Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-07-09
MODERN BLUE STOCKINGS.

MUDERN Blue SlUShlNOSs
Dudley Manning, writing a letter in
MS seven by-nine apartment at the
Cliffwood House, paused suddenly in
his occupation to do very improper
thing. He was hstening-absolutel
iisteninQ-to the conversation in the. next
room.
Doubtless. if the occupants of that
room had been two gentlemen, or two
elderly ladies, his curiosity would have
been duly restrained by his sense OF
honor. But as it happened, there was
an air of mystery about the Misses
Armitage, both of whom were young
and one very beautiful, which had ex-
cited Dudley's imagination for several
days.
So now, when the younger sister, for
getful of the treacherous thinness of
board partitions, raised her voice in
earnest discussion, Dudley laid down
mis- pen, and listened unblushingly.
''It is useless to argue with me, Susan.
Ihave decided not to 60"
"But Edith, do be reasonable. Surely
your white ones will do just as well,
and do SO want you to 60"
"They won't do at all, my dear sister.
They will spoil the whole effect of my
dress. No, I'm nothing if I'm not ar
tistic, and I would rather give up a
dozen Hops than do violence to my
sense of fitness
But you will be sorry when to-mor-
row night comes, dear; [ know you
will. If my last story had been accept
ed, I would"
Yes, Susan, I know you would, but
that does not aid me in this emergency.
Oh, dear! why couldn't l have been
rich? Think of Aunt Delaney and
her half-milIion, and then consider we
are her impecunious nieces. How
happy she could make us if she
chose"
"But remember, Edith, that Aunt
Delaney knows nothing of our real
circumstances. We have been always
too proud to complain"
Eyes, that's another of our misfor-
tunes. We are as proud as if We were
not poor, and too poor to have any
right to be proud
"Once more, dear, aOoa't you go to-
morrow night?'
"Not unless some benefcent fairy
god-mother takes pity on me, land sends
me a pair of lovely pale-blue stockings
in time"
Dudley Manning fairly started from
his chair in surprise.
''Blue Stockings! Did ever any one
hear the like" he exclaimed, and
more mistifed than ever be went back
to his eavesdropping.
off could, I would send for them,
but"
II wouldn't let you, Susan. I'm I'M
reasonable, [ know. Come, dear, let us
go for a walk, and say no more about
the stockings"
And presently the sisters had left the
room, and Dudley sat thinking buisily.
All at once he started up.
''Ill do it! can go and come before
night, easily, and she shall have her
stockings. What a lovely face she has,
and such a perfect figure! But how
can they be so poor! Ladies, too-re-
fnement in every word and look-no-
body could mistake that"
The young man hurried to the rail
road station. and was Just in time to
catch tie noon train as it sped city
ward.
Two hours afterward Dudley sauntered
into shop on Broadway, whose broad
windows displayed bewildering va
riety of the articles Of which he was in
quest.
With a somewhat guilty conscious
ness, he asked for ladies' light blue
stockings.
"The very best you have" he added.
What size, sir ?" asked the sales
woman.
Dudley was decidedly nonplussed.
I'm sureI don't know forget"
he stammered; then, with sudden in
spiration: "What size do ladies with
small feet generally buy?" he inquired.
The shopwoman smiled primeIy, but
took down one box after another, until
the counter was heaped with piles of
tilmy, delicate-hned stockings, the very
poetry of hose.
Dudley was suited at last. Carefully
he directed the parcel, when he had
reached his law Office, to Miss Edith
Armitage, Cliffwood House, Brook
viIle," and carried it to the post Office,
not daring to trust it to other hands.
"She'n get it tomorrow morning" he
thought, and pleased himself all the
way back by imagining Edith's delight.
Dudley sougth his room soon after
breakfast the next day, waiting for
further developments.
AS he expected, the sisters brought
their letters up stairs, but only few
words of the ensuing conversation We're
audible. He caught murmured excla-
nations of surprise and delight, and
then: