The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-10-09
THE PRICE OF A BALL.
ny vIRGiE.


"Doyou think it best for us to go, Daisy ?"
Mr.. and Mrs. Allan Waters had been
married scarcely more than a year-not
long enough for the first gloss to be worn
off her wedding ring-not long enough to
forget the enchanted gold shine of the honey
moon; and now, upon this clear December
morning, the young wife sat at the break
fast table in a most becoming neglige of rose
ribbons and dove colored cashmere, with an
open note IN her hand, and her blue eyes
sparkling with delighted admiration. A
pretty picture to look upon-for Mrs. Waters
was very pretty-a tall, velvet checked
blonde, with her hair shining like braided
sunbeams beneath the coquettish little
breakfast cap she wore.
"Best, Allan? Why, of course it's best
Stella Darrell would give her eyes to get
cards to Mrs. Houston's ball"
~ dare say" said Mr.. Waters, dryly.
"But did you ever read Grobe's Fables?"
"What DO you mean, Allan?"
30 ly that it contains story concerning
an iron pot and porcelain pot that swan
down a stream together. OF course, the lat
ter got smashed"
al don't see what your ridiculous old fables
have to do with me-"
"a great deal my love Mr.. Houston is a
rich banker. am only confidential clerk
in his brothers employ. Mr.. Houston has
Il ousand dollars, probably, where ! have
o!e. Our spheres lie apart. 1t is best, then,
for us TO compete with them in any one re-
spect?"
"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 napkins. "oi
course, il they invite us, it is only natural
to suppose that they want us to come"
81 presume, dear, we are invited out OF
compliment to Mr.. Houston's brother, who
is kind enough to think favorably of your
humble servant"
"And it would be very rude not TO Co."
"a don't think regrets would be taken in
bad part, Daisy. Besides, what have you to
wear that would compare with the toilette'
OF Mrs Houston's fashionable friends ?"
"That's just what l am going TO speak
about" said Mrs. Waters. al really need
a new silk dress. That sea- foam green affail
is actually beginning to look shabby, and
the black silk had when we were frs
married, is positively old-hshioned by thii
time"
at is only thirteen months Daisy"
"But fashions alter 50, Allan, you know
Now there's blue moire antique at Lordl
the loVelieSt shade you ever saw, and I
positive bargain on account of there being
only twenty-three yards IN the pattern.
can get it for eighty-five dollars, and Siste
Louie will lend me her point lace Aounce
70 trim il with, and"
Eighty, Eve dollars, Daisy and for I
moire sntique dressH Do you know, my
dear, that that is almost a twelfth Of my
years income ."
zone must look decent once in while"
He shook bis head gravOly.
"No, Daisy. am sorry 10 seem hard O.
unkind, but this is 50 wild an idea that
can only conclude you have not though
sufficiently about it yourself Mrs. Hous
ton is very kind to invite us TO this ball
but you must write deolinstion."
Daisy burst into tears, and for the FRS
time since their wedding day Mr.. Water
stalked out Of the room without goodbye
kiss.
That ahernoon came up hurried not.
from his Office, as follows:
"DEAREsT DAIsY-Please send bearer my
vslise, with a few changes oflinen and othel
nseessanss for an eight or ten days sbssnci
for the firm. Inelosed you will hnd q fftJ
dollar bill for the earpenter-a debt which
ought 10 have boen attended 10 before. TAX,
a receipt. Be careful ofyourseli while an
gone. ] wish could have ;un up 70 say
adieu, but time presses. If you are ouol,
get one Of your sisters 10 come and stay will
you. AheetionatelyJ
ALLAN.
Daisy had been crying all the morning
but now her eyes glittered. A new bright
ness came into her face, as she hurried hith
er and thither, putting up her husband
things Aud ahsr the messenger was gone
she looked down at the 6ay dollar bill il
Der hand.
"Eight or ten days" she repested 10 her
self TN 60 10 the ball after all, with Loui
and her husband. I'll take this money an