Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-06-20
THE BLUE POPLIN.

"There ! what lovely shade | This
is just the thing, Ida. You must have
it," and Miss Burlingame tossed the
folds of blue poplin, pure Irish, every
thread silk, up in better view as she
spoke.
81 can't afford it, Fanny. I have
only twenty-five dollars in the world,
and that must go home to mother, for
she needs it," was the quiet answer of
Ida Ross, while her eyes, blue as the
silk, rested admiringly on the piece,
which she longed to possess.
Nonsense - cried Fanny "go in
debt for it till some of your music
scholars send their money! in. 1t needn't
cost over fifty dollars"
Oh, Fanny I couldn't 90 in debt
for party Dress" said Ida.
Nonsense p' repeated Miss Fanny.
"Ladies do that every day; and you
know you'll have che money before
long. Come, Ida, you know it is my
farewell party, and particularly want
you to wear the same color I do. This
poplin is just the shade of my blue
satin. Do get it to please me !''
How much is it a yard ?" inquired
Ida of the shopman.
"You shall have it very cheap-only
two dollars yard-you don't often
have such a chance fo1 piece like that,
madam"
twenty-five yards-fifty dollars
say nothing of trimmings" was Ida's
hasty calculation, as she half glanced
up at young man who stood near, and
who suddenly turned his back upon
them. CT ought not, I know, but it is
SO pretty I" she went on. And aloud
she said:
"You ought not to tempt me so,
Fanny. [ want it bad enough, dear
knows. But I won't decide now. Keep
it till tomorrow, please, and l will call
again ia the morning" she said to the
clerk.
ooh, you'll take it, I know" said
Fanny, as the obliging clerk laid the
goods aside, and the two young girls
passed out.
AS they went, the young man who
had turned his back upon them
faced round, and looked after them
with an odd expression on his hand
some face. But Ida little guessed that
Maxwell Derwent was near, and had
heard every word of her conversation
with Fanny, or she would have fallen
to the floor with modification.
81 wonderi if she will buy the dress ?"
he said to himself, as he followed the
young ladies out. 81 hope not. I
could not respect girl in her circum-
stances who could incur debt like that
for party-dress. hope she will not.
Ii she does" Maxwell Derwent COM
pressed his fine lips firmly and did not
finish his sentence in words, but men
tally he added "then all is over with
us, for I will not seek a wife who can
be guilty of dishonorable action"
He sighed as he spoke, for he was
more than interested in the pretty little
music teacher. He had seen O good
deal of her lately, for, owing largely to
Fanny Burlingames influence, Ida was
received in the same society she had
moved in before her fathers death.
And, thoughtless as we'll as selfish
though Fanny was, she was sincere in
her friendship for Ida.
The evening for the farewell party
given to Fanny by her aunt, Mrs. Bur
CESS, arrived quickly. Andin thought
full mood, Maxwell Derwent arrayed
himself for his appearance.
cit will be deep disappointment to
me, if L see Miss Ross in the blue
Dress" he soliloquized, fitting on hia
gloves before he started. "For if ]
find she has nobleness and frmness
enough to resist this temptation, will
seek to win her. If she has not-well,
an extravagant, inconsiderate wife
would soon ruin man with more money
than [ have, and won't risk it. Bet
ter bear little pain now than great
deal hereafter. Prevention is better
than repentance. After all, though, il
doesn't matter much"
But it did matter much, for Maxwell
Derwent's heart had never beaten sc
anxiously as it beat when he stood in
Mrs. Burgess's elegant parlor, watching
the ladies arrive. And it sunk like lead
in his breast, with one heavy throb, Of
Ida and Fanny Barlingame came in to-
gether.
Yet Ida had never looked so lovely Of
she did tonight. Her fair cheek was
flushed the hue of pink sea-shell, hel
blue eyes lit with happy light, two Oh
three soft curls straying from the gold
en- crown ON her pretty head down ovel
her white shoulders, and nothing coult
have been more becoming to her blonde
beauty than the lustrous blue folds
which fell around her slender figure
and trailed upon the rich carpet be
meath her feet.
But nothing could make that blue
poplin beautiful in Maxwell Derwent'i
eyes.
=" Fifty dollars for the pattern,
thought he, "and o good round sun