Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-17

time"
"But could not tell him that. returned Jen-
ME, ha-f Laughing, half crying. 1.-The usagss of
society won't allow girl. you know, to say, IF
you VIII come next week will wear tbs batter
In my hat, the tea in my gloves, the sugar
evening, as the rent Is due, and We have dis
posed Of those articles already"
cor, II we we're like those story heroines,'
WAYS have some wonderful old lace and piece
OF satin or velve. that can be covered over, and
made to look finer than anything from Worth's;
but one old gray dress, that has done duty for
two girls since spring-cOttOn goods at that.
Do you know. Jennie, among all the bits Of Ital-
ian-lace wisdom going the rounds, am not
sure that there is one more exasPerating to me
than that saying about a lady's character as re-
vealed In her dress? Does it ever occur to any
body, / wonder, that IL costs more TO dress
plainly and appropriately than out of what odds
al ends you have, or the cheap 90 IDS you can
afford 10 buy? And that there rs such a being
as lady in taste and feeling without money!
''But tonight to- niabt!' Insisted Jennie half
gle, fu haf ANXIOUS. what can do for to-
night? Our Old grav dress is tCo shabby: be-
front"
There is the old Victoria lawn. 1t is little
short
And my shoes" int srrupted Jennie. putting
out foot on which the stocking was plainly
visible. 60, SIS! why not give u up! Hire a
room at once in some tenement house aud At and
In the door with the Others-thOse wOmSn whom
you see arms akimbO aud hair twisted up in a
hard knot? Resign ourselves, and tell our
friends that concerts and cOurtships AMI other
decencies OF civilized life are not fOr-Our in-
c0me?'
"Fhsre is the oil blscS-silk basque" con-
tinued Harriet, a. il she had heard nothing
'The silk was never good, but it will not show
50 much in the evening. You can take out the
sleeves, and wear II as a sleeveless basque. Aud
that three dollars that we saved
"We!-you saved for your hOes."interpolated
Jennie.
Harriet put that aside with wave of the
hand.
al saw ladies' boots Eighth avenue-dont
scream, Jeune-veiveteen bOots-fOr two dol
lars. Dreadful, ] know, but rot 20 dreadful as
best foot foremost, or rather keep it out OF
sight, and pray that there be no wind. And Won
can get lavender gloves to match the ribbon on
your hat with the remaining dollar"
81 will keep that, ;" said Jennie, doggedly, "to
buy the ears and snout, and make IA yselfthe pig
complete, that should be if listened to you
you, who have had no shoes in six months and
who limp on all the down-hiIl sides OF the street
because OF those dreadful heels; YOU, who 90
nowhere; you, who stsid at home from the par
sonage- reception; you give me that three dollars
that you have piDched off from your bread-and-
butter! Never! III stay at home with you"-
throwing her arms about her sisters neck
"Cannot you understand retorted Harriet,
that this is a speculation, and the purest self
ishness", Then che pushed her away, not ungen-
tly though. "NOw, listen. Since must speak
out, that three dollars mean TO invest in Mes
sep's stock, with an eye to future profit. You
are not woman of business. i am. 1 see so
clearly that want words 70 cypress it, that the
luxury, when 1 am left alone"
Jennie grew scarlet.
''As for that, il is all nonsense. I wonder Won
talk so. But if-say any thing did bappen-O
would 20, tcO.'
"And there would be a clause in the marriage
ceremony" said Harriet, smiling slightly. II
take this woman and her sister 10 he nv wife
My poor little Jennie, my poor child, take your
money and buy your boots. Indeed you must
If you don't go, i will, and have them fitted on
my mornings sewing.'
So adjured, Jennie went. But Remorse kept
fast by her, and Disgust half caoked her.
andsxpence she 6 Han HsrrieI he ,ef 5WSs
Of such meanness fer velveteeu boots ana
dollar gloves Nothing pleased her. She
looked At her Victoria lawn and its scant plat
ines with sheer. 81 should wear pscard,
'S2J0-chesp,' on my back" she observed
"IhSt rs what such suits are selling for" The
old silk waist was intOlerable. She vowed she
would prefer shilling calico, could she afford
to buy one. The wind vas risiDg-indeed, il WAS
a sullen, cloudy afternoon.
- shall look ike a len on vet dav," she
Told her sister, drawing on her right hand glove.
Just then the bell rang, and at the same instant
The glove spit entirely across the back. She
glanced at herself in the glass (ber ewes were
red and the suns niDe Our of her facet and turned
TO her sister with an iDdescTlbable look.
"1 Gu have Invested your three dollars badly,
my dear"
Mr.. Messeps was wait.n for her in the little.
dark, bOrse-hair furnished parlor; gloves and
trousers cream color, coat ann necktfe % rfrct
collar and studs. II anything was wanted 10
complete the poor girls depressiou, it wa. the
air of fashion and prosperity that seemed actin
ally to radiste from his handsome and satisfied
self. All in q moment she relt herself half
starved, as she truly was, pincbed, woe worn
AWKWARD, inappropriate; and adv 4nced toward
him rather with the air OF a convicted felon,
than OF the high spirited and coquettish girl she
really was. Mr.. MesSeps glanced at her cl0uded
face, then az Der dress, and started-at least TO
the girls sensitive fancy-and a subtitle, chilling
reserve az once seemed to form itself between
them. he was daunted by her manner. She was
az happy ana comfortable a girl could feel in
high wind, with short skirts and dreadful
velveteen boots, and one bare hand, that will
get red and swollen, resting conspiculously on q
genueman's arm, and miserable consciousness
Ibat sne ne IN every way at her worst. As they
neafed the corner, they met Matilda Mason.
She smiled knowingly at Mr.. Messeps, took in
Jennie, IN ore long, woman's look, till her ewes
reached the ground, and started theatricaily
Mr.. Messeps instantly looked down. at that
moment the sullen wind, tearing up the avenue
IN cloud OF dust, caught them, seized on Jen-
mes light skirts, wrapped them tightly about
her ankles, and held them there.
Mr.. Messeps saw, the whole world, saw the
whole OF the velveteen boots.
Ii Is hardly reasonable to supDose that from
that moment, as Jennie told her sister, Mr.. Meg
seps turned the conversation to velveteen boots,
and declared that CuTtias jumped into the gulf
Tor no other reason than that he was caught in
pair OF them; or that Horstius refused to come
on the bridge, and preferred to fight the whole
OF Lors PorsenA's army, for the same reason
Nor is il credible that Thomas band PLAYED an
overture on the same subject, as she further
more inslstt ;but that the unlucky incident dis
turbed the whole evening, and altogether
startled Mr.. Messeps, out Of the declaration on
which Mr.. Messeps had determined, is only too
true. He certainly liked Miss Millfugus better
thsn any girl he knew. But then Mr. Messeps
had been used TO speak of her as a young lady
OF independent income. Now did young ladies
OF independent incomes wear yelyeteen boots?
AND, II there was no such income, on what did
she live? MIR. Messeps felt much like a man
suddenly arrested on the brink OF yawning
chasm.
And DOW one might have thought that fate
had accomplished her worst; but If that were So
rate had not consulted Matilda Mason. For il
now occurred to that young lady to propose
with much artlessness OF manner, a surprise
cal-surprisers, Mr.. Messeps, Miss Moblot MISS
Mason, and Miss Seliquips; surprises, the
Misses Millfugus. II you are an eyiI-minded
person, very possibly you divine her motive
Fer me, am Innocence itself, and can not see
why this most unfortunate idea should have led
them, not into the little hOrse-hair parlOr mt
straight up the stairs. Motionins for siIAnee AZ
a little back room door che knocked voice
cried, "Come in" Miss Mason at that funS
VIDE the door, pushing Mr.. Messeps ahead, who
made step forward and recoiled. The uncar-
peted HOOP, the Door little bed. the few chairs