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

eyes, let me see some," said Char
Fley, clutching ut the forlorn hope.
The clerk brought a pile of silks.
"No-it isn't as thick as that"
said he, desponding'y. Like this"
he exclaimed an instant afterward,
as his eye caught huge piece of
muslin for curtains swaying from
the ceiling.
Impossible, sir" said the scan
dalized clerk. "Ladies don't wear
that-why it's for window curtains"
Charley'scountenance fell. swell,
tell Us what they do wear?'
"Perhaps you mean calico, sir!"
"Calico-may be do. Let's look
at it,"
"What color, sir?"'
"Red, or pink, I suppose" Char.
ley's taste in colors was for the bright.
The calico came-a bright pink.
Charley pondered over it with cor
rugated brows. Somehow it didn't
seem quite the fabric; but then the
color was exquisite, and it occurred
to him just then that it was the
"fussing and fixings'' that gave
dresses such a light, floating look,
not the material. And besides. he
was getting bewildered, and had Il
vexatious impression that those pup
pies behind the counter were laugh
ing at him.
SHOW much is it?" he demanded,
tartiy.
eighteen cents yard, SIR"
"Give me a frock off it" said Char
ley, secretly thinking that dress was
not so expensive after all.
elbow many yards did you say,
sir!"
"Twenty," quote our hero at
venture and left the store with his
ponderous bundle, wondering what
the duce those fellows were grinning
at.
The next thing, he supposed, was
to have it made; and he paused be-
fore an establishment where EMIL
linery and Dressmaking" was en-
blazoned in letters Of gold on plate
glass. They were all women within
Charley ascertained this bya series
OF sly peeps through the window
and he stood in mortal fear and hor-
ror of everything that wore petit,
coat, little Bertha excepted! But
there was not any help for hinge
in he must; and at length after Il full
half hours hesitation, he screwed up
his courage and dived braveIy into
the recesses of Madame Lavigne's
aris.oc.atic sanctum.
"How can serve you:" lisped the
lady herself, a high-shouldered dame,
all flowers and ribons and rouge.
~ want a party dress made for a
lady," said Charley, producing his
brown paper parcel.
"Ah, indeed! What is the material
-grenadine, tafieta, tulle or organ
die? What style would you prefer,
a rEugenie, Pompadour, or surplice?
Trimmings en- bouillion, suppose
"Just what you please, ma'am,"
said Mr.. Byron, literally over
whelmed. by the glib tongue Of his
interlocutor. At this instant the
carriage Of a well known million
aires lady paused at the door, and
madame rushed to the inner room to
summon the auxiliaries.
"Eiizabeth! Lizzie! child, comeand
take the gentleman's orders, quick,
while I wait on Mrs. HarteIl! Hurry
now, you're always SO slow"
A slender little thing Of about
seventeen glided from the close, fur
nace-like work-roonl, with howncast
eyelids, and timidIy awaited Mr..
ByrOn's orders.
She was very pale and pretty, and
Charley actually didn't know what
to say; SO they both stood silently re-
garding one anothey until little
scarlet shadow fitted into her cheek,
and she inquired:
"DO you wish a dress made up,
siro"
Charley deposited his bundle on
the counter.
l want it done by Wednesday
nightmare it very fine if you
pIease-lots of ribbons and fixings,
and all the fashionable trimmings
burnions, the lady said, didn't she?"
"Bouillions, sir" said the girl,
trying hard not to smile.
"Oh," said Charley, somewhat
confused, "yes, that's it; how much
will it be?"
sour price for composing a dress,
sir, is seven dollars"
"Very well!"
"Sir," said the girl, arresting him
as he was selling his hat, show can
we tell what size to make it?''
"Gracious Jupiter!" quoth Charley,
using in his trepidation an interec-
ton less elegant than classic. II
never thought Of that"
1t did seem as il the important