The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-23
Selected story.
THE DRESS NOT THE LADY.
BY MARY A. DENNIsoN.

of silky curls in the other, her head thrown
back, her voice ringing out in succession of
good, nearly "ha has.
"What is the matter, Nelly?0 asked her
mother, standing laughing at the door.
30, was thinking of something funnyw
cried Nell, springing to her feet, and plying
the brush; never mind, mother, Eve got
plan in my head, and if decide upon putting
it into execution, I'll tell you what it is"
At breakfast pretty Nell was all smiles.
"Shall you 60 out shopping to-day asked
her mother, glancing casually towards her
daughter.
On this, Nelly began to laugh again; then
restraining herself on catching her fathers
eye, she answered, 4" haven't quite made up
my mind-perhaps l may"
'Ah contrivng already how to make way
with that fifty dollars Uncle Joe sent Won
yesterday Well, Nell, make good use Of il
there's many poor man would feel like a
Prince these hard times, with fifty dollars in
his hand"
"Pll try! to, sir" replied Nelly, her laughing
eyes growing more quiet in their expression.
who did you see last night, Nelly?" ask
ed Mrs. Blossom, lCunging over her tea after
the paterfamllias had gone out.
Henry Lloyd and Charles Sheldon, as usu-
alp replied Nelly, archly.
"Were they both attentive?"
"As two shadows" replied Amy. "Henry
"Last time it was Charles" said Mrs. Bios
som.
Nelly blushed. /" 1 know" she said: I
find it difficult to choose between them. con-
fess."
Henry is the handsomest and the richest
of the firm" said her mother, looking out, as
mothers will do, for the main chance
Il don't know about Henrys being the hand
somest," replied Nelly; there is something
very superior about Charles Sheldon's face,
but he Is so very retiring! one has to give him
so much margin! To be sure, Henry is more
dashing, might be called more elegant, and has
certainly more bril- liant eye and color Per-
haps dresses in rather better taste; but al
though he pleases me more in company there
is something In Charles Sheldon's quiet way
and deep eye that sometimes seems more at
tractive."
Both appear to have sterling qualities"
said Mrs. Blossom.
Yes, they appear to have; but Pm going
to test them to-day"
what do you mean, Nelly?"
That's what l was laughing at upstairs.
this morning." replied Nelly, in a merry way'
p" You see I've such capital plan! and I'm
the very one to carry it out, think. | shall
spend my fifty dollars ON poor Mills family.0
what Wild freak nowp asked the matlr-
er Blossom OF the two, looking wonderingly at
her daughter. Dear, easy little woman, Nelly
Aoo NV ni3CH W rear from any interference
on her part. 1t is well that the Young girl
naturally possessed much discretion, GOOD
sense and good judgment, for her mother had
never imposed any restraint upon her incIi-
nations, Maynard or otherwise
Don't you think, Agnes rather pretty
looking girl, mother?"
What, little Agnes, my dressing-maid ?D
rejoined her mother.
"Not so very little; about nv size. believe,
said Nelly. $3.50 0'
well, what of her? l am all attention.
why, you haven't answered my question
whether you thought she was pretty" said
Nelly.
70, yes! pretty, rather" was the reply.
well, I'm going to dress her up Splendid
"Nellyl"
Il am, truly, in the new bonnet 1 ordered
yesterday, and my best founced silk Pm
just going to load her with chains ,lrngs brace
lets and everything handsome and then Pm
going shopping with her."
"Ncnsensep calculated the elder Blossom:
Nelly, you're crazyw
again; Pm going to have real fun, you may
believe"
But what object have you in this quite
foolish scheme?" asked her mother.
'O!youll see," replied Nelly. "Pm going
now, and when Agnes is dressed, I'll come
down ana exhibit her."
Agnes was pretty and smart also. She was
very ignorant, but having been DIRE ssing-maid
IN several good families she had picked I'D a
little SIN altering of useful information. As
for the rest, she was full as handsome and
nearly as graceful, when she chose to be. as
many lady of fashion.
She entered into the scheme with spirit.
"ioo are not to buy anything, you know"
SAD Neliy,as the turned waiting maid ,clasped
md or AI L.
but ask for such and such silks, speak in an
ordering, commanding way, you know. and
manage somehow to show your money 20! l
nave 1t, carr it in this purse; the gold will!
shine through the meshes beautifully"
And what shall you wear?" asked Agnes,
surveying herself in the long mirror, with a
pleasant face.
~ 0, "a, plain drab merno, with closed
sleeves and linen cuffs mammals everyday
straw bonnet with the flowers taken out. COM
pipe-stem." NO ."
:, 70, dear, dearw cried the girl, laughing:
why people won't know you.
dont mean they SHALL" said Nelly. de-
mureiy proceeding to dress her hair low upon
ner Iorenead, and otherwise alter her appear
ance SO tnat her mother would hardly have
recognized her. Throwing on at last deep
3roWn veil to shade her face, she was ready.
agnes had received her directions TO keen
near Nelly, both In the street and in the store.
II was not long walk to Lloyd, Sheldon &
COS. there were three young men the firm
was new, and the partners took an active
part IN the sales-room, thus overseeing their
business and economizing somewhat
Agnes acted the great lady to perfection.-
She shook out her silks, tossed her head Iit
te,as if with the feeling that everything about
her was entirely beneath her notice, vet she
could condescend perhaps TO buy something.
and sailing along the store, her humble. look.
ing companion behind her, she paused at a
place where four clerks stood with their eight
hands all ranged along together, ready to
Jump over the counter if need be, to execute
the ladys commands.
Nelly stood quietly back, her face shaded
by the brown veil. She saw Lloyd mmedi-
ately leave plain-looking customer to the
civilitles OF Sheldon, who was near him. and
making sign to the clerks, he was left alone
with the new customer.
i want to see some MORE antiouen said
agnes, with the air of one who has plentv of
money. vi
Certainly. madam" replied the polite
clerk Immediately taking an immense case
e,re her. p'e"o'nSS 'hen De-
NOW much do them come to a ward p
asked Agnes cunningly showing her gold.
The young man informed her with a great
deal OF difference, turning over and displaying
agreat number of goods.
Those don't exactly please me; they amt
costly enough" said Agnes, longing to LOOK
over towards Nelly and laugh.
I'VE have very splendid embroidered silks
at almost any price," said Lloyd, delighted
that he had fallen in with a customer who
seemed to have no care how much things
cost ; and with great trouble he took down
other cases, catching his coat-sleeve unfortu-
nately in nail, and tearing it nearly from
shoulder to elbow
Nelly was obliged to turn away then. to
conceal SMILE Meantime Sheldon had cot
through with his customer, and the vorSne
glrl heard Lloyd say, in a murmurinp voice.
Just look out for that woman tbere9ooods
are lying about loose" oN'
Inc indignant blood rushed to her face.
A., isn sne customer" asked Sheldon in
the same tone. ouoi Ill
s.;d 40, seIvant,I expect; carry home bundles y
Shaldon yu, sun IN that suppressed voice But
Sneluoa u,u not seem to be satisfied he came
forward saying in gentlemanlv tome. aS Sa
wait upon you madame" YAH
Instantly Nelly experienced ,,o .el
warmth about her Leart that had ta,ts ,4m VI
ings OF scorn before. She modest, rar,;nS
Some fannels, if you please" -'P"eu'
"Be kind enough to walk over to tho o,,,o |
site counter. As l see the clerk is enoaged
there, l Will serve yOu," he said. Nelly fol-
lowed with beating heart. How different
this treatment from the unkind suspicious of
the more elegant Lloyd. Very courteously he
waited upon her, forcing no goods on her aten-
1on merely bowling if she was not satisfied,
sa DOWN with alacrity whatever she asked
e, 80 mat every moment, as she looked at his
ano eouhtenance, her admiration grew strong |