The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-02-28
M i 8 g elIane Ou
From Smiths Dollar Magazine.
Story of n DlOOd.Red Dress.

FROM THE GERMAN OF HERBERT RAU.
the very house in which the great musical
composer Mozart was subsequently domes-
ticated, very graceful and very beauti
full woman. She was Juno in form, and
Venus in loveliness, but, at the same time,
vain and naughty beyond description.
Her luxury and extravaganza were incred-
ible; especially, respecting dress. All day
long she would sit before her mirror. utterly
disregarding all household duties, and
seemingly despising church going and the
holy mass. From sunrise to sunset, this
Juno nain-Venus had no thought save that
of exceeding all her rivals in the richness,
quality and glory of her habiliments; in
deed, to such an extreme did her vanity lead
her, that eventually not a penny was left
in her purse. Poverty never humbles pride,
and our lady was not one whit discounted
at her impecuniosity. One afternoon, chanc-
the Holy Virgin, she Knocked and sneered
at the Mother of God, because she was less
gaudily attired than herself This deed
called upon heaven for Vengeance; and it is
said that the Virgin Mary turned her face
from her hooking, fallen daughter and
wept.
Though heaven is tardy in its punish
ments, Justice will ever avenge q sneer; and
one midnight there came some one knock
ing ut the door of this vain woman's house
No doubt the vain woman thought it was a
friend, but on opening the door she found
abeggar. The lady was enraged, and cried
out against the old woman; but the old
crone raised her crutch, and swaying it as
a queen would WELD her sceptre, she said
Hush vain woman What are you in
comparison to me ? and Of what worth arc
the dresses you wear, in contrast with the
magnificent garments which l have for
mine own 2"
So saying, she took from the basket
hanging on her arm, gown, and held it up
before the vain woman's eyes. 1t was made
of the most gorgeous velvet, blood red, and
cleaning with golden embroidery. After
the gown, followed girdle, which was
clasped with jewel that glowed and
cleaned like lone night star, and, with
these, the old beggar displayed a veil, col
lar and slippers of even greater brilliancy
and loveliness.
The vain woman was dazzled-crazed
with the magnificent display.
"Let me have them Give them to me
Oh, give them, give them, please give them
to me !" she cried, land l will pay you
whatever you wish"
The old crone laughed and answered
jeeringly: "Pshaw You have nothing to
pay. Ha ha you are long ago at the bot
tom of your purse Eth ?"
,IT,,,o t,,,a or;ol fba yo;n ,,,op,o,
But all that possess which can be chang
cd for gold is yours-aU yours, if you will
give me those dazzling garments"
II will make bargain with you," said
the nag. "Gold is nothing to me; have
more of it than want already, but will
lend you these things, dress, girdle, slip
pers-all that you have seen-and will let
you have them for three days on one condi-
ton, namely: that you will let me have
achatecer this crimson dress co0ers at midnight
on the third evening""
The bargain to the vain lady seemed a
peculiar one but passion always gets the
better part ofreason.
Surely" says she, call that I'll have to
do will be to change my dress half hour
before the third midnight, and the loan will
be paid" GAIL right, crone, I'll do it ~
For three days and three nights the vain
lady, magnifcently arrayed in her blood
red dress, was the envy of the court. No
one could tell where such wonderful fabrics
were woven. They searched in vain for
such exquisite embroidery.
Soon passed the three days and three
nights, and the hour drew near when the
loan must be paid. AS midnight approach
ed, the vain lady thought of the strange
bargain she had made with the bag. She
became uneasy she was harrassed, perplex-
ed, troubled. She trembled, shivered-hei
teeth chartered, and her knees smote togeth.
err. Gloomier and gloomier were the fore
holdings that closed in upon her heart. She
gazcd upon the velvet dress that bound hei
dainty arms, and tenderly clasped her beau
tiful waist like 1.-the, glittering, crimson
serpent Earth could produce no such
wonderful workmanship could pro
duce no such magnificent material. The
aye, aye, it must have come from He'll
Horror seized her A horror such as fall:
upon wicked women at the hour of death
when every forgotten sin stands out to damn
them. She sought to loosen the devilisl
robes, but it was impossible She was
alone, and she tried in vain to tear off tho
garment, which chung to her flesh, as hel
flesh clung to its bone. Cold sweat rr
down from her torehead-she clutched al
il wildly, and fiercely strove to tear it
Already the hand upon the clock was point