The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-05-07

once belonged to the great aunt after
whom she was named. She was look
ing for and hoping to find something
she could shape into dress for the
dance on the fourth. Whenever she
was at loss for finery Aunt Eleanor's
trunk had been veritable treasure
troye, but SO often had the girl gone
through the contents she had small
hope of. finding anything that would
be suitable for the party toward which
she was looking forward with more
than usual anticipation. n
Aunt Eleanor's gowns were all Of
the heaviest brocades, velvets and
satins, so stiff they would stand alone.
She had never been stinted in money,
as her namesake frequently was, and
rich dresses, with here and there a
time stain, that had come from Lon
don and were of a bygone style, had
lain for long in the horse-hair trunk
under the caves until young Eleanor
one morning pulled 1t into the light
With little EXPLANATIONS of pleasure
she opened the carefully wrapped
packages aud found herself heir to
much that was totally unsufted to her
youth and petite figure, even in a day
when maids were gowned in costly
stuff.
But when one loves dances and has
not the wherewithal to buy vanities,
the fact that material is unsuitable has
little weight, and she always carried
the day against her mothers more
certain Judgment Of things at and IN
at. But IL her gowns were not always
what she should have worn, that fact
was lost in the pleasure one found in
looking at the animated face and the
absolute joyousness Of the girl herself.
For this little story is Of a time when
girls, young girls, were not SO sophis-
ticated as at the present day and their
pleasures, coming far apart, made them
all the more desirable, simple though
they usually were.
This dance had been heralded for
weeks. General Washington had sig
nified his intention to be present, paus-
ing for a few hours in Upper MARI
borough on his way to Annapolis. Nat
urally everyone was on the qui vive,
and Eleanor Brooke forthwith went
into the attic to search for a gown
brave enough to do honor to the Occa-
sion.
She knew what she wanted and low
ingly fingered the heavy brocade COW
cred with pink roses and the under
skirt of pink satin that had long been
her utmost desire. And more daring
still was the wish to wear the gown
just as it was, quaint in its looped-up
overdress and vatican plat.
She shook out the folds of satin and
held 1t against her height. 1t was
long, very long, for Great Aunt Flea
nor had been a tall woman. But she
had also been slight, and when later
her namesake stood in her own room
and twisted and turned before the mir
ror to get a glimpse of her back, she
decided the only change needed was In
length.
1t was a lovely gown and she would
have been very Indifferent girl If she
had not been thrilled by the vision that
peered half shyly at her from the gilt
framed glass. 1t was the first time her
face had impressed her and the dam
oval with its shining eyes,
framed in waving hair, made her won
dor lxy nj
famed at a deeper thought which she
tried to hide from her consciousness,
but it would obtrude, and at last she
faced it. would he like it," Even TO
herself she hesitated to call his name.
For before all others she wished TO
appear fair in his sight. She gave no
thought to other guests who would
come from Georgetown, Alexandria,
Baltimore and Annapolis on horseback
and IN great coaches, drawn by four
horses. Four horses were always used
upon state occasions, and what more
important event could there be than
this ball, the first after the Declare
ton of independence? There had been
much rain and the roads were deep,
and the maids in and about Maribor<
ough watched the clouds and prayed
for a south wind that would dry the
mud, while the young me of the coun-
ty made the assembly room brave with
flags and greenery. Y
Even with greatest interest Eleanor
Brooke watched the clouds, for she
lived a long way from Upper Marl- 4
borough and was to stay with her
grandmother at "Croome" over the
fourth, and for little visit thereafter.
There was the chance her father would
think the mud too deep to drive from
near Mattapony Landing, and when
ever that thought occurred there was a
sinking at her heart for fear she might
lose the long-looked-for pleasure.
But the day Of her expected visit
rose clear and bright, and with her
hOrse-hair trunk strapped tight on the
rumble and Uncle Glen and Jake in
front, she set out with her mother for
"Croome."
1t was weary way through the mud
and night had fallen before the car
rage encircled the drive at her grand