Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-12-26
LOTTIE'S BALL DRESS.


''Do You think it is lest for us to go,
Lottie?'
M and Mrs Clarence Mcllen had been
married scarcely more than year-not long
enough for the first g!,As to be Worn oil her
wedding ring no; long enough to forget the
enchanted gold shine Of the honeymoon; :;
and now upon shi, clear December morning,
the young wife sat at the breakfast table, in
a most becoming ncg2igc Of r"seribbon> and
dovc-colorci cashmere. with an open note in
her hand, and hey lluc ewes sparkling with ,le-
lightcl anination. y pretty picture to Iook
upon. for Mrs Ma!lcn WAS very pretty-a
tall. yclvet-chcekcd blonde. with her hair
shinin. like braided Sunb:anS, beneath the
coqucttiSh little break.aSt-cap She wore.
"BcM, Clarence? Way, Of course, it is
best Luiu Sparkc- would give her ears to
get cards t. Mrs. Benclict'> ball..
Il dare say said Mr. Mc,len. dryly,
'But did you ever read La Fontaine's
Fables p
Nv hat dn You mean, Clare?
''Only that it c ntain> Il story concerning
an iron pot and crockery pot, that swan
down stream together. Oi cou!Sc tie china
pot got >lnaShCd.'
81 don't see what your ridiculous old
fables have to do with me-
"A great deal. my love, NJ. Benedict is
a rich banker. | am only ,nIidtntial c,crk,
in his brothers employ NJ. Benedict La.
a thousand dollars. probably, where have
one. Oar spheres leapart Is it best then,
for us to compete with them in any one re-
pcct?'
'BccauSe we attend ball at their house,
we needn't necessarily compete with thcm,"
pouted the Young wife. beginning to pail ut
the fringe Of her brcakia-t-napkinS, COZ
course, if they invite us, it IS onIy natural to
suppose that they want US to come
81 presume, my dear, we are invited oat
of compliment to Mr.. Bcneuict', brother,
who is kind enough to think fayorabIy Of
your humble servant
''And it woull be very rude not to GO
Il lDl l.Iilh ltVitlN Nol'd JC tahtH III
bad part. Charlotte. Besides. what haze
You to wear that would compare with the
toilets of Mrs Bently Benedict fashionable
fricmds?'
That's just what was going to speak
about said Mrs. Mclen. 81 really did
need new silk dress. That pea green al fair
is actually beginning to look shabby, and
the black silk had when We were married
is positively od-tas rioned by this time"
sit i only thirteen months, Lotte.''
but fashions alter 50, Clarence, you
know. Now there's lilac moiIe antique
at Grant's-thc oyclicSt shade you ever saw,
and a positive bargain, on account Of there
being only twenty-five yards i'll the pattern.
| can get it for cishty-tivc dollars, and sister
Helen will lend me her pon,-lace hounces
to trim it with, and
'Eighty-fve dollars, Lottic. And for a
MORE antique dress Do you know, my
dear, that that j. almost 4 tenth Of my years
salary?'
Zone must look decent, once in Il way"
lie shook his head graveiy.
"No, Lottie. am sorry to seem hard or
unkind but this i So wild an idea that can
only conclude you have not thought suffi-
ciently about it yourself, Mrs. Benedict Is
very kind to invite us to this ball, but you
must write dccllnation.'
Charlotte burst into tears, and for the first
time since their wcdding-day, Mr.. Mellen
stalked out of the room without goodbye
kiss.
That afternoon came up a hurried note
from his Office, as follows:
"DARLING LoTrIE: Please send, by the
bearer. my vali>e, with few changes OF
linen and other neceSSarle5, for an absen~e
of eight or ten days on business for the firm
Inclosed yon will find titty-dolIar bill for
the paintel-a debt which onght to have been
attended to before. Take IL receipt Be
careful of yourself While am gone. wish
could have run up TO say adieu, but time
presses. If you are lo.ey. get one of your
sisters to come and stay With yo".
Ah.ctionately, CLARENCE
Lottie had been crying all the morning,
but now her eyes glittered. A new bright
ness came into her face, as she hurried
hither and thither, putting up her husbands
things, And after the messenger was gone,
she looked down at the fifty dollar bill in her
hand.
Eight or ten days she repeated to her
self "l'll go to tile ball, after all, Sita
Helen and her husband. III take thu