Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-11-17
miscellaneous.
THE DRESS. NOT THE LADY.
BY MARY A. DENNIsON.

THE DRESS, NOT THE LADY.
BY MARY A. DENNIsoN.
Nellie Blossom-a pretty name, is it not?
sat in ner dressing room laughing as
hard as she could laugh. What it could
be for ana sure nobody could TELL for she
was alone, neither reading, nor singing,
or talking to herself. She had been occu-
pied in combing her beautiful hair, and
this was the situation in which she sat.
brush in one hand great mass of silk
curls in the other her head thrown back,
her voice ringing out In a succession of
good hearty cha has"
stWhat is the matter, Nellie % asked her
mother, standing smiling at the door.
go, 7 was thinking of something so
funny 7 cried Nell, springing to her feet
and plying the brush; ..neYer mind, moth
er, I've got plan in my head, and if I
decide upon putting it into execution, iii
tell you what it is. :"
At breakfast pretty Nellie was all smiles
''Shall you go out shopping to-day ?"
asked her mother, glanclng casually to-
wards her daughter.
On this, Nelly began to laugh again; then
restraining herself on catching her fathers
eye, she answered, II haven't quite made
up my mind-perhaps I may"
''Ah eontriving already how to make
way with that fifty dollars Uncle Joe sent
you yesterday Well, Nell, make good use
of it; there's many poor man would feel
like a prince these hard times with fifty
dollars IN his hand" -
''I'll try to, sir, replied Nelly, her laugh
ing eyes growing more quiet in their ex-
preston.
Who did you see last night Nelly ?"
asked Mrs, Blossom, lounging over her tea
after the paterfamilias had gone out.
Henry Lloyd and Charles Sheldon, as
usual" replied Nelly archly.
Were they both attentive?"
'sAs two shadows, replied Amy. 'Henry
never looked more noble in his life"
Last time it was Charles" said Mrs
Blossom.
find It difficult to choose between them, /
confess.
"Henry is the handsomest and the rich
est of the firm," said her mother looking
out, as mothers will do, for the main
chance.
Il don't know about Henry's being the
handsomest, replied Nelly; there is
something very superior about Charles
SheIdon'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 a
more brilliant eye and color. Perhaps he
dresses in rather better taste; but although
he pleases nae more in company, there is
something IN Charles Sheldons quiet way
and deep eye that sometimes seems more
attractive.
'.Both appear to have sterling qualities,
said Mrs. Blossom.
Eyes, they appear to have; but I'm going
to test them to day"
''What do you mean, Nelly p
90! that's what [ was laughing at up
stairs, this morning." replied Nelly, in
merry way. ''You see, I've such a capital
plan and I'm the very one to carry it out,
I think. Ishal1 spend my fifty dollars on
poor Mills family"
ssWhat wild freak now?" asked the ma
turer Blossom of the two, looking wonder
ingly at her daughter. Dear easy little
woman, Nelly had not much to fear from
any interference on her part. It is well
that the young girl naturally possessed
much discretion, good sense and good Judg-
ment, for her mother had never imposed
any restraint upon her inclinations, way
ward or otherwise.
Don't you think Agnes rather a pretty
slooking girl, mother ?"
''What, little Agnes, my dressing maid 2
replied her mother
Not SO very little; about my size, [ be-
heve, said Nelly.
''Well what of her? I am all atten-
ton.
why you haven't answered my question
whether you thought she was pretty, said
Nelly.
20, yes pretty, rather, was the reply.
''Well, I'm going to dress her up splen-
didly?"
Nelly y
4 am, truly, in the new bonnet order
ed yesterday, and my best Aounced silk.
I'm just going to load her with CHAINS,
rings, bracelets, and everything handsome;
and then I'm going shopping with her
Nonsense p calculated the elder Bios
som; ''Nelly, you're crazy p
Nowhere near 1t, " said Nelly, laughing
again; I'm going to have real tun, you
may believe.
but what object have you in this quite
foolish scheIne?" asked Rer mother.
90 you'll see, replied Nelly. I'm go
inc now, and when Agnes is dressed, LII
come down and exhibit her.
Agnes was pretty and smart also. She
was very ignorant, but having been dress
ing maid in several good families, she had
picked up little snattering of useful IN
formation. 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.
sYou are not to buy anything, you
know, said Nelly, as she turned waiting
maid, clasped on the bracelets and aided in
dressing, "but ask for such and such silks,
speak IN an ordering, commanding way,
YOU know, and manage somehow to show
your money. 0! 1 have it, carry it in this
purse; the gold will shine through the
neshes beautifully"
ssAnd what shall you wear2' asked Agnes,
surveying herself in a long mirror, with q
pleasant face. =,
~? o. a plain drab merino, with closed
sleeves and linen cuffs; mammals every
day straw bonnet with the flowers taken
out. common Lisle gloves, and look just as
plain as pipe stem. -,
10 dear, dear?" cried the girl, laugh
ing; why, people v ont know you.
II don't mean they shall, said Nelly
demurely proceeding to dress her halr low
upon her forehead, and otherwise alter heF
appearance so that her mother would hard-
ly have recognized her. Throwing on at
she was ready. Agnes had received her
directions to keep near Nelly, both III tho
street and IN the store It was not long
walk to Lloyd, Sheldon & Co.'S. There
We're three young men; the firm was new,
and the partners took an active part in the
salesroom, thus overseeing their business
and econOmlzlng somewhat.
Agnes acted the great lady to perfection.