The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-11-07
From Lie Illustrated
Sc Hard Times"
BIZ ELLA FARMASI
nGo thou and do likewise. -

how little meaning is in the word. You
are only bit stingy"
"No, Nellie, you know ! am not. These
certainly are the hardest times ever knew
for men who do business on credit You
know haven't great deal of capital, tho
my name is good. The banks are crashing
everywhere; it's hard to borrow money,
and it will be hard for unmoneyed young
merchants to get goods or even get exteu-
sion of credit fear for myself Am un-
reasonable in wishing you to think Of all this
before buy you an eighty dollar dress:"
No, George ge-yet-what will they say?
Mrs. De Jayne gives her Soiree next week,
and positively have nothing to wear : and
you know how much they have all made of
since came here, aud now i'se-gur TO
lose it all because I've nothing to wear"
80 Nothing 10 wear" quer ed George,
got pretty sprigged muslin, you've got
black silk-and there's that beautiful lace
dress you had when We were married"
Yes, yes, | know-but mean I've moth
ing ner to wear-everybody has seen them
all dozen times"
"Ah, Flora McFlimsy,'" said her hus-
band, laughing.
"Well. laugh" retorted Nellie rather pet
tishly, with desperate effort not to cry;
you may as well laugh as to have the whole
town laugh at me FOR wearing my old dress
es. They Will all make fnn of it"
. Then they are not worth ,nindng, Nel-
lie, am sure. I know you had rather
stand such idle laughs than to have me
break down and cheat my creditors; and,
Nellie, eighty dollars will make great diff
ference with me just now"
Well, I'm sure | wish they hsd never
taken any notice Of me here The rest of
the women will have new C lstumes wheth-
or it's hard times or aot'-and Nellie was
actually crying.
. Think about it till supper-tine, Nellie"
said George, hastily must down to the
store now"-snd lie stopped 10 kiss her, but
the flushed forehead did not lift from the
embroidered muslin n.oucboir. and with
nervous step the young husband left the
room.
Nellie had miserable. half hour cry, and
when she went into her bed room 10 smooth
her hair, she was startled TO see how swol-
len her eyes were, and how her che eks were
stained. She had not looked 50 home'y and
unhappy since She was married, and her
head achcd so too. and not n pleasant tho't
10 relieve her; every thing looked gloomy.
Finally, after much bathing, her face began
10 look natural. and she tied on the pretty
Neapolitan hat her husband had bought for
her in the city, and wrapped her dainty
white shoulders in her silk shawl, and went
ont calling" calling''-sn escape-valvc
for c1nvi, which men cannot appreciate.
"Oh, dcar Mrs. Hail." screamed one Of
her friends. A. Nellie crtcred the little bijov
par'or, "oh. Mrs.. Hall, m glad you're
come; ! want yeGr taste about my neg
dress for Mrs De Jaynes-see.' and she
held up a beautiful ruby velvet and then
the most delicate and fairy Honiton sleeves
aui collars. See isn't James real thought
fG' and tasty. lie brought this up from the
city last night. but what DO yor mean TO
wear? In dying 70 knyw. You HsUst tell
me; | won't breathe a word to any body"
Really, Nrs. WI Jams, | don't know,
poor Nellie answered; " haven't conclu-
dea. But yoGr velvet is superb
Yes, think so; and Maria has new
brocsd-. and Mr.. Henry Grey mas a sett of
real Na.encienues-but YOU mustn't breathe
a word OF your HE, for they told me in CON
tidcnce, ami don't mention my new velvet"
And this the manner of grJ eting 20
which Nellie was subjected in that round of
ca ls-how consoliug 1t was Finally she
came TO Mrs. De Jayne's. Now Mrs. De
Jayne was a lady whose dic,a was law, who
Of the town Of Lanesburg. She had veal
thy relatives in the near city. ami spent
part Of every wintor with them. She was
proui-looking woman, and had a natural
taste for beauty and luxury; and so she
dressed srlcndidiy, had paistial mansion,
and fashionable visitors and as she was
naturally social and loved TO be admired,
and as several of her nechbors were quite
wealthy, she made up sett TN her town IN
to which she had admitted the young mer-
chants wife, Mrs. iiali-for Nellie really
was sweet, raCefu little woman who
dressed becoming'y, and never made any
awkward movements i'll drawing rooms, and
was very much admir-, d, and receiy ed all
the attentions paid her with q charming
woli-bred air. so that the ariStocra,ic Mrs.
De Jayne felt herself safe in taking her as a
sort Of protege
Really Mrs. Hail. am glad to see you
TO dav," she said with genuine pleasure, As
she came forward TO meet her; come and
sit in my boudoir and let's have a little con-
fldcn,ial tete-d-tete. I've something espec
ial to say. Have you seen that case of vel
vets Clark brought in Yesterday? No, |
thought not. Well, they are splendid
There is an emerald one there--so superior
to Mrs. Williams, so much heavier, so much
more lustrous And told Clark to lay it
aside until l came again. Now selected 1t
for you. 1t twill just bring out that rose
leaf on your checks"
Thank you, dear madam" Nellie res
ponded in an enthusiastic tone, but with
sinking heart, 81 must call and see you to-
morrow, | think. You are very kind.
"Yes, do; and we will 60 down town
Oh, | must tell you, brother Clarence and
his wife and three or four families from the
city are coming up, and you know how anx-
iOus am for you to meet thsm'-so MIS-.
DE Jayne urged as Nellie stood at the door,
Again Nellie warmly thanked her, ana
then walked toward home feeling so misera-
ble-so wishing she had fashionable
friends, no position to keep-so devouty
wishing she and George could move into
little backwoOds nook in some remote cor
ner of the world where emerald velvets and
soirees could not intrude. With this weari'
ness came up the high impulses which are IN
every true woman's heart, and she resolved
that it was SO heartless to sacrifice her home
happiness for a triumrhal hour among the
butterflies of fashion, she would cheerfuily
give it up for her husbands advantage.
Thus she earnestly spoke to her husoahd
when he came in from the store at night
He glanced at her cheerful ia c, and ms re-
ply That's my ewn true, wise, little Mel
lie,' fully compensated for her discarded de-
sres.
The night of Mrs. De Jayne's scree was
warm October night-so calm and mellow
and golden with the hazy air and the moon
and stars-.iust the night for thin, graceful
costume-just the night for Nellie to- wear
her lace dress. though she had worn 1t iour
times before that season-yet she looked SO
sweetly with a chaplet of gorgeous WOOD
leaves over her brown braids-like syiph
among the stately ladies in velvets, silks,
and moire antiques-and three or 'our intel
lectual men from the city went oy them 10
talk with Mrs. Hall. Some OF her set eyed
her scornfu,ly. even her wel-bred hostess