Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-05-27

smile playing upon the face Of the
dame as she cried out to the lockers
Never heed the babe. a 0a,
ride will mend his health"
The address OF the landlady. I'm
safely passing through the narrow
way, elicited q general burst of an
piause. which rang In shouts until
she bad fairly got the better of che
self-will Of her four-footed antaro.
mist, and had halted him, painting ss
the back OF the house.
BY my head, exclaimed willv.
10 was no such great mistake 10 sci
down Dame Dorothy's tumbrel for
my L0rd's o coach II 10 had hesu a
coach and six 10 could not have made
more dust or better speed
BY my head. 10 could notl"
shouted Wise Watkin, In q shrill
response 10 Willy's laugh-''t there's
. tickle 70 the ribs THAT fiddler
Willy should take Dame Dorothy, =
cart and bow-necked Boyle for nv
Lords coach i"-and with this re-
Election he joined In the chorus which
echoed the general merriment.
Meantime the company continued
70 arrive. The coaches came with
new freights. and fresh parties on
horseback alighted a the gate. The
Collector, more than usually precise
in apparel, stood at the door receiv.
ing the frequent comers with that
particularly Of observance which
so strongly marked the manners of
the past century; aud group after
group was ushered into the hall.
Here Mistress Alice. in sad colored,
silken attire, plain and becoming In
its fashion, gave welcome 10 her
visitors; whilst the Lady Maria, in
character Of what might be termed
the patroness OF the revel, took post
by her side. The neat little figure
OF the Proprietary's sister received
q surprising accession OF bulk from
the style OF her dress. which was
to mode yet new in the
province. Her hair. laid fiat and
smooth upon the crown OF the head,
was tortured into q sea OF curls that
fell over either ear 20 the point of
the shoulder, and 10 the same depth
upon the back. fringing her brow
with light and fieecy fiakes-the
whole powdered 10 q pearly, brown
ish hue, and inlaid with iewelled
bands. Her gown. both body and
skirt, was of rich. lowered tabby,
whose coruscating folds rustled
with portentous dignity. as the lady
moved slowly from place TO place.
This derived still greater increment
OF stateliness from q stomacher and
huge farthingale, or hoop. made
after fashion which the queen OF
Charles the Second. nearly twenty
years before. had brought from por-
tugal and introduced 20 the wonder
ing eyes OF the merry court danes
OF England. The glory OF this ar
ray gave q world of condescension
10 the deep and awfully formal cour-
tesy with which the benevolent spin
ster made her solutions TO the arriving
troops; who, In their turn, did full
homage TO the claims Of the lady as
the presiding genuius of the ball.
Blanche Warden, with a playful
ness that vibrated between the wo-
man and the girl. abandoned the re-
ception OF the guests 10 the elders OF
the family, and gave herself up to
the guidance OF her prevailing hu-
NOR. as she appeared, at one moment.
In the ball smiling amidst the con-
gratulations OF friends, and at an
other, skimming across the lawn
with q dozen Of her school mates In
the random flight of their wild fam
cies. Her dress was characterized
by the simplicity OF q maiden as vet
unambitious 70 assume the priv
ileRes OF womanhood. IL consisted
OF a bodice Of scarlet velvet accur-
ately fitted to her shape, and laced
across the bosom with silken cords,
the tasseled extremities OF which
depended almost TO the ground: {:
short white sleeves looped TO the
shoulder by bands OF the color of
the bodice; q skirt Of white lawn,
and white slipper disclosing foot
and ankle Of faultless proportions.
Her neck and shoulders, OF match
less beauty. were given uncovered
TO the evening breeze; and her CLOS
sy hair, constrained above her brow
by fiflet OF ribbon, fell in rich
volume down her back. No Jewel
or jem contributed It's lustre TO grace
her person; but q boquot of choice
flowers planted on the upper verge
Of the bodice, and q white rose
nesting amongst the braided tres.
ses on her forehead, better than car
canet or chain Of gold. diamond
clasp or earring, consorted with the
virgin purity and artless character
Of the wearer.
For a time. until the thickeninR
shades OF twilight and the keenness
Of the evening air began TO admon-
ish them OF the comfort Of the house,
many OF the guests. attracted by
unusual mildness OF the season, !,
lOitered about the door or strolled
across the grounds. Near the brink
OF the cliff which overlooked the
river might have been seen Captain
Dauntress amusing a group OF idle
co mrades. Hereand there, a priest
from the Jesuit House OF St. Inigo's
in his long cassock. diversified the
general aspect Of gay costumes, with
q contrast grateful TO the eye. The
Proprietary, with the buxoEn old
host, Mr.. Warden. and the aged
Chancellor, essayed to make merry
with some venerable matrons, who
with sagacious presentment ol
rheumatic visitations; were effecting
q retreat towards the chimney cor
ner OF the parlor. Talbot played
the gall lant amongst q half-score mai
dens. who fitted along the margin
OF the cliff with q clamor that almost
amou nted 10 q riot, whilst in his
wake. Master Benedict Leonard, a.
gaudy as Q jay. strutted swagger.