The Van Buren press., 1874-04-07
MISCELLANY.
Winning a New Dress.
BY EBEN 4. REXFoRD.

"Sueh a beautiful new silk as Mrs.
Leith has got, exclaimed Tom Vernon's $
wife. as they were eating breakfast.
"The loveliest shade Of a lavender, and
trimmed with lace that must have cost at
least three dollars yard. It's just ex'
quisite !"
"Of course" laughed Tom; i can
foresee what all this enthusiasm is lead
ing to. My little household divinity has
an idea in her head that she would look
well in lavender silk "
81 did not sag anything of the kind, F"
said Mrs. Vernon, but Tom knew by the
way she said it that he s'ad guessed pret-
ty near the truth.
"And the way in which she got it
makes it all the mere enjoyable, she
says" went on Mrs. Vernon. You
know Leith's always telling how easy il
is to oct the start Of woman in a joke
or anything Of that kind. 1t seems Mrs
Leith got the start Of him in some way
and he felt so cheap about it that he
promised to get her'the prettiest dress
in town if she'd keep still aboutit That's
the way she earned her lavender silk. "
Poor Leith ~ laughed Tom. 81 dom
pity him, though. He'd ought to be able
to hold his own with woman. I'd like
to see a woman get the start of me'
on tell you what II do, " said Mrs
Tom. with merry twinkle in her eye,
and view to business. "Ill agree to
get the start of you in some way if you'll
get me lavender silk.
agreed % responded Tom. Blu,
I'm afraid you won't have your new dress
very soon, my dear"
"See if | don't, said Mrs. Vernon,
wisely lit isn't such a hard thing to
get the start of you men as you think ii
is We could do it any day if We cared
to try.
"Oh!" laughed Tom. giving her kiss
as lie spoke, " we aren't corcelted at all,
are wel'
"Not the least" answered his pretty
wife; you wait aad see how the case
stands by and BY"
"Well, Ill Wait," answered Tom,
rushing round dstractedly in search Of
his hat. "Where the dickens ?-l hear
the train coming, and I've only three
minutes to get to the depot in. Oh, here
it is; good bye, Kitty, and remember, l
predict that you will lose your new silk
dress" and with another kiss he was off.
Rather poor show for comfort, "
thought Tom Vernon, two or three days
after that, as he entered the crowded car,
and looked about him for vacant seat.
Every seat was occupied The poor
fellow thought he W. got to make the
best of it, and take a standing ride home
ward, when young lady, at least he con
sidered she was young lady from her
style Of dress, but couldn't be certain of
anything. because her face was hidden
under II brown veil. beckoned him to
ward her, and offered him half Of her
seat.
Tom was always very susceptible. The
fair sex had kept his heart in continual
nuttcr before he married Now, he felt
sure that there wasn't a woman like Kitty
in the world, and yet he couldn't over
come his susceptibility. A pair of bright
eyes bewitched him for the time being.
A smile from pretty face was too much
for him TO resist
Therefore, when this yelled lady offer
ed him seat beside her, Tom, with a
face that was very expressive Of the
pleasure with which he accepted the offer,
came forward, and sat down, wondering
who it could be behind the brown veil
Some young lady that knew him by sight,
he was pretty sure, because there was
something in the trim little figure that
seemed rather familiar to him.
The train started with jump, and the
young lady was nearly twtched off the
seat Tom helped her to become settled,
and in some way his hand got entangled
with hers, and ne didn't try to disentan
gle it. The young lady didn't seem to
have any very serious objections to the
situation, for she permitted Toms fingers
to cling to her own dainty gloved ones
uuder cover Of her shawl
Tom said something once or twice, but
the lady didn't seem inclined to talk much.
1t was perhaps half hours rioe from
the city to the place where Tom got off.
A half hour doesn't seem very long, but
it was quite long enough for Tom to get
up a silent Irritation with his young lady
companion. Once or twice he wondered
what his wife would say il she knew all
about it. But then it was just to pass
away the time. and there wasn't any harm
in it. Merely an innocent amusement
just before reaching the station where
Tom lives, the train passed through a
tunnel.
Into this tunnel plunged the train on
this memorable evening. The lamps had
not been lighted in the car, and of course
everything was wrapped in midnight
darkness.
"Mayn't / have kiss ?" whispered
Tom, leaning toward the brown veil.
"Just one" he pleaded.
There wasn't any reply in words. but
Tom, whose arm had stolen about the
silent young lady's waist, felt a curious
tremble shake her. lie didn't know bu,
she was laughing at him.
"Silence gives consent" said Tom,
and pulled away the brown veil, and
pumped kiss somewhere in the vicinity
Of her ear,
Just then the train dashed out OF the
tunnel, and Tom hoped to see the face OF
his queer companion. But the brown
veil was down
The train stopped and Tom got up to
get Off
So did his companion.