mistress was indebted to him for the success of her ball, inasmuch
as he had solicited guests worthy of her favor. Nor was he sure that the
ball was not given by his mistress to show him off in his new clothes.
Bowles had a bow and a smile for each of the guests. "My missus is right
glad to sees you--she is. Be a heap o' dancin' did to-night," he would
say, as he bowed the guests into the hall.

At ten o'clock the brilliantly-lighted parlors were filled, and
presented the appearance of a garden of flowers variously colored. There
were merry, laughing voices, graceful forms, young and happy faces,
forming the light and shade of the picture presented to the eye. The
ponderous figure of Mrs. Chapman formed a sort of central object. The
lady was indeed got up in a gorgeous style of dress, for she wore all
the colors of the rainbow, without their blending, had flounces nearly
to her waist, giving her the appearance of an half-inflated balloon; and
she had made a very flower-basket of her head. In short, the lady had
made a bold attempt to improve on all known styles of dress, and at the
same time to show her contempt for what other people might call taste in
such matters. Thus elaborately arrayed she fancied herself as much a
lady of quality as any of your fine old West Bowling Green people.

A number of exquisitely dressed young men had gathered about the lady,
and although they paid her all manner of compliments, and said various
pretty things in admiration of her charming daughter, it was evident
that they regarded her as a rare curiosity, whose mental defects were
affording them a subject for amusement. There the lady stood, receiving
the congratulations of her friends and introducing her daughter Mattie,
who was dressed in a plain blue silk with white trimmings, a wreath of
orange blossoms on her head, and her golden hair hanging in simple curls
down her shoulders. Indeed, the lady suffered by comparison with her
daughter, whose charms were made more fascinating by the simplicity of
her dress and the quietness of her manners.

In truth, Mattie had no taste for the show and extravagance her mother
was so fond of indulging in. Nor could she see what object her mother
had, or what really was to be gained by giving this ball. She felt in
her heart that it was a piece of extravagance her father could not
afford as an honest man, and she saw prominent among the guests persons
she had long mistrusted of being his enemies. Gay