The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-05-28
SELECT STORY:
A FASHIONABLE LADY.


It's a great deal more than she thinks"
The words came out in little, thin,
high pitched soprano, and were sung in
answer to an exclamation just made: 81
wonder how Mrs. Miles spends her
timel" The audience were three very
industrious ladies and one indolent gen.
tIeman, who pretended to be studying
Herbert Spencer, but who was really
studying BERTHE Brewster, the fair song
stress, and his uncle's niece. The ladies
were all busily engaged upon some hur-
ried church fair work, and had been Ia
menting the short time before them in
which to do the large amount of needle
work called for.
"Pray what reason have you for think
ing Mrs. Miles any less intelligent or in
dustrious than yourself, Bertie?" inquir-
ed Mrs. Brewster, her voice showing a
tone of slight indignation at this bold
sort of assertion against the mind and
manners of her dearest friend.
"Why, auntie, what else can she do?"
replied BERTHE, crotchetiug a little faster
as she spoke. ! never saw her with
needle or book in her hand. She talks
nothing but dress, although I will con-
fess she is the loveliest sort of a dummy
isn't that what they call the figures
that stand in Stewards and Arnold's
with clothes on? She certainly never
appears to do anything but wear pretty
clothes, and i wonder, with Miss Fen
ton, what Mrs. Miles does with her
time"
"Let me see" answered Mrs. Brewster,
pausing in her work; "you have seen
Mrs. Miles probably two dozen times
during your visits here; she has in those
few times had no especial call that l
know of to display any Of her handi-
work as needle-woman. She may have
probably thought you too fresh from
school to care to talk "books," and has
therefore chatted on fashions and dress,
after the manner of girls generally. She
has always been polite, nay, kind to you,
and yet, with no other reason than an abb
surd idea that because of her fashionable
dresses and dressing she must necessarily
be idle and foolish, you apply to her at
once the ridiculous words of that song,
"A Fashionable Lady, prejudicing Miss
Fenton and cousin Charles against her
at once. Is that fair, or womanly?"
"But as she anything else? Has she a
mind?" asked Miss Fenton, who, hailing
from Boston, was young lady SO affect
ed with mind that it was enough to put
one quite out of ones own 10 hear her
constantly harping on MIND" spelled
with large capitals, as topic of conver-
sation.
"You shall judge for yourself, Miss
Fenton, as there will be good opportuni-
ty at her reception next week, and we
all have cards of invitation"
"Really, my curiosity is reused now"
began Charles Bradford, Mrs. Brewster's
nephew, who was also making a visit at
his aunt's this winter. II really would
like to zee something of this mysterious
Mrs. Miles, who appears to hold quite a
ducal character. Which of the two is
she? Berthe appears to think she can do
naught but look pretty, and 'simper and
giggle and wink while | judge you,
auntie, think her superior sort of wo-
man. 1 cannot combine the two in my
mind; therefore I shall attend Mrs
Miles's reception from sense of curios-
ity and duty. We gentlemen must in
vcstigate these sort of things!"
az have given her no such name
Charles, as superior. will tell you this
much of her before you see her. She
boards at the Carleton, has long list OF
society calls to make during the season
attends weekly receptions among hel
friends, holds one herself fortnightly
she dresses superbly, has no call tc
'brewa and bake or mend or make;' she IL
worth half a million, and can afford tC
sit in fashionable parlor and rock in
an easy chair and she is good woman
-therep
"But even with all these demands up
on her time she certainly could read and
improve her mind" said Miss Fenton
quickly.
"Or do lots for the church and the
poor" continued BERTHE, who was rabiC
little church woman.
.tOr write poetry, read Greek, OF lee
ture on woman's rights, or some othe
disagreeable, strong minded thing
laughed out Cousin Charles. "Pshawl'
added he, "I think if woman know
how to dress like queen-nay, better
tastiIy, like beautiful American wo
man-as Mrs. Miles certainly does, anC
can afford to do so, she has done as mucl
for society and the world at large as an.
of your prim Miss Decreases or pros,
Mesdames Bas Bleui'
The two young ladies looked at on
another, shocked beyond expression a
Mr.. Bradford left the room with this re
mark. Was this their reward for all tn
efforts they were making to be noble
minded women, Christian helpers, an
good girls generally? To hear man 70
whom they long had felt profoudd re
spect uttering such heretical opinions
And BERTHE, who had begun to feel nc
only respect but a warmer feeling ye
creep in her heart, was panied as well a
shocked.
"Charles is like most men," explaine
Mrs. Brewster, as she saw the flushed ft
ces of her friends; "he cannot bear
hear one woman speak ungenerously {
another, and as he evidently from sam
cause thinks you, BERTHE, judge Mr.
Miles unfairly, he spoke strongly in Fl
vor of dress and against what know al
his true sentiments"
"Mr. Brewster is like most men, it al
pears" returned Miss Fenton, Sin thinl
ing pretty faces and pretty clothes
more importance than a good heart or
disciplined mindp' Berthe did n
say word, but she looked unutterab
things as her needle few in and out
the sofa-cushion she was making, ar
-