Year: 1878

of Miss Elinor Mt eighteen-a slim young girl
in white muslin slip, her chestnut curls cus-
tering about her neck, and tied with simple
blue ribbon | well knew what she was
thinking Of, poor lady, and could scarce for
bear Il smile when she presently ordered her
woman to fetch her India muslin gown from
the press, where il had hung so long that it
was yellow as saffron.


Il have n mind to wear that" says she,
while the Fronchwoman clasped her hands in
amazement "'ts true It's year or two be-
hind the mode, and would be all the better
for week upon the grass but candle-light
whitcns every thing, and with clean lace
frillod about the sleeves and pocket holes, it
will look very we'll The evening is warm
and muslin is so much cooler than silk" Her
checks had grown red as roses while She talked,
and own l thought that her weakness be-
came her nightly.


Her woman whipped the lace ON TO the
gown, but when Miss Elinor had gotten it
over her plump shoulders, it could not be
coaxed to come together in the back by at
least an inch, and so she was forced to lay it
aside. with sigh of disappointment content
Ing herself with her lemon-colored brocade, in
whl,h she was a picture well worth second
look, her fair neck encircled by II black velvet
band clasped with pearls and yellow rose
in her hair. She seemed tolerably well satis-
fed with her looks, too, lingering long Mt the
mirror, adjusting now n curl then n knot. ep-
parently loath to leave the contemplation of
her charms. 1t was past six o'clock when the
expected guest arrived the sun was coming
through the windows in long dazzling beams,
and the poor confused gentleman might well
he excused the blunder he instantly made in
taking me for my mistress, standing nearest
the door. Saluting me profoundly, Your
most humble, obedient servant, madam said
he. Il can scarce credit the eyes that behold
you so unchanged and lovely after so many
years / protest I should have known you
any where :" He would have gone on flounc-
ing deeper into the mire at every word, sup
pose, only dear old Mr.. Willis broke into
great roar of laughter, that recalled the gen
tleman to himself in a trice. Twas too yexa-
tous Miss Eiinor stood like statue, white
and cold, and my heart ached in sympathy
with her pain.


But Major plumtree was u man of spirit
Although purple with shame, he went boldly
up to her, and taking her hand, kissed it gal
lantly, saying, in low voice, You will per-
ceive, madam, how cruelty the years that have
added so wondrously to your beauty and grace
have robbed me Of my cyesight, when could
be led into so silly mistake Silly. | felt
not little piqued on my own part as left
the room unnoticed, and / tW siy that
brighter, keener pair of eyes than the ma jor's
| never saw in mortal head. He must have
found means to Gppease the lady very COM
pletely, for when l came again into the draw
ing-room to make the tea (it was handed about
by negro lad in livery coat his wool
dressed up into II cone and neatly pOwdered),
they were seated at chess-a game that Miss
Elinor much affected, in order, as twas said
10y some to display her finely shaped hand
and arm old Mr.. Willis dozed at the fircsde
his handkerchief thrown over his wig There
was no going away for the major that night,
nor for many a night to come, and servant
was dispatched to fetch his baggage from the
house where he had already been assigned
quarters He soon became rs one of the fam
lily, and made himself, with his cheerful hu-
NOR and hearty politeness, an immense favor
ite with every body. As for the kitchen COM
pany, they could not do enough for the Col
onei," as they persisted in dubbing him his
open-handed liberality won them from the
first, and they flew to wait upon him, gig
Cling with admiration every time he opened
his mouth to speak. The whisper went round
among them that Missy was caught at last, -
and really il began to look very much that
way. when suddenly circumstance occurred
that brought about pronounced coolness be-
twixt the pair, and all growing out of the
breallage of a hdeous dragon in Chelsea chi
na-Aliss Ehnor's newest toy from abroad.
Like most unwedded women past their youth,
Miss Elinor must needs cherish some foolish
fancy she dotted upon curious china and had,
| dare TO say, as pretty collection in her cor
ner cupboard as any lady in Philadelphia at
that time. She was never tired or busting,
arranging and counting over her pieces, and
from her exceeding tender care of them,


Judge that they must have cost great outlay
in money When this awful business was
discovered, her wrath knew no bounds. She
had all the servants up in a body, and, cate
chising them separately, threatened to hand
them all over to he whipped, if the mischief
were not owned 60 on the spot She well
knew that not one of them would dare, foi
his or her life, to approach the corner closet
but she persisted that one of them must have
been meddling her displeasure rising higher
and higher with each denial In the.midst of
the clamor, Major Plumtree walked in, and
smilingly confessed himself the culprit to tn,
great relief of the blacks, who trooped down
stairs in great spirits again.


1t appeared that on the preceding evening
after Miss Elinor had retired to her chamber
the major wishing to refresh himself with
pinch of snuff, and finding his box empty
went to the china closet TO fetch a supply
from the iapanIed canister which he was al
| lowed to keep upon one of the shelves. II
raising his arm TO reach il. the lace rattle a
| his wrist caught upon the dragon and threw
it down. breaking it into several pieces
| Knowing the lady's humor to II Il (she neve
could find an excuse for the breakage of
| piece of china in any hands save her own, HI
cunningly set the thing up again, matching
| the parts, MS he thought, to a nicely, and hop
| ing that she would herself oyerset 1t on goinl
| to handle il. Unhappily he contrived to Sc
! the wings on wrong side foremost, and sh
discovered the trick at sight, going nigh t.
! tear the house down on the strength of il. A
another time she would. l am sure, hay


laughed the matter over ON the majors con


Tossing himself so humbly, but just now 'twa
too much. She had been wrought up to sucl
height by the denials of the servants tina
! she could not descend so suddenly from he


perch so, after a short inward struggle he


bosom heaving and her eyes hashing-sh


turned upon the gentleman, and said that tn
| dccideHt she could readily forgive, but tn


meanness of the attempt to deceive her sh


really thought she could never overlook. Di


any one ever hear the like! All this might


pother about a bit Of crockery of the value q


II guinea or two at most


Can you really be in earnest, madam -:


says the major his face as red as fire.


In dead earnest, Sir, she makes answer


and spreading him Il splendid courtesy, sh


hullttl on Oh Allt ihhil MliuOul ulOlntI NbiA


or so much as a look in his direction. Poe


old Mr. Willis, who up TO this moment la


been chuckling and stroking his legs befor


the fire, but never venturing to put in a wort


now few into rage.


The naughty jade" cries he; Il did nC


think twas in her to put such an affront upo


an old friend; but, Bob, Elinor never noul


ishes a spite the thing will be blown over


day or two, and well send over TO the LoI


don toy-shop for another monster"


Nay, Sir, says the major, taking his hi


from the table and speaking very gravel!


somewhat more than the toy hath broke b.


twixt Miss Elinor and me-something thu


will not be mended so easily. Sir, / hay


lived bachelor to forty years of age for


heartless jilt, who, when l was but twent!


two, egged me on to frenzy of love, an


then refused me point-blank. By dint, Si


of hard fighting, and q don't deny it, hai


living for a while, managed to cure myse


of my passion, and to what good2 l con
| back after eighteen years, am caught ag6il