eyebrow and lash: such
critical attention to hands and nails;
the bathing. hot and cold; the rub.
bling and patting of cheek and arm, be.
fore lotion. powder. and wee touch of
rouge went on; the examinations at
each stage with hand glass and mir
ror, Stella holding one Of the lamps
which she continually adjusted to new
angles Of reflection-this was an amaz.
ing revelation to her OF Eve-old fem.
inine alteration at the altar of self
adornment.
A rap at the door and the hearty
voice Of Mr.. Crocker called from with
out: "How's the ankle, Amabel? How
soon will you be ready?"
Better. thank you, Uncle Charley.
You may come for me in five min
utes. can do by myself now" she
contiued to Stella as her uncle walked
down the hall. ITS splendidly kind Of
you to help me- and 80 beautifully. II
you ever need work I can get you a
position as lady's maid. Ill give you q
fetching character"
Stella WINGED. yet chided herself
for 1t. She knew Miss Hamilton was
only "in fun" Still. how could this
delicately reared city girl believe such
a big, awkward creature as herself
capable Of filling any but menial no.
sition? The real unkindness for which
Miss Hamilton failed to apologize, the
scant minutes she had left Stella for
her own toilet, went unnoticed; for
Stella was too generous a giver to
count the cost of her givings.
In her own room she smiled to her.
self while she quickly made ready,
coiling as usual her thick waving hair,
but adding her golden combs;" slip.
ping hnrriedly into her simple white
gown and its simpler accomplishments.
A cluster Of tiger lilies, an Offering
from fiower-loving Vic Wah, caught
her eye. She pinned them on her
breast, and hastened downstairs, meet
ing Sally B. and Viola in the hall.
"Oh, here you be! What made you
so late? I was Jest comm fur you.
see they've reserved seat on both
sides O. AL Vincent's. Ones fur you,
l reckon. I'm sittin' third from Char
ley Crocker-big bugs is next to him
-an'-cut my shoestrings! You look
splendiferous!" she exclaimed as they
came under the lamp.
Don't she. MAJ" echoed Viola,
heartily.
"say, honey, them tiger lilies suits
you; an I'd never "a thought 1t. They
got colors in 'em like VS. hair an
eyes, shores yo're born. Then they're
kinder secret an powerful lookin'. like
they could do things to all the other
flowers"
What an odd ideal" Stella said won.
deringly.
"Is it? Well nobody won't git their
secrets a.studyin' of their looks; no
more will they your'n. Stella. Your
face gifts secreter an eleganter every
day." Sally B. never paused for q
word. 1t might not be the right one.
but her meaning carried. as the
message of the master in spite OF poor
instrument and blundering fingers.
The band was playing as they en-
tered.
Stellas quick eye noted with sudden
aversion. the three reserved. chairs.