The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1878-01-24

D Es8610 mas MADE q W1S0 use VI uei inVn-
/ ey. was not she going to make very
/ foolish use of hers? She debated the
!, question in all its bearing, and tumbled
aud tossed uneasily on her very easy
and comfortable bed. Nettie was not
/ ,sed to making any sacrifices. There
lad been no need of any self sacrifice
in her bright young life. and this WIS
: the frat nme she had ever felt called
npon to deny herself in any way.
Fifty dollars will go but little way
n relieving their great distress" she
thought; "and there is no use OF wear
ing my old dress, and having all the
girls make disaSreeable remarks about
me. because lot Of people whom 1
never saw and never will see, and who,
! I'm sure. would never help me, happen
20 he poor AMI needy. There are plen
ty Of people who will help them, and
there is no need Of g sing np.my dress
| But then if fevery one should think:sas
she did, and scIfishly leave it to some
.,ne else to relive the necessities Of the
poor? Bat then. again, everybody was
going to have new dress for this par
| ty; and Phil would be there, aud he al
ways liked her to appear among the
best. Well. it was perplexing and dis
agreeable either way, 50 why not decide
on the most agreeable alternative2
"1'lI buy my dress the first thing in
the morning; then 1 can't he tempted
to-No, I'll ask papa which 1 onght to
do. No, I can't do that, for he'll only
say. as de did to Essie Spend your
money as you like; it is yonr own. and
will contrast the difference between our
modes of using it, and think how sell
fsh am to spend it for myself Oh
dear! wish / had bought my dress this
morning; then there would have been
no question of right and wrong
| Nettie ran up to her room the Hrst
thing after breakfast, to take a look at
the old blue silk. She threw it on the
bed and looped the lace dress over it
with some pale pink rose>buds, and it
certainly looked lovely-not much of a
sacrifice, after all. TO wear such beauti>
full dress. most girls would have
thought. Bnt then Nettie had certain
ly worn the dress many times before,
and her friends we're well acquainted
| with al its defects, as we'll IS it beau
ties.
There's where Eve Mason put her
foot on the train the first time I wore
1t; always thought she did it on pur-
pose, mean, spiteful thing, although
she apologized and was so sweet and so
sorry! Here's where Allen Page. drop
ped chocolateics over the back width;
| can cover that with the,lace and flow
ers. There's we're Arthnr Delano splash
ed it with champagne the night he was
so dreadfully under its influence; that's
the worst place. and don't know how
shall conceal it, perhaps I can drape
my sash gracefully over it. pinning it
tight to the skirt beneath the loopes,
and it won't look So dreadful. Oh,
dear! after all, the worst thing it is that
I've worn it half doz m times already,
and everybody knows it. and will say.
There comes Nettie Locke in her old
blue again.
| This last thought WAS so narrowing,
Nettie couldn't restrain few tears, and
they fell; drip, drip, on the ''old blne,
and added another stain to its already
damaged beauty. .-...
Fright on the bosom, too," Nettie
said. drying hear tears quickly. "How-
ever, it isn't so bad; I can cover it with
some natural roses"
| She sat down on the bed beside the
still lovely dress-though it had Ger
tainly seen its best days-and pinned
flower here and ribbon there, singing
softly the while one of Strauss exquis>
ite waltz"s. The delicious air she WAS
singing took her thoughts captive pres
emily, aud carried them far away from
the present and all its perplexities. She
dropped tlfe flowers, rich ribbons and
laces from her list ess hands, as men,
tai vision passed before her of the cons
ing ball-a vision of fair young girl
in cloud of mistlike tulfe and rosy
blossoms; vision alluring as Aurora
herself when she comes through the
gates Of the dawn; scattering roses and
dewy diamonds IN the path hway of the
day god; a vision that brings flush to
her cheeks aud sparkle to her eyes.
She sees the tender light in her lover
eyes as he bends to tell her how fair
she is in his eyes and ir the eyes of all
men; she hears the passionate sweet
ness Of waltz and galop, the passionate
sweetness of whispered words and low
replies; but above the music of the
bands, above the sweeter music of her
lovers's voice. about the sound of
laughing voices aud dancing feet. she
hears cry for help and succor. She
gave last deciding look at the old blue
wi h its stains of wines and sweets, and
last despairing thought to the vision
OF herself, radiant, beautiful, in feecy
tulle and rosy blossoms; then drew hex
purse from her pocket. She checked
back few rising sobs, but resolutely
counted oat the amount necessary to
purchase shoes and gloves, and laid the
remainder aside to bear Essie's mite
company on its mission of charity. and
mercy. g..ss 49, ~
"Mamma." she said. as she seated
herself at the luncheon tables. II am
going to wear the old blue. after all;
and if Phil doessn't like me in it-well !
I cant help it. I"
sspbil1 will Eka Won in ANYTHING TT