Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-12-23

himself on the speed with which he
had acted.
"a woman would have been a
week deciding what to wear and
shopping round for it," thought he,
complacently lighting his cigar for
an evening smoke.
"Why, Madame!" cried Elizabeth
Grey, about five minutes after Mr..
Byron had left the shop, "that is
calico!"
"Calico! shrieked Madame La
vigne, $50 it is! And for party
dress? Well, well, go on and make
it up-some eccentric freak suppose
none of our business, anyhow"
And Elizabeth obeyed, secretly
wondering who the gentleman could
be that had such singular taste. He
certainly had fine eyes and a pleasant
smile-it was SO rarely that poor
Lizzie met kind glance or word.
"Well, is the dress NADER" que
ried Charley, on Wednesday after
noon, as he once more entered Mad
anne Lavigne's establishment.
SO yes, sir. Lizzie! Lizzie! bring
in that calico.''
In about five minutes, which Char
ley employed in whirling listlessly
round on squeaking stool, setting
madame's nerves all on II culver,
Lizzie Grey came tripping in, ar-
rayed in the pink abomination, her
paariy shoulders and white arms
surrounded by endless rows Of little
puffs, and about a yard Of roseate cal.
leo trailing on the floor behind.
"IIow do you like it, sir?"
1t did look pretty on that sweet
looking dansel, and Charley eX-
pressed his satisfaction in terms which
made Lizzie laugh, blush and look
very charming generally.
"But don't think it's quite fine
enough" said he, obviously. IL
want some artificial flowers among
those little things that look like bis
ters."
"The bouillions, sir"
"Yes-can't you put lot there,
and on the sleeves?"
Lizzie went to the work room
marvelling much at the curious
taste Of the customer-and decorated
] the waist and sleeves with about
seventy-fve rose buds; and then
Charley was content.
He carried the dress home himself,
all neatly done up, lest by any means
it should not be sent in time; and
spread it ostentatiously on the bed,
hanked by tho head-dress, the fan
and the gloves.
"There, that will astonish Bertha,
| imagined" reflected he. How long
the afternoon seemed he wanted
the moment to arrive when his
Jealous efforts should be crowned by
Il fitting need Of praise!
"Come in and see your frock," was
the first greeting he bestowed on his
sister, when, at length, flushed and
smiling. she sprang from the carriage
steps to his arms. He could not wait
for her to remove her bonnet, but
hurried her ut once into the scene Of
Exhibition. "There! what do you
think of that for party rig"
Bertha first turned white, then
crimson; her lip quivered as though
she was going to cry, and then she
changed her mind and burst into the
merriest, most contagious little peal
of laughter that ever echoed through
those lonely bachelor rooms.
"What's the natter" said Char
ley, somewhat confused.
"Matter? / can never wear that
hileous thing in the world! Why
Charley! did you buy that for par
ty dress:"
"To be sure / did! Amt it pink"
"Pink? / should think it was!
It's enough to set the house on FIRE
and six-penny calico, too"
sit was eighteen pence" growled
the discounted Mr.. Byron.
"You, dear, stupid, good-for-noth-
ing darling, just go out and order my
trunks. What blessing that ! had
the presence Of mind 10 bring a
white mustn't"
And in Il simple white dress, orna-
mentless and plain as a water-lily,
Bertha attended Miss Ellis ball,
sorely disappointed ut Charley's lack
of taste, but consoling that despond-
ent cavalier by wearing his white
kid gloves as a compromise; yet it SO
happened that her costume was the
most effective in all the brilliant
room.
'.Who is that lovely little creature
in white:" asked Mr.. st. Aubyn, the
hero of the evening.
"Why, there are fifty ladies here
| in white," said Miss Ellis, laughing.
Eyes, but mean the one dressed
in such perfect simplicity and exqui-
site taste-without a solitary orna-
| .~.,4 h,,t bor oyu frash rOsn-htId