Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-05


cottage as neat and trim as flower gal
den, it happened, occasionally, that sh
couldn't even afford the time to 20 up t.
the Newcomers grand house to enjoy tn
hospitality that was proffered with sucl
hearty goodwill, "
/ However, lawn party-that was some
thing that could not be refused. There
| fore, it was accepted, and gladly, too, TO
JOSIE Herne liked the society of young
people of her own age, and enjoyed good
time quite as much as any young, bright
happy girl could. ~
But oh ] the hours of anxiety that besel
Josie after the too tempting invitation ha(
been accepted.
All Centreyille would be there, of course
the Newcomes had the finest lawn in tine
neighborhooi, and every body would be
charmingly dressed. Such an opportunity
for the display of summer toilets did not
occur every day, and when it did, of course
every one would take advantage Of it.
Josie was not vain girl, and only mod.
l l
erately fond OF dress, but for a lawn party
IA hat was an absolute necessity, and what
in the world was she going to do for she
had been wearing her dark straw, trimmed
with a bright winged little bird, all the
spring and so far into the summer that
only natural brunette complexion Like
hers could have stood such close acquain-
lance with the sun. But that hat with q
light muslin dress would never do for a
lawn party. Consequently, poor Josie was
in despair, al least as nearly so as bright,
hopeful, light-hearted girl of her age could
be-.
| II must overhaul my WARDROBE she
thought, the day after accepting the invi-
tation; and with comical little grimace
she added, ''oeing so extensive of course 1
may have forgotten many things-no doubt
1 shall find just what want IN it.''
Next day, accordingly, as soon as her
mornings work was over, and after the
one hours practice on the little cottage
piano, which she never omitted, Josie pro-
ceeded to overhaul her wardrobe as she
had said, and greatly to her surprise, not
withstanding its limited proportions she
actually found two articles of which she
had been unconscious. They were, first,
leghorn hat, very old, very yellow, and
having very wide brim; and second, a
dress of fine india muslin, time-stained
and antiquated in style, but so long and
wide in the skirt that Josie's quick eye
instantly saw it in the mirror of her mind,
ripped, bleached, and re-made into an .ele-
CANT dress of the present day.
Both articles had belonged to the pretty
young mother dead so many years ago,
that even the memory of her was like a
fleeting mist-like dream to Josie Herne.
But the warm tears dropped from her
eyes, and she kissed the hat and dress as
she took them up reverently in her hands.
sDear little mother!" she murmured,
and thought, perhaps, that mothers
spirit lowered near, anxious that her little
girl should enjoy her day of innocent
pleasure while she was young and happy.
The hat was broken and worn round the
outer edge, but so wide that it could bear
with Improvement, couple of inches ia
ken from the brim, and then, when pressed
into shape on the post of the old fashioned
bedstead, it looked as Josie laughingly
assured herself, like brand new gypsy
of the latest style"
What to trim it with became the next
momentous question; and after thinking
the matter over all day while engaged in
her other duties, Josie was obliged to give
it up, leaving the hat still poised on the
end of the bedpost, consoling herself with
the hopeful reflection: ..,.
swell, I'll manage it somehow-some
thing will be sure to turn up in time for
the lawn-party.''
Meantime the yellow, time-stained India
muslin was ripped, and washed, and
bleached like the new-fallen snow, and
then made into a charming costume with
rufles and knife-plaitings in the newest
style; and indeed it made dress hand
some enough for any occasion. But, alas!
nothing in the shape Of trimming for
Josie's hat had yet been found, and in
despair she had almost decided on wreath
of wild field flowers and grasses. They
would be appropriate and lovely-for an
hour, perhaps; but after that they would
be faded and withered. and terribly sug-
gestive of . genteel makeshift. But a
kind fate, who surely waits on poor young
girls, came to the rescue.
On the day before that fixed for the lawn
party, Josie was hanging out her few lit
tie laces to dry on the rosebush in front of
the house; and while she did so her clear,
fresh young voice sang out gaily:
''Gin body meet body
Comm thro' the rye o<
Gin body kiss body,
Need body cry?' ats.
mo, indeed thought a good-looking
youth, who was just passing; for my own
part, I'd be more likely to smile," and he
stopped and looked long and admiringly
at the pretty girl spreading her little bits
of lace to dry; then. as she turned toward
him, he lodged quickly out of sight, and
at the Same moment wandering breeze
caught the loose silk handkerchief care
lesly knotted about his throat, bore it
straight toward Josie and dropped it at
her feet, while the owner, laughing to him
self, passed on, unconscious of his loss.
With cry of delight Josie caught up
the soft brilliant square of silk, with its
border of Roman colors, and in her CRATE