Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-04-06
LOTTIEs BALL-DREs&

married scarcely more tahn sEA-aes
long enough for the first gloss TO bc worn
of her wedding ring not long enough 70
forget the enchanted guid-shinc OF the
HONEYMOON . and now, upon this clear de-
ccnsber morning. the young vile sal at The
hrrskf,.sf.t Table. in q most becoming
.s<of,oe Of rose-ribbons and dovc-covered
.rashncre. with an open note in her hand,
and her blue eyes sparkling with delight
ed animation. A pretty picture TO look
uron, for Mrs. Meiirn was very prcity--a
tall. veIycs-cheeked blonde. with her hair
shining like braided sunbeams, beneath
the eoqueiiish little breakfast-cap she
wore.
/" Best, Clarences Why. Of course II is
best, LEIm sparks would give her ears 10
GET cards 10 Mrs Bepcdici's ball"
81 dare saw said Mr.. Meilen, dryly.
But did YOU ever read La Fonfaines
Fables
. Wha, do YOU mean. Clarence ~
"OnIy thaiIi contains story concern
ing an iron pot and crockcry pot that
swam down stream together. OF course,
the china 10. got smashed =
But fashion alters so, Clarence, you
knog. Now, there's a lilac moire-an;ique
nt Grarf's---ilr ioyeliest shade you ever
saw. and a positive bargain. on account
Of their being only twenty-five yards in
the pattern. can ret IL for eigbty-fiye
dollars. and sister Helen will lend me her
point lace fiounces 10 trim II with, and
-W
Eighty. five dollars, Lottiey And for
a mo;fe.aniique dress Do you know, my
dear, that is almost onc.tenth Of my years
salary
One mus, look decent once In
while"
lie shook his head gravely.
No. Lottie, am sorry 10 seem hard
or cnkind, but this Is 50 wild an idea that
/ can only conclude that you have not
thought sufficiently about II yourself.
MR.. Benedict Is very kind 10 invite us To
this ball, but YOU must write declina-
ton"
Lottie burs, into tears for the first time
since their wedding day. Mr.. Mellen
walked ont Of the room without good.by
kiss.
Thai afternoon came up hurried note
from the office, as follows:
DArLixs LoTTIg Please send, by the bearer,
my yslise, wiih few ehsrgcs Of linen and other
r4sr1 -.aries for an absence OF egh; ten days
basine,, II the firm. Iueiosed you will ind
40 bill for the pauter--a debt which ought 20
Ee eAfe,ni ~ yonrseif while am gone. ! wish
could run ap TO say sdiru, bar time presses. 10
yd1 srs lonely. get one ~ your sisters TO come
aod stsy with yon. Afeciionately, CLARENCE.
Lotiie had been crying all the morning,
but now her eyes giiiiered. A new bright
ness came into her face as she hurried
hlther and thither, putting up her hus-
bands things. And after the messenger
had gone, size looked down at the $50 bill
In her hand.
Eight or ten days. she repeated to
herself I'll go 10 the ball after all,
with Heltp and her husband. Ill take
this money and buy the MORE antique
Grant will wait on me for the other
thirty.fve dollars, / am sure; and, az for
the painter, just as likely as not he's in
no hurry for his money, and II he IL, I'll
write To Uncle Jesse To lend me fifty dol.
lars. ] was always Uncle Jesse's favorite
niece"
And this eager young woman threw on
her bonnet and shawl, and hurried down
to Grants 10 buy the remnant of lilac
moire-anlique.
Mrs. Parkerson was at the dressmaker's
IA plump, rosy widow, with more money
than she knew how 10 spend. She had
always liked Dung Mrs. Mellen, and now
entered with alacrity into her plans.
"A nice place TO go, my dear, said she.
"Once let yourself be seen Mt one Of Mrs,
Benedici's parties, and your position in
society IL settled ut once / have cards
myself, but, Of course, 40 soon after my
poor brothers. death ] couldn't go out.
And you're 10 90 In lilac moirc.antique,
.eh, my dearg I'll tell you WHAT want
you To look nice, and I'll lend you my
diamonds
Lotiies checks flushed exultantly rs she
thought Of Mrs. Parkerson's diamond
necklace with It's glistcbing pendant, aud
the bracelets studded with gems, 10 say
nothing Of tie great soitaires, like drops
Of dew, TINT hung from her earrings.
30 Mrs. Parkcrson" she exclaimed,
breaihlessly show can ever thank
ycur'
Look "a pretty M you can, my dear"
said Mrs Patterson, good naturally;
that's the way 10 thank mel"
Begging your pardon, ma'am for inter.
rupting you" said MIR. Pepper, the next
morning, humbly dohlng his cap; but Mr..
Mellen told me you would let me have the
money on my liule account"
Lottie criinsoned.
- nm FtI1 DfTy, NIL IcpptI, hulu
she neryously, but you must call next
month";"
Mr.. Mellen said you'd pay me with
out delay, ma'am."
81 can't help what Mr.. Melen said -
exclaimed Lotiie. ! haven't the money.
That's cnough"
But, ma'am, l was assured | should
have II without any mistake. need it,
maam TO send my sick wife out to her
mothers, and"
. have no time 10 stand here talking
any longer" said Lottle, mortified,
ashamed, yet still trying to persuade her,
self thai the man had no business to be
persistent ~ will let you have the sum
as soon rs possible. In the meantime, you
must waltz
Pepper went away with sad face,
which haunted Mrs. Mellcn for many
day, and Lottie returned to the dress.
making operations.
Mr.. Bentley Benedict loyeled his eye.
glasses AT her as she passed on, after the
usual presentation 10 her host and hostess.
I" So that is the wife OF your conflden.
tial clerk, ch, Joey' said he 10 his brother
"a silk gown for Royal Princess, point
lace that couldn't have cost less than
hundred dollars yard, and diamonds
that blaze like comctsl / don't exactly |
q "A n n II.