The enquirer southerner., 1874-08-28
But nothing could make that
lue poplin beautiful in Maxwell's

Tor ali CnaL lace anu RIBBON Cflm~
ming, and another seventy~fve, I
suppose to the dressmaker. What
a load of debt for young girl to
carry. Poor, foolish little thing!
He added the last words half pity
ingly, half scornfully, as he went
up to address her, not caring to call
remark upon himself by seeming to
avoid her.
But he could not make his mans
ner seem otherwise than cold and
constrained, and Ida soon felt it.
She could not guess the cause, but
the light went out of her eyes, and
her smile was not so bright as when
the happy evening began.
She was glad when Tom Bur>
CESS came up and invited her to
dance, giving her a chance to get
away from Maxwell.
lie, poor fellow, had no heart for
dancing. Ho turned dway-per>
hap, fate led hirn-and sought the
shadow Of Il distant window curtain
from whence he might watch the
| dancers at his will.
lie stationed himself behind two
matronIy ladies, one of whom he
did not know, and the other knew
well, for it was his hostess and
Fanny's aunt, Mrs. Burgess.
lie did not pay attention to their
conversation, until the stranger
lady said, What pretty girl Miss
Ida Noss is :.
She is a noble girl a true wo~
man, replied Mrs. Burgess.
'Her dress is very becoming.
But one would hardly think she
could afford to dress so elegantly
observed the other lady.
THAT very dress is one thing
which shows her nobleness,' said
Mrs. Burgess.
How? You interest me, said the
lady.
Then l will tell you the story,
said Mrs. Burgess and all unawares
how interested was the listener who
stood behind her she went on: This
is Fanny's farewell party, before
she goes South, you know, and she
had set her heart on having her
friend Ida wear a dress the same
color as her own. She bought her
self Blue satin, and wished Ida to
purchase beautiful blue Irish pop
lin which they saw. Ida knew she
could not buy the dress without
going into debt for it but she was
so much tempted that she promised
to call the next day and decide.
She did 60, by herself, and told the
clerk she would not take the dress.
Then she came here and told FAM
ny. You know Fanny is a little
needless and little selfish, some>
times, and she was so disappointed
at not having Ida wear the blue
that she spoke very unkindly. Ida S
feelings, | saw, were deeply woun'
ded, but she only said, 4 will do
any thing l can to please you, Fan,
ny, but I cannot lose my self~re~
spect, and l should do so if | went
in debt for ball dress, which 1 do
not really need. [ will not do it.
So please let me be as happy as l
can in my old white dress / saw
the tears in her eyes as she spoke,
and Iquite appreciated the struggle
the young girl had been through.
| 1t happened that I had in my pos.
session a piece of handsome blue
silk which DR.. Burgess sent me
while he was in Washington, last
winter, not thinking that an elderly
lady like me would appear ridicu
lou5 in such a color. With a great
deal Of difficulty, 1persdaded Ida tt
accept it as gift from me-sht
made it entirely herself, and those
!, beautiful trimmings she took from
two other dresses of her own, t.
put on this one. And the result il
what YOU see.
began the lady who lis
tened; but Maxwell Derwent waited
f to hear no more. Quickly making
the way through the crowded room
to where Ida was just leaving tn
: group of dancers, he offered her hi
5 arm, saying:
Miss Ross, let me take you int
5 the garden, it is oppressivey y war;
in here His tone was so diferen
5 from the one he had used early i
) the evening that Ida looked up i
n momentary surprise, as she accep
d ed his offer.
e Pausing at the dressing>roor
: door to find her shawl and throw
n around her shoulders as protectio
it from the cool night, they steppe
out in the beautiful grounds, lighte
( only by the full summer moon.
II Maxwell led the way to q noe
n where they were shielded from ol
It servation. Then he stopped, al
e. said, gently:
t, Miss Ida, when | first met "
ID this evening, l treated you coldl
l. [ want to ask your pardon for
now
so 1t it is granted, said Ida, plea
er antly. May I know wherein | h
a offended
tn IF I may ask one question: r
ft turned Maxwell, smiling down in
IN bar rnturnad faca