Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-11-05
SELECTED STORY
THE DRESS--NOT THE LADY.
BY MARY A. DENNIsON

Nelly Blossom pretty name, is it not!
sat in her dressing room laughing as hard
as she could laugh. What could it be, for
l am sure nobody could tell, for she was a
lone, neither, reading, singing, or talking &c
herself. She had been occupied in combing
her beautiful hair, and this was the situation
in which she sat. A brush in one hand, a
great mass Of silky curls in the other, her
voice ringing out in succession Of good
hearty ''ha, has"
"What is the matter, Nelly ?" asked her
mother, standing smiling at the door,
s'Oh I was thinking Of something fun
ny p cried Nelly, springing to her feet, and
plying the brush: "never mind, mother.
I've got a plan in my head, and if decide
putting it into execution, III tell you what
it is"
At breakfast pretty Nelly was all smiles
"Shall you 60 out shopping to-day" asked
her mother, glancing cautiously towards, her
daughter
On this Nelly began to laugh again, then
restraining herself on catching her fathers
eve, she answered, Il haven't quite made
up my mind-psrhaps may"
"Ah contriving already how to make
way with that fifty dollars Uncle Joe sent
you yesterday! Well Nelly, make good use
of it; there's many poor man would feel
like prince these hard times, with hfty
dollars in his hand"
"Tn try to sir" replied Nelly, her laugh
ing eyes growing more quiet IN their expires
sion.
"Who did you see last night, Nelly 2!
asked Mrs. Blossom, loungng over her
tea after the paterfamilias had gone out.
"Henry Lloyd and Charles Sheldon, as
usual" replied Nelly, archly.
"Were they both attentive p
"As.two shadows" replied Nelly. "Heu
ny never looked more noble in his life
''Last time it was Charles" said Mrs
Blossom.
Nelly blushed. 81 know" she said ;
Il find it difficult to choose between them,
I confess"
"Henry is the handsomest and the richest
of the firm, y SAID the 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 some
thing very superior about Charles sheldon's
face, but he is very retiring ; one has to
give him SO much margin! To be sure, Hen
~ is more dashing, might be called more
elegant, and has certainly more brilliant
eye and color. Perhaps he dresses in rath-
er better taste; but although he pleases me
more in company, there is something IN
Charles Sheldon's quiet way and deep eye
that sometimes seems more attractive.
''Botb appear to have sterling qualities, .
said Mrs. Blossom.
eyes, they appear to have but I'm 60
ing to test them to-day"
"What do you mean, Nelly Z?
90! that's what was laughing at up
stairs this morning" replied Nelly, in mer.
ry way "You see, I've got such capital
plan and I'm the very one to carry it out
1 think. I shall spend my fifty dollars on
poor Mills family"
"What wild freak now p asked the ma
turer Blossom of the two, looking wonder
fully at her daughter Dear little woman,
Nelly had not much to fear from any inter-
ference on her part. Tt was well that the
young girl naturally possessed much discre-
ton, good sense and good judgment, for her
mother had never imposed any restraint up
on her inclinations, hayward or otherwise.
'"Don't you think Agnes rather pretty
looking girl mother?"
"What, little Agnes, my dressing maid?'
rejoined her mother,
''Not so very little; about my size, be-
lieve," said Nelly.
"Well, what of her? I am all attention. .
s'Why, you haven't answered my quess..
ton whether you thought she was pretty,
said Nelly.
80. yes! pretty, rather" was the reply
"Well, I'm going to dress her up splend-
idly p
Nelly"
II am, truly, in the new bonnet order
ed yesterday, and my best founced silk I'm
just going to load her with chains, rings
bracelets, and everything hadsome; and then
I'm going shopping with her"
"Nonsepse p calculated the elder Bios
som. ''Nelly, you're crazy"
"Nowhere near it, said Nelly, laughing
again Il am going to have real fun, you
may believe"
"But what object have you in this quite
foolish scheme2'' asked her mother.