GIRLS OF A FEATHER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 43, 19 February 1894, Page 3

GIRLS OF A FEATHER.

* A NEW YORK STORY.

BY AMELIA E. BABR.

Author of 'The Beads of Tasmer,' 'The Mate-of the Easter Bell,' 'Jan Vedder's Wife,' 'Friend Olivia, Etc., Etc.'

CHAPTER VII.-(Continued.)

Ambhosia had no longer any sympathy with Bessio'a prabtle about her dresses and her admirers, the novel Bhe was reading, her little squabbles with her visiting teacher 8 or her European experiences. She was sure she knew about everything Bessie had to say, and she rather expected to be reproached for wilfully missing Bessie's party three times while they were both in Europe. So she assumed a very busy air, and she asked no questions at all. She had lost also hor girlish appetite for creams and chocolates, so that Bessie could find nothing to tempt her with. She was altogether a different Ambrosia. The very trigness of ker dress was a tacit disapproval of Bessie's flowing, lacy, fringy, ribbony garment. And Ambrosia praised ib with such faint approval, that Bessie had no heart to exhibit her other changes of raiment. She had a sudden conviction that Mrs Carter's purchases were both richer and in better taste. There was an opera-cloak in her trunk, which she had bought especially for Ambrosia, and she did not even offer it to her. She was, indeed, quite abashed by her cousin's tone, and her assumption of being so overcrowded with social engagements.

4We intend to give six grand dinners this season, Bessie,' she said, ' and I shall have a ball, or perhaps two, for you specially. Ido wish Will Carter to know you so much. Will is lovely. lam sure 1 should be delighted if he fell in love with you.'

' Thanks !' answered Bessie with a laugh. 1 You said positively you would nob marry until I gob back from Europe. Who book my place as chief bridesmaid? I have heard nothing of the ceremony. Was it at St. AzariusV

* I wanted to wait for you, but Doctor Carter was neither to coax nor to reason with. He hardly gave me time to get a wedding-dross. As for bridesmaids, I really had none. It was a simple country wedding. After all, I think show weddings are intensely vulgar. The doctor pays they are. Nobody really cares about a wedding, thab is,- no one outside the bride's or bridegroom's family.'

'I thought you knew more than that, Amber. Why a porson's wedding is the only thing that is interesting about one. We may be born and christened and confirmed, and even die, and the world is not in tho least interested with our proceedings. Bub just ieb two persons conclude to get married, and immediately they become of importance. You know what kind ot a catechism begins between every one who has ever heard their names. Is the bride pretty ? How does she do hor hair? Who are his people ? Is he very fond of her ? What in the world can she see in him? What in the world can he see in ber?" I think every marriage is a kin(| of fresh joy and wonder. Did youhave fi great mauy wedding presents?1

'We were married in such a hurry, Bessie, no one bad time to think of presents. Will Carter gave me a aeb of Worcester china aud Doctor Garter some auperb diamonds; but, after all, I think weddingpresents are dreadfully out of taste. They remind you of a Scotch penny wedding I think people ought to be allowed to marry in peace' 11 want everybody in the block to know when lam going to be married. I shall enjoy watching the nursemaids and the grocer's and butcher's boys staring at the house. I want all -the neighbourhood to be waiting and gazing as I leave the bouse. I hope there will be a great crowd round the gates of Grace Church. And I [intend to have the largest number allowable of bridesmaids. They get so much delight out of a wedding. Even after it is over they like to talk about the affair and tell each other how the bride looked, and how her husband adored her, and how her travellingdress fitted. Indeed lam in favour of show weddings, Amber.' ' Well, if you like to be stared at—all right.' • Yes, I like to be stared at; and even read about. X think every real woman likes to read aboub a wedding v We all feel a certain joy in a man—even if we do not know him—who repents and gets married. So you see, Ido not approve of your quiet country marriage at all. And you are so good-natured, I must believe that it was tho doctor's wish and nob yours.' • It is no use discussing what is past and over. But I must say after I had seen the presents at a Scotch pqnny wedding I was comforted. The number of tin candlesticks made me think of Lizzie Ward's fifteen silver candelbra; and the lots of pewter and wooden spoons, of Elsie Long's sixteen dozen silver ones. It was the same principle, carried out in different materials. Did it rain all tho tittio you were in Scotland?' 1 No. It was beautiful weather —changeable, rather.' ' Changeable, yes ; it changes from one unpleasant variety to another,-continually. In England, now, the weather is lovely.' ;..„..' We were there in July. They raise an English summer in hot-houses—like grapes. It is a fact.' • Bessie, I would neb say such disagreeable things ; for, after all, England is a kind of relation to our native land.' • One cannot help grumbling a little about English weather. Climate in [New York is arranged in such a satisfactory manner. I declare, all seasons are comfortable here. You can get roses any day in the year. It is only florists and a lew market-gardeners who have to straggle against tho course of nature. Society is all right.' ' The first ball I give will be for you, Bessie, dear. What kind of lioral decorations would you prefer ?' • Thanks, Amber, dear. You are tremendously kind ; but I am going to Texas to epend,bhe winter. 4 To Texas ! Why not go to the equator?' 'Ib is too far south.1 . ' You are joking !' ' Bub why ?' 'Bub why Texas?' • My uncle, Colonel Sam Madison, wishes me to visit him. And father thinks ib will be real good for me. I have a slight cougb, and,father worries himself aboub ib.' •I never heard you had an uncle in Texas. You never said a word aboub him before.' 'Nor aboub my cousins, Louisa, James, and Alphonse ?' ♦Never one word.' ' Still lam going to visit them. Father was born in Texas.' 1 You amaze me. But, then, life is only a series of surprises.' ' And that is just what makes ib worbh the living.' "1 am go sorry to iiave fco miss you this winber, Bessie. I have thoughb of you so often as the very sweeteeb flower in my drawing-rooms.'

• Dear Amber, you are very kind. But, j honestly, I am going to Texas.' ' Well, Beesie, we musb have a good oldtime talk before you leave. Let me know when you are ab liberty. I must to now. I have barely time to keep an engagement at one. It is with Brother Tom. I think, Bessie, you could havo made a rear good man of poor Tom; bub you never would give him the least encouragement. Pom Tom!' 'Is he bad now? I mean, is he not aw good as he is boimie, to ask a question Scotch fashion ?' 'I am afraid nob, Bessie. If you only would havo been a guide—a hope—a—' • I could not, Amber. I really could not. Where you fail, with all your tact and iniluence, I should be sure to blunder. You ought to try with Tom Mrs Oliphant's plan with her bad heroes.' fiWhabisthab?1 'She just takes them to Scotland, and makes them, by the merest accident1, drop into a Free Kirk. They go home, I assure you, all of them, clothed and in their righb mind.' ' Are you in earnest about anything this morning, Bessie ? I really do not credit a word of this Texas scheme.' ' " Scheme!" Oh, well, you will see.' ' Good-bye. Come and see me Boon.' • Good • bye. lam going to Texas.' They parted with a laugh, but both girls were at high tension, and they hardly knew why or wherefore. The fact was, Ambrosia had called upon her cousin brimful of the intention to make Bessie understand that relationships between them had undergonel some changes. She had gone, intending to be the married dame, the idolised wife, the leader of her social net. And Bessie, anticipating this intention, was On the defensive during the visit, from first to last. So that the very atmosphere between them had been fully charged with polite antagonism: so much so that Bessie gave way to her anger as soon as Ambrosia's carriage was out of sight. • Whether Amber knew ib or not, she was impertinent,' she reflected. 'I felt it. And to spite her, I eaid I was going to Texas. I shall have to keep my word now; For Amber will go about to tell it, here, there and everywhere. Ido not care much, It will please father ; and I think it Will be nicer to please him than to be "the sweetest flower in Mrs Dr. Carter's drawing-rooms." Whnt insufferable airs and graces she did put on! Ido hope when I get married, I may have sense enough to behave decently. Well, I am going to Texas. That is settled. When?l come back, we shall see what we shall see.' , , «

Ambrosia's reflections wore in no pleasanter strain.

• Bessie is quite changed,' she though b. 'If Bessie cannob patronise, she is simply hateful. Thank goodness, lam now out of the horizon of her condescensions ! I thimk she felti it. I think £ made her realise that) Mrs Dr. Carter was not a person—' Then the carriage stopped. She was ab Maillard's, and Tom was loitering aboub the door, waiting for her. It had the air of an assignation, and ib annoyed her. She did not speak until they had seabed themselves and Tom had given the order for their lunch.

(lo be Continued.)