Middletown transcript., 1876-09-09
Select Storp.
LOTTIE'S BALL DRESS.

"Do you think it best for us to 60
Lottie p
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Mellen hat
been married scarcely more than a yea
, not long enough for the first gloss tt
, be worn off her wedding ring-not lonl
enough to forget the enchanted golt
shine of the honeymoon and now upor
this clear December morning, the young
wife sat at the breakfast table in mos
becoming neglige of rose-ribboDs ant
dove. colored cashmere, with an oper
note in her hand, and her blue eye.
sparkling with delighted animation. A
pretty picture to look upon. for Mrs
Mellen was very pretty-a tall, velvet
checked blonde, with her hair shining
} like braided sunbeams beneath the CO.
quettish little breakfast cap she wore.
"Best, Clarence !? Why, Of course
it is best. Lulu Sparks would give her
ears to get cards to Mrs. Benedicts
ball."
II dare say" said Mr.. Mellen. dry
ly. "Bus did you ever read La Fon-
taine's Fables ?"
"What do you mean, Clarence 2"
"Only that it contains story con-
cerning an iron pot and crockery pot,
that swan down stream together. Of
course the china pot got smashed"
II don't see what your ridiculous
old fables have to do with me-"
"a great deal, my love. Mr.. Bene-
dict is a rich banker. I am only con-
fdential clerk in his brothers employ.
Mr.. Benedict has thousand dollars.
probably, where I have one. Our
spheres lie apart. Is it best then for
us to compete with him in any one re-
spect p
because we attend ball at their
house, we needn't necessarily compete
with them," pouted the young wife,
beginning to pull at the fringe of her
breakfast napkin. "Of course, if they
invite us, it is only natural to suppose
that they want US to come"
II presume, my dear, we are invited
out of compliment to Mr.. Benedict's
brother, who is kind enough to think
favorably Of your humble servant"
"And it would be very rude not to
CO."
II don't think regrets would be taken
in bad part, Charlotte Besides, what
have you to wear that would compare
with the toilets of Mrs. Bently Bene-
diets fashionable friend's?''
"That's just what was going to
speak about" said Mrs. Mellen. II
really did need new silk dress. That
pea-green affair is autually beginning
to look shabby, and the black silk l
had when we were married is positively
old fashioned by this time. y
cit is only thirteen months, Lottie."
"But fashions altar SO. Clarence, you
know. Now there's lilac moire anti
que at Grant's-the loveliest shade you
ever saw, and positive bargain, on ac-
count Of their being only twenty-five
yards in the pattern. l can get it for
eighty-five dollars. and sister Helen
will lend me her point-lace founces to
trim it with and"
"Eighty-fve dollars, Lottie! And
for moire antique dress Do you
know, my dear, that is almost one
tenth of my years salary ?"
Zone must look decent once inca
while"
He shook his head gravely.
'sNo, Lottie, am sorry to seem hard
or unkind, but this is so wild an idea
that can only conclude that you have
not thought sufficiently about it your
self. Mrs. Benedict is very kind to
invite us to this ball, but you must
write declination."
Lottie burst into tears for the first
time since their wedding-day. Mr..
Melen stalked out of the room without
a good bye kiss.
That afternoon came up hurried
note from the Office, as follows:
"DARL1NG LorTIE PLEASE send by
the bearer my valise. with few changes
of linen and other necessaries, for an
absence of eight or ten days on bust
ness for the firm. Inclosed you will
find fifty dollar bill for the painter
debt which ought to have been at
tended to before. Take receipt Be
careful Of yourself while I am gone. |
wish l could have run up to say adieu,
but time presses If you are lonely,
get one Of your sisters to come and stay
with you. Affectionately.
.CLARENcE.
Lottie had been crying all the morn
ing. but now her eyes glittered. A
new brightness came into her face as
she hurried hither and thither, putting
up her husbands things And after
the messenger had gone, she looked
down at the fifty dollar bill in her
hand.
Eight or ten days." repeated to
herself. "I'll 60 to the ball, after all.
with Helen and her husband. I'll take
this money and buy the moire antique.
Grant will wait on me for the other
$35, I am sure and as for the painter,
just as likely as not he's in no hurry
for his money, and if be is. I'll write
to Uncle Jesse to lend me fifty dollars.
l was always Uncle Jesse's favorite
niece"
And this eager young woman threw
on her bonnet and shawl and hurried
down to Grants to buy the remnant Of
lilac moire antique.
''Ob, certainly. certainly Mr.. Grant
was in no hurry at all for the money.
He would wait Mrs Mellen's convent
ence any length Of time she chose to
mention.
And be unfolded the rich fabric,
skillfully holding it up so tnat the light
should strike its rosy sheen to the best
possible advantage