The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-08-17
SHE UsRtBUNE.
Official City and County Paper
GETAWAYS WEDDING DRESS

furniture, COftItu Will CHCIiy odtlE q
profusion of useless little tables heaped
with still more useless eim-crackery; and
a tiny fire, which glowed in the marble
CRATE like magnificent ruby-this was
Mrs. Symington' morning room -
and Mrs. Symington herself sat in low
chair, in most becoming negtige, her
plump fingers all shining with rings. and
her rich brown tresses as yet unthread-
ed by a single line of silver. Close be-
side her stood her niece, Octavia Grey,
tall, brilliant burnette, with purplish
gloss cleaning through her hair, and
lips as ripe and red as a cleft pomegran-
ate.
Miss Grey had been the belle of the
season and now, at its close, she was to
marry Frank St. John, popularity reput-
ed to be the best match in town--a fair
faced, inefficient youth whose wealth
cast a sort Of Elusive glimmer about him,
and who seldom had much to say for
himself besides Yes, ''No," and You
don't say sol" But everybody said how
very lucky Octayia had been and how
skilltully Mrs, Symington had managed
matters for her niece and there had
been a great competition for the we'd
ding cards, and two tables full of bridal
presents; and now. the wedding dress
itself had come home, in huge paste
board box nearly as tall as the slight
young girl who carried it.
Il hope you won't be so silly as to get
your dress at any of those Broadway es-
adjustments, where they charge such
shocking prices" said Mrs Symington,
to her niece. 'With all your expenses,
my dear. it snecessary to economic where
eyer you can. l know very nice young
girl who works for Smig & Selliott;
she made Laura Stanton wedding dress,
white satin, all covered with little but
lions of tulie. Laura had her hoasseau
at Smig q Seliott's, you know. The
bill was three hundred and twenty-five
dollars, and I've Amy Johnson's own
word for it, that Smig paid her just
twenty-seyen dollars. How these men
can reconcile it to their consciences to
make such outrageous profits as that, |
don't know
Octavia's dusky eyes glistened she
had a pretty shrewd leaning toward fhe
main chance and the order for the gilt
teri2g white raiment was straightWay
given to Amy johnson.
1t had come home at last, and Mrs.
Symington and her niece were critically
surveying it, with the curtains all drawn
and the gass lighted, in the cherry silk
boudoir. Amy johnson stood opposite
a slight, dove eyed young girl, with
an unnatural redness ON her cheeks, and
brown curls knotted into one shining clus-
ter at the back of her head.
'lt's-ve-ry pretty said Octavia,
almost grudgingly for it really was
disappointment to her not to be able to
find some fault. care your sure you sew
ed on that point applique lace? 1t don't
seem as if there was twenty yards on the
skirt -
you may measure it" said Amy sui-
city.
And the dots of seed-pearl in every
scollop? they don't look heavy enough
resumed Octavia, knitting her handsome
brows critically
There are nine in each dot-the ex-
act number you wrote down" said Amy,
producing slip of paper from her peck
ct.
ibid you bring the bill?'' asked Mrs.
Symington, looking up from close sur
vey of the delicate work though Of
course you did. Poor people always ex-
pect to be paid the very instant job is
DONE"
"Yes, ma'am, brought the BILL" said
Amy, coloring little at the coarse
taunt.
''How much is it?''
''Thirty dollars and thirty-five cents"
'Oh, dear, dear p cried the thrifty
matron. That's great deal more than
it ought to be"
but | supplied the Innings and the
white sewing silk, aud the Marceline,
and"
Aunt, eagerly interrupted Octavia,
who had been turning the dress over and
over, see: here is Il spot on the skirt.
close by the blonde loopings-a speck of
blood II
Amy colored.
1T is only a tiny spot" she pleaded.
1.-The needle slipped, and l prickea my
fingers; but indeed the blonde complete
" couoeals It.
Amy was right. The speek was scarce
~ larger than pins head but Miss
Grey's great eyes dilated over it, as Lady
Macbeth's might have glared at her gore
ensanguined hands on the night of the
historic murder
great stain of blood" she cried
historically, ION my wedding dress
Oh. aunt Lydia, it's spoiled-eompletelv
spoiled Aud there's no time for anoth-
er. What shall do p
Mrs. Symington compressed her lips,
and shook her head mournfully. Amy
Johnston stood by, white and startled.
Indeed, Miss Grey.it does not show, I"
she pleaded
"Does not shoe, indeeds'' shrieked Miss
Grey, clasping her hands The idea of
blood on my bridal dress | tell you
Its ruined There take il back; you II
have to sellit, or dispose of it as best