The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-03-01

MQUITE too delighted to see you

NQO1x y TOO OeugnteO 10 see you
DEAR" exclaimed Mrs. Violet
Grant, a. abe clasped her cousins
hands in warm welcome, "and, OF
course. you know that it's to be quite
the biggest ball of the year and
really, dear, balls are quite too de-
lightfully new and fresh to me. They
hold some wonderful fascination for
me which it il impossible to explain, y
Eyes, OF course, understand" re-
turned Veronica, the blase city cousin,
and she let her big, blue. handsome
eyes travel leisurely over Violet, you
are young and everything is new to you
glitters, as It were, = t really II
seems scarcely credible that but a
few months ago you were In the
land of arithmetic and geography, and
now you are 'out'-and quite the rage,
/ hear"
Violet laughed lightly and her color
came and went quickly.
Great indeed were the changes that
had taken place Just few months
ago." for during that time Violet had
grown into an immensely pretty and
graceful girl. There was sweet, re-
freshing simplicity, charming win
someness Of manner which the world
ly-wise Veronica foresnw would inevi-
tably prove fatal to mankind al Z
whole.
She frowned and inetinctively felt
that this young cousin of hers might
possibly prove TO be somewhat dan.
gerous rival. Only year and half
previously Veronica had scoffed at the
proposal Of penniless, though ex-
ccedinRly devoted. cavalier, a nd haugh-
tily refused to even 'shear him out, /"
and had finally swept from his pres
ence with the regal air Of queen,
demanding that no further attempt
should be made to address her on that
subject.
But It Is the unexpected that inevi-
tably happens, and It certainly oc-
CURED In this case. for through the
sudden death of wealthy uncle. a
railway king" Dudley Maitland had
succeeded to that personage's vast
ossessions, and Veronica, reading the
turn events had taken. resolved il pos
sible to recover, by strategy if by no
other means, the ground she had lost.
Hence her visit to her aunts country
house.
"You won't mind sharing my room.
will you. dear?" cried Violet. as the
little circle sAt and chatted over their
afternoon cups of tea: you see the
house is literally packed, and,
20, ] sha'n't mind anything, replied
Veronica, deliberately. that l.. pro-
vided have good time"
"Her beauty" said Veronica to her
self, III could mar that, not per-
manently, but just temporarily, to
prevent her from attending this ball.
What can--what can do?''
She walked over to the looking
glass. She surveyed the accessories
on the dreasingtable. A little acct
dent happens 20 easily. she mentally
concluded. and she lifted her hend
with an air of superiority and self-sat-
isfaction characteristics to her nature
And later on. when Violet returned
tosher room. she was delighted to find
'har cousin looking 90 fresh and ra..
-6iant.
~What pretty hair you have. child"
remarked Veronica, later.
Violet only laughed.
"Now, mine absolutely will not
wave" said Veronica, slowly. still re-
.gardin9 her cousin-"of course, mean
not without recourse to pins and tongs.
etc. Naturally curly hair il indeed
something to be right down thank
full for"
sIs It, reallys" asked Violet, laugh
1T H." And then both cousins
lApsed into silence.
Finally the time arrived for both
girls TO retire for the purpose of lin
9ering long over their respective tot
lets--a matter Of the utmost impor-
lance.
Suddenly there was loud shrieh
OF dismay, and violet's loneliness wa
marred.
She dashed into her mothers room
with eyes blinded with scalding tears.
Look! O, look!" she cried. scarce
~ knowing what she said. II sba'n't
be able to 20 to the ball! O. and I'm
dying to go! Did you ever see such a
fright before7 Veronica did II. but
It was quite an accident! Do not scold
her for IT," seeing the lcok of dismay
on her mothers face: "she is as dis
tressed a. am. o. but II does seem
hard; / shall be marked for weeksi"
"But however did it happen, dear ?"
asked Mrs. Grant. a. soon as she was
able to speak.
'~rhe tongs. dear" replied Violet.
still sobbine. "You see, she was do
ing her hair. and the hot tongs sprana
from her fingers and struck my face!
1t was purely an accident. but am
20 sorryl"
$50 Am /, W. returned the elder
woman; 40 am I.
Apparently Veronica was terribly
concerned, but all her sympathy and
suggested remedies were of no avail.
Nothing could possibly erase the ugly
scar from Violet's cheek; and finally
It was declared that she must foreQo
the bail, great though the pain Of
30 doing would be.
"You can write Dudley little n tote.
my DEAR" said her mother. when she