Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1879-07-23
BLUE STOCKINGS.

Dudley Manning, writing . letter in
his seven-by-nine apartment ct the
CliAw0od HOUSE, paused suddenly in
his occupation to do 4 very improper
thing. He was listening absolutely
AMeNia0-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 u it happened, there wal
an cir Of mystery about the Misses
Armitage, both of whom were young
and one very beautiful, which had ex.
cited Dudley's Imagination for several
30 now, when the younger sister, for.
getful Of the treacherous thinness Of
board partitions, raised her voice in
earnest discussion, Dudley laid down his
pen, and listened unblushiDgly.
ut il useless to argue with me, Susan.
/ have decided not to 60"
"But, Edith, do be reasonable. Surely
your white ones will do just a. well, and
/ do 20 want you to CO."
"They won't do It all, my dear sister.
They will spoil the whole effect of my
dres. No. I'm nothing If I'm not ar
tistic, and / would rather give up .
dozen hops than to do violence to my
sense Of fitness"
"But you will be sorry when t0-mor.
row night comes, dear; l know you will.
II my last story had been accepted, l
would"
eyes, Susan know you would, but
that does mot aid me in this emergency.
Oh, ,dearl Why couldn't I have been
richf Think OF Aunt Delaney and her
half-nillion, and then consider We are
her impecunious neices. How happy
she could make us, if she chose!"
"But remember, Edith, that Aunt
Delaney knows nothing of our real cir
cumstances. We have been always too
proud to complain"
"Yes, that's another of our misfor-
tunes. We are ~ proud as If We we're
mot poor, and too poor to have any right
to be proud"
aOnce more, dear, won't you go to-
morrow night"
ssNot unless some beneficent fairy
god-mOther takes pity on me, and sends
mo . pair Of lovely pale blue stockings
in time"
Dudley Manning fairly started from
his chair in surprise.
"Blue stock;nqsP' Did ever any one
hear the like r. he exclaimed, and more
mystifed than ever be went back to his
eavesdropping.
sIf l could, I would send for them,
but"
ri wouldn't let you, Susan. I'm I'm.
reasonable. I know. Come. dear. let us
70 for Z walk, and say no more about
the stockings"
And presently the sisters had left the
room. and dudley sat thinking busily,
All ct once he started up.
"Iu do It'll I can 10 and come before
uisht. easily. and she shall have her
stockin9a. What 4 lovely face abe has,
ma such q perfect fgurei But how can
thew b so poorf Ladies, too-reine.
ment In every word and iook-nobody
could mistake that
Tia vouna man hurried to the rail.
road station. and was lust in time 70
catch the noon train as it sped cityward.
Two hours afterward Dudley saun.
tered into . shop on Broadway, whose
broad windows displayed q bewilderinp
variety of the articles of which he VA
in Quest,
With 4 somewhat guilty consciousness
he asked for ladies' light blue stockings
"The very best you have" he added
What sixe. arr, asked the Gales
vomsn ~ Ao '
Dudley was decidedly nonplussed.
0T-Ifm aare I don't know-I forget,
he stammered: then. with a sudden in.
sDiration: What size do ladies with
small feet generally buy!' he inquired
The shonvoman smiled primlv. hu,
took down one box after another. unit
~ connter vas heaned vith niles ~
6Imy' delicsterhued stockinos- The YER,
poetry Of hose.
lpudlev - suited at last. Carefully
he Directed the parcel. when he had
reschcd lin lav ofice. 70 MI. Edith
Armitage. Clifwood House. Brook,
ville," and carried It to the postofice
not darinr to trust it to other hands.
WGhetIi set IL to-morrov mornino - HI
thourht. ana plessed himseif ali the vay
back ~ imaefninp Edith,s DELIGHT.
Dudley soueht his room soon Ate,
breakfast the next day. WAITING for fur
thar d~evalonmants-
A. "a ernected. the s;sters hrouvh,
their letters mn sta;rs. Int onlv a fer
vord. of tie ~ensning conversation YER
audible. BE caught murmured excla
mstions ~ surnrisa and deI;rht snf
then. ~
1nf cou,.. th.v com. from Ann,
n.,sna.~ II. I!,S &c h..m ~
~ io., o,a souu Isn,. ~. loo.
III tske hacE ali i said shont bs1