Dainty's Cruel Rivals; Or, The Fatal Birthday — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Dainty's Cruel Rivals; Or, The Fatal Birthday
John Stuart Mill · en
"I dare say it is, for it came off an old ball-gown of mamma's that I
found when I was rummaging her old boxes. She said I might have it; so I
tear off bunches of the tulle whenever I want a fresh setting for my
flowers. Of course, I know, Ela, that chiffon is more fashionable now,
but I can not afford it."
So, in her soft white muslin gown and garnitures of lilies, with the dew
still glistening on their green leaves and golden hearts, Dainty made a
picture of pure and lovely maidenhood that thrilled her lover's heart
with admiration, and every feminine heart with envy.
Arm in arm they wandered about the grove, absorbed in each other, until
suddenly they found themselves close to the gypsy tent, and saw a bevy
of fair maidens close by, laughing and exchanging confidences over the
queer things the fortune-teller had told them.
"She promised me a rich husband, with blue eyes and a perfect love of a
blonde mustache!" cried one, exultantly.
"And me a drunken one that would beat me every day, and break up all the
furniture in his tantrums. I told her I wouldn't accept such a fortune,
and wanted my dollar back, but she wouldn't give it," added another,
lugubriously.
"Well, mine was quite as bad. She said I would have a lazy husband and
nine children, and have to take in washing to support them," cried still
another, bringing the laugh on herself, until Love Ellsworth said,
gayly:
"Really, Dainty, we must go in and see what the seeress will grant to us
from the grim fates."
"But you can not go together--only one person is admitted at a time!"
cried the gay maidens.
"Ladies first!" cried Love, gallantly; and after leading Dainty to the
door of the tent, he returned to the bevy of fair ones, and stood
chatting merrily with them while he waited for his love's return.
She had gone from him gayly, happily, with laughter on her lips and
roses on her cheeks; but presently she staggered forth, pale and
changed, her face as white as her lilies, and the tears hanging on her
lashes like pearls in the moonlight.
"The old gypsy has frightened her with her promise of a drunken and lazy
husband!" cried the merry girls.
"Did she promise you a rich and loving husband?" cried Love, hanging
eagerly over the pale, trembling girl.
She faltered a despairing negative; and one of the girls exclaimed,
curiously:
"Do tell us what she said, Miss Chase! It can not possibly be worse than
what she promised us!"
"Yes, tell us all about it, so that we can laugh at it together!" added
Love solicitously, seeing how unnerved she was, anxious to turn it all
into a joke.
Dainty leaned heavily on her lover, as though scarcely able to stand,
and her eyes turned mournfully to his while she faltered, fearfully: