The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-10-26
THE OLD BALL-DRESS.
BY L. j. PRICE.

/ - A-' - + AAlNA-.
Mrs Langdon had sent out cards OF
| Invitation to her dear FIVE hundred
friends, for grand ball at her elegant
residence on Fifth avenue, in honor
| of the entrance of her twin daughters
/ into society.
They had just been graduated al
some fashionable " finishing off" es.
! tablishment, and their debut was in.
| tended to be very magnificent affair
Mrs. Gregory, husband, and daugh-
ters, were on the invited list. AS the
former and two latter sat in theiI
| parlor, looking, at the elegant cards
with the interesting subject under
deep discussion. they were broken in
upon by the entrance of Mr.. Gregory
who looked harrassed and weary.
"Papa!" cried Lena, the elder
daughter, I" see our invitations to Mrs
Langdon's great ball." showing him
the cards she held in her hand; "And
there is the loUeliest silk at Stewards S
| that want to wear Can l go and
order it tomorrow ?" she pleaded, lay.
ing her white hand, flashing with
jewels, on his arm, and looking up
into his face.
Haven't you any dresses to wear p
he asked, somewhat mOodily.
" A plenty of old ones, which have
already been worn, and will not ans
wer for this particular event." she re-
turned.
GLOW much will 1t cost? 2" Mr.. Gre
CORY asked.
"Oh, perhaps a hundred and fifty
cos1 1i+fl
idea of the value of money as an un-
fedged bird.
Her father groaned, and said some
thing about .tfoolish extravaganza, /"
then drawing out his pocket-book
slowly counting out the required sum,
and laid it on the table.
Chow much do you want, Bertha ?'
he asked, turning towards her.
81 don't think want any, papa. ]
have a pretty dress, which will answer
very nicely" she replied.
"You're sensible girl, and the man
that gets you for a wife, viii have
some one to help him keep his head
above water. If the pressure on the
money market lasts much longer, with
these demands to meet, shall soon be
a dead bankrupt" said Mr.. Gregory,
aS ne lett tu0 TOOlE.
"What is the trouble with papa ?
What does make him talk so dolefully
when he is asked for little money ?"
said Lena. "Any one would think
he was poor man."
"It is one of his homogeneous
spells he is always so afraid his bus
mess affairs won't come out just so
straight then it is economy, and re-
trenchment, or everything will DRIFT
to bankruptcy. That is the way busi-
ness men always talk, tillit has become
quite an old story with me-" said Mrs.
Gregory, drawing breath of relief.
al don't think papa is trying to
frighted us at all, " said Bertha. " l
think his business does really perplex
him. I've noticed for week, that he
looked pale and care-worn, and has
said but little. l asked him yesterday
if he was not well, and he said there
were anxieties preying upon his mind.
"Was that the reason you didn't
want a new ball-dress ?" asked Lena.
eyes. I'd rather wear an old one
than place papa at the expense of a
new one now, while money1s so hard
to raise" replied Bertha.
Greatly, Miss Bertha, you are be-
coming quite learned in financial af-
fairs. should think papa might give
you the position of private counsellor
in his counting room. With your
wise brain to aid him, he might sail
through seas of trouble, dry-shod,"
said Lena, with sarcasm.
ss Pray inform US how you came to
know so much about monetary affairs,
my daughter" said Mrs. Gregory.
"I heard papa and Mr.. Ainsley
talking about business when he was
here the other evening, and he said it
was almost an impossibility to get
any money at all now," said Bertha.
"Well, you, are little goOsey; if
you will go to the grandest ball of the
season in an old, made-over ball-dress
and be ridiculed by all the elite, you
can do so. A few hundred dollars
can't make much difference any way.
And when you see the victory, which
may, perhaps, be won over a certain
attractive gentleman of our mutual
acquaintance, by your elder sisters
more stylish toilette, you will regret
your decision in favor of Madame
Noah's antedeluvian costume" said
Lena, sneeringly.
"I'm perfectly Indifferent to the
praise or contempt of the fashionable
world, for there is neither heart nor
sincerity in it. And concerning the
gentleman of whom you so strangely
hint, if his heart is only susceptible to
the influence of costly apparel, he can
pay court to it as long as he wishes,
without once exciting my jealousy, as
1 want no dry goods worshipper for
my future liege lord. So, ma chere
sister, you have the field oren and
free to yourself"
+" March on, march on, We brave, to
victory or DEATH" sung Bertha, jubi-
lantly, waving her handkerchief at
Lena, who was picking up her money
from the table where her father had
laid it, and humming gay, opera air.
Bertha, what dress have you to
wear? You haven't any that you
haven't already worn two or three
times, at least; and desire my daugh-
ters to make as elegant an appearance
as any of their friends on that occa-
sion," said Mrs. Gregory.
AS Mrs. Gregory was particular
friend of Mrs. Langdon, she felt in
duty bound to honor, as much as pos
sible, the advent of her daughters to
the fashionable world, and the attire
of her own daughters, OH this occasion
was an all-important consideration.
Pm going to have Madame Leices-
ter make over my blue, gTos grain silk
ana you know she is noted genius
for renewing worn ball-dresses; but
if. after it is done, it looks antedeluvi-