The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-30
by MARTHA McCULL0CH VIII
LIAMS

Copyright, 1911, by Associated
Literary Press
THE Pompadour Sistersl HorrorsI
Elise. you know / can't wear pink
With my red cheeks and red hair II
makes me biowsy peonyl And
YOU are angelic In pale blue" Peggy
said dssconlentedly. flinging herself
back on the sofa,
But you will Just this once''
Elise entreated. her eyes sparkling
For my sake You know my one
talent.-my gifted feet. / can't sing
I'm not a bit cieyer-I have never
been anywhere but home and to
school. But I can dance. Do help
me to show IT. For a Special rea-
SON I---I-~-want to show I'm worth
WHILE
$50 you'll he asked again7" Peggy
queried. Poor chick hiddyl Is
this house party really SO much to
you?
What would II be to you. II 1t
was your first--end you had never
had chance to be young. or have
fun7" Elise asked almost fiercely.
If you had TO dance by steaith--up
In the garrett with nobody to SEQ
and all the music. what you could
make on q comb?N
Tell mellow did you ever hit
on this friiiy eakewalk? To think OF
the Pompadour as godmother TO a
eakewalkG" Peggy commented, smil-
ing
Elise looked puzzled, Was there
ever Pompadour she asked. II
| thought 1t was Just o. name~~for the
| way you wore your hatr~-and pink
and blue together. That's why ] said
we'd do the PompadoQr Sisters. "
"a AH hskfN y
| and signing. She had q pink frock,
tine and straight from faris. but she
did rot want to wear II. Aunt Mar
garet had sent it~~Aunt Margaret had
not seen her since she was nine, SO
knew nothing OF the high colors
which, properly subdued. made her
| niece so pretty. Pink unauestionabiy
| exaggerated them 10 the degree of
Disagreement. But Peggy. the soul
| Of good nature, agreed at last to pat
| her vanity IN her pocket. and serve
! as "a foil for her lnckless stepcousin.
| Elise.
| She was sorry for Elise, whose life
| ran sluggishly between drab walls.
| 1t had taken all her own mother 4
tact and diplomacy 10 compass Elise e
| being where she was Peggy had
| been a little worried at first--Eilse
| had 80 few social acconp lishnients
/ and though Peggy was kind she hated
| carrying dead weight. But, by and By
when there we're evening exhibitions
| of drawing room accomplishments
| Elise had shown such grace, such
ughtness such Rhythmic harmony oi
| motion AS 10 redeem herself.
But she had never Vet done the
eakewalk. save In tbs privacy OF theii
own chamber, big. airy and secluded
one, high up in the tower. Peggy has
praoticed 1t with her. enough IL maks
sure they would not fail. She hA1
thought rather proudly OF the sensa
ltion they would make. quite eclipsins
Marie Dene, straight from pariA ans
still affecting the airs OF her Part
sian training. 1t took her all ahae&
though. to think OF dancing la suet
tguisa as would make her a fright
| Notwithstanding, she agreed gener
ausly 20 put herself out Of the queS
ton. partly through inaolent COOS
nature. partly also through the im
Polling of something under the sur
lace which sha felt In Elise.
she did not sanAe the hidden thins
until they came out for their turn
The big house party had turned itsel
into a vaudeville company. Ivy Wa.
of passing the two days OF drenun
Ing August storm, THIS house, oil
land rambling. bur Inxarionsly rsmod
eisd. lent itself admirably 10 suel
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