The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-11
THE WARDROBE WOMAN,

THE WARDROBE WOMAN.
There was nothing unusual in her ap-
pearance except wide crimson ridge
on her right brow, running down and
dividing the hairline.
The profile OF the other side of the face
was very pretty, and her form was still
light and supple, although she must
have been forty years Of age. Her man
ner was quiet and dignited, conveying
the impression that she had not always
occupied so humble position in life.
| Something in her bearing awakened
nv curiosity, and having occasion to go
| to the wardrobe room, and not acting till
| late in the piece, l waited until she had
given out the dresses for The night. A
| ter the rush was over and the last
"supe" was left, | told her what l
wanted; while she was rolling up The
JACKET for me l asked II she would mind
telling me how she got that strange red
scar. She turned deadly pale, and l
hastened to add:
| "No matter, excuse my touching upon
painful subject; i didn't mean to
wound you."
SDe replied, 81 seldom speak of it, but
since you've asked i will tell you. 1t
came from an unmerited blow, and al
most killed me-"
She drew a long breath, and l, leaning
on the little counter over which passed
and repassed the tinsel fnery, which
| lined the shelves, listened 10 her story.
IL was the daughter of well-t' do pee
ple in the Wesi," she began, "who owned
a large farm near the even then pOpu-
| Ious city OF G..
| They were honest, God-tearing folks,
who brought me up with strlctness
| that as l grew TO Womanhood, L found
| irksome and burned to shake of. l
longed for rich dress to enhance those
charms upon which with girlisn vanity l
set full value, but my tatner was stingy
and restricted me to sucn plain clothing
that my friends, the daughters of much
poorer men than he was, actually rldi-
culed me.
This wounded my pride as we'll as my
vanity, anu my heart was constantly
ranking with discontent. He had, how
ever, given me better education than
was usual in those days, but it only
filled me with "a desire to obtain higher
position than that of some clod-hopping
lfarmers wife, for our friends were con-
fined to that class.
had an aunt living in c., and when
/ was sixteen went on visit to her
that was destined to change the whole
current of my lie. She was as lenenU
=. | aS IDy ldlutl " hD SOISIO, anu w lS dl-
lowed to wander through the streets
4 alone as long as | liked. One day l was
gazing into a store window, thinking
that | would almost sell my soul for the
privilege of going in and purchasing
what pleased of the magnificent array
spread so temptingly before me. l was
aroused from my reYerie by voice
which almost whispered III my ear:
"Young lady, you seem TO admire
those splendid goods" ..
Startled! L turned quickly and be-
held what appeared 70 my youthful
Imagination man god. He was tall, slim
ana inely-built, with large, black eyes,
raven hair and red cheeks, which looked
as smooth as the satin OF a rose-leaf. He
was dressed In the extreme OF fashion,
lin broadcloth, wore a SILK hat, kiu
gloves, and patent leather boots, which
were then in style. He seemed TO be an
Apollo. His voice was musical, and his
manners polished. What an enchanl-
ing vision was this TO me, who hau
never met any but rough, addressed
lboors! SO strong and Instantaneous
was the impression he produced on me
That thrill of heavenly delight made
lmy whole frame culver when he flashed
those cleaning OIbs into mine. 1t was
a case OF love at first sight with me-
not the passionate, feeting fancy OF an
hour born OF young grPs romantic
dreams, but a love, though evoked by a
glance, destined 0.leave its trace on a
Ii etime.
"Yes,"I faltered in reply to his re.
mark.
"And wouldn't you like to buy some 2''
he asked, jingling tue coins in his
pocket, lor it was before the days OF
greenbacks.
!, "WouldHt / thoughW I answered,
taking fire at the very thought.
"And why don't you%' he inquired in
his most insinuating tones, that would
have beguiled nun.
Ihung my head as l said, "Because /
haven't any money"
OF course l felt 1t was wrong to talk
with stranger, butI was only a child
after all, knew nothing OF tue world,
and was carried away 10y his good
looks. lnow think that taking adyan-
tage of q weak moment when / was so
earnestly longing for fnery, the devil
sent him purposely to lure nae to my
ruin, but then tancied him an arch
angel dropped straight from heaven TO
show me the way to paradise. Here
| was the divine hero who would save me
4 from my fathers parslmony aud from
marrying some country gawk.
"Oh, il moneys all that hinderg," he
went on, "Pm not badly OFF. Here, 60 in
and get what you want.p
He pulled our whole handful OF gilt
| tering gold and opened his palm to me :.
| Seeing my hesitation he gave me three
$40 gold pieces, saying authoritatively:
"Go in and buy dress for 500. Bring
me the change, and be quick about it or
| 1 won't wait"
Bewildered, breathless, 1 ran in and
bought the first dress l had ever pur-
| chased---a snowy silk-and fearing my
| beautiful benetactor would vanish like u
dream, hurried out to HIM. He tore
corner of the parcel open, said care
lessly, "its pretty" and drawing my
arm in his, walked me rapidly away from
the store.
1t was not until we were some dis.