The daily gazette., 1876-04-17
Leoline's Ball Dress.

iICoiiuC 1lh. pei WAS JuoJ Gig ulCfu-
a bright, ambitious, high spirited girl,
whs earned her livelihood by teaching
in one of the gigantic grammar schools
OF New York and spent good deal of
her leisure time in dreaming of the fu-
ture.
"For don't want to dredge all my
life So" said Lesline; II am pretty
enough" with a conscious, laughing
glance at the mirror, land clever
enough, l hope, to make nv own fu-
turew
"Yes, DEAR" said Aunt Josepha,
who admired her niece excessively,
"you are pretty enough. And l be-
lieve you're smart enough. But still
l don't understand how you're going
to do it,"
you'll see," said Leolinc, with a
smile and nod.
And when Kitty Topplefeld, who
taught in the primary department Of
the sane school, told Aunt Jssey
about Mr.. Maurice, the new trustee,
who was so handsome, and wore such
superb diamond studs, and admired
Leoline's method of imparting in
struction so enthusiastically, she be-
gan to comprehend what her niece
meant.
Leo" said she, when she had the
rare chance of being alone with her
niece, edo you like this Mr.. Maur-
ices"
The very blood flushed into Leo
lines face.
"Of course 1 like him, Aunt Josey,"
said she.
"Do you love hims"
II don't know whether might
or not" said Leo, coloring still deep
er; that ls, if / knew him better. He
is society man, and I-oh, Aunt Jo,
have so few opportunities! If / was
only in fashionable circle, like Geor.
gle Fitzalanl"
Now, Miss George Fitzalan was a
pretty, dashing young lady, the daugh
ter Of rich importing merchant, who
had been in the same class with Lee
line Harper at school, and Leoline had
always secretly envied her the luxuri
Gus, buttehy soft of life that seemed tc
have so few of the elements of shadow
about it.
| "And," added Leolinc, che is to be
at Georgie's birthday party and Geor
gle has asked me to come-and-and
can't because haven't anything fit to
wear. And l do believe, Aunt 10, il
could only go"
"Yes, yes, l understand, my dear, u
said Aunt Josey, regretfully. "But
do not see that you can gs."
Nor / either" said Leo, gulpiHg
down a little suffocating lump that
somehow would keep rising in heI
throat, $50 | must just be contented
to give it up"
But an half hour afterwards she
came to her aunt, with deepened color
and eager, shining eyes, the newspa-
per in her hand.
"Look, Aunt Josey," cried she.
"La, child" said the old lady, "you
know l can't see thing without my
spectacles."
"rhcn I'll read it to you
"Fsr sale, at q bargain, two silk
evening dresses, one II blue and the
other canary color; worn only once by
Il lady just returned from Europe.
Price twenty-five dollars each. Apply
to FL. c., No.-Rotherward street.
"What do you think of that, Aun.
lty? Blue is just my color. And silk,
! too! Why, l never had real silk in
my life"
81 don't like the idea of secondhand
finery," said Aunt JosepLa, shaking
her head.
"But when you can't afford any
thing else," pleaded Leoline.
"Then I'd stay at home"
ooh, Aunt Josey, do so want to
GO"
"And twenty five dollars is deal of
money!" added the old lady still shak-
ing her head.
"But l could borrow twenty dollars
of Kitty Topplefield until my salary
comes due. And I've got five dollars
of my own laid up towards new
water proof cloak"
My dear, remember the old fable Of
the daw with borrowed plumes,
warned Aunt Josepha. eff this man
is really man of sense, he will think
as much of you in your cashmere
school dress as if you wore the queens
diamonds!"
But Leo, in her heart believing
that Aunt Josey was hopelessly be-
hihN ehC dSC, PCioio-tb-
81 will go to the number and ad-
Dress" said she, 81 will look at the
silks. OF course, you know l needn't
buy unless | like them"
The house was magnificent brown
stone front establishment, whose
splendor rather abashed our little
school teacher. "H. c." proved to be
Mademoiselle Hortense Chenicr, the
lady's maid, who occupied an airy
fourth story apartment, to which the
visitor was conducted by grumbling
footman. Leoline felt altogether out
of her element, and almost sorry that
she had come. But when she saw the
superb silks, scarcely worn, her heart
leaped within her. The blue one was
trimmed with deep, pointed white
Spanish blonde, and proved to be the
exact color to match Leo's bright
hair.
"Madame bestows these upon us"
said Hortense, grimacing and twisting
herself about after the fashion of
French femme de chambres. madame
is all goodness, all bente."
30 Leo bought the dress, and it was