The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-30
THE SECONDHAND DREsS
by shirley Brown.

"Stutf and nonsense said old MIR. Ros-
situr.
"But, papa" pleaded Louisa, 'you used
to 90 to parties when you were young
Mr.. Rossitur was fifty, bald.pated and
near sighted, with taste for political econ
omy, metaphysics, and the natural sciences.
Louisa was nineteen, blonde and buxom,
with bright hazel eyes, good complexion,
and teeth like pearls. They are not alike,
neither do they think alike.
Every possibly" said Mr.. Rosstur. 81
was fool in more respects than one when
l was young man"
'But, papa, you never seem to think
how stupid it is for me to be staying at
home forever, and taking care of the chill
dren."
cts womans proper place to stay at
home and take care of the children" said
Mr.. Rosstur, taking pinch of snuff.
Louisa poutei and tossed her head.
"Papa. do so want to accept Clara Bent
ley's invitation
"Accept it then, if you're so set upon
the matter" ungraciously assented her
father. "But l want it distinctly under
stood that I've no money to spend on lace,
founces, peacock's feathers, or any other
ball frippery.
81 have got twenty. i've dollars that Aunt
Myrtila sent me-
twenty-five dollars won't buy u party
dress" chuckled Mr.. ROssitur. EAT least
it wouldn't when l was a young man."
Louisa said nothing, but proceeded about
her daily duties, with a secret resolve ma
turing itself in her mind. And later in the
day, she told her cousin, Mrs. Staples, what
it was.
81 know of such a bargain" said she.
Secondhand, you know. Kate Marvin
told me of it. A pale blue silk, with pam
nier and train, and real Spanish blonde
trimmings. There's n little store down on
Maddox street where they deal altogether
in dresses once worn... They want forty
dollars for it, but l am almost certain l
can buy it for twenty-five, cash down. And
it is the sweetest thing"
Mrs. Staples shook her head
81 don't believe in secondhand cloilies,"
said she.
"But Kate Marvin says a great many
ladies buy all their ball dresses in that
way"
"Then they must belong to the second.
hand gentility," said Mrs. Staples, laugh
ing. "And if were you, Lou, I'd stay at
home, sooner than go in such toilette as
that!"
Nobody is to know but that it was made
up expressly for me |" argued Louisa.
You Will know 1t yourself"
"And Mrs. Hyde-Appleton is to be there,
and want to make good impression in
her eyes, SO as to get cards for Thursday
evening receptions"
"Well, of course, you will do as you
like" said Mrs. Staples. "But /, for my
part, would sooner go in calico, and have
it all my own, than satin and diamonds that
are secondhand"
But all her arguments were thrown away
on Louisa Rossitur, who proceeded directly
to the store in Maddox street. and bought
the blue silk dress for twenty five dollars.
cts altogether too cheap" said the
Jewess, back of the counter, "but have
stock on hand to dispose of, and l never
stand, with a real lady, about dollar or
two"
So Miss Rossitur went to the party in
pale, blue silk, with Spanish blonde trim.
mings, and train yard long. She ex-
pectsd to enjoy herself very much-but
our expectations are not always realized.
The train was torn down by some old gen.
,leman's ruthless boot; the blonde ripped
to tatters, and she had the satisfaction of
hearing Mrs. Hyde-Appleton remark soto
poee, to her companion, as she surveyed her
through a ponderous eye-glass:
"Why, that's Emily Lourles blue silk
dress! would krow the pattern of that
blonde anywhere. And how in the world
comes Miss Rossitur to be wearing it?"
Poor Louisa. She could have cried with
vexaton and disappointment, if tears would
have done any good. And Hubert Dalton,
to meet whom she had specially made the
effort, never looked her way all the eve-
ming, but flirted to his hearts content with
Mrs. Hyde-Appleton's pretty Cecilia Pyn-
sent.
"We.l," said Mr.. Rossitur, when his
daughter came home in hired hack al
two in the morning-he was smoking and
reading in the little room called his study
''have you had a pleasant time'"
''Not very" Louisa responded, spirit.
"Was it worth the twenty.fiv dollars
that would have bought a nice warm fuI
sacque for Leila, instead of the shabby thin
thing she will wear now, all winter?" ask ed
her father.
Louisa went into tears. 81 never want
TO go to another ball" said she "And I'll
cut this blue silk up into dresses for Leils
and Fan. There is spot on the side
breadth where that clumsy old Brewster
spilled a glass of wine, that ruins it fol
mev
Mr. Rossitur kindly patted her dropping
head. "My DEAR said he, "you though
INC oiu iutneT very cToss anu uhsyhpathct
ic the other day, but guess you'll come e
the conclusion that he knew best after all
Don't fret any more, but let this teach you
TO be wiser another time"
But alas this was not destined to be tn,
end of the chapter. Louisa went down t.
Maddox street the next day, to get a sasl
which had not been sent with the other be
longings of the blue silk dress, but to he
surprise TIE store was shut up.
"lIaven't you heard, mss?" said a Pc
liceman, strolling up and down the street
of whom, in her perplexi,y, Louisa mad,
inquiry. "They're all down with the small
pox Brought it in one of their second han,
packages from Philadelphia, and the stool
in trade was carried away this morning, il
one of the Board of Health's wagons, to b.
burned"
Louisa stood pale and petrifed, while he
thoughts travelled with lightning speed t
the blue silk dress at home. Oh, that sh
had been wise enough to follow Mrs. Sta
pies advice, and let the cheap second-han
store alone.
She went home, with heart as heavy a
itin her bosom.
1T is too late to confess my indiscretion,