The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-03-04
A.COsTLY BARGAIN.

Ana outt the ghost OF my ideal .stsnd,
-RLIoT RYDER,
ACosTLY BARGAIN.
. Two lovely women, sitting in a
; room that, in its luxurious alorn>
, ments and furnishings, its.cheery sun
shine. and delicious faint parfume, was
fitting surrounding for its fair occu>
pants, little Mrs. Delnuine, dark and
bewitching!las a.gipsyfprincess in her
pink cashmere dressing gown, with
its abig square buttons of solid gold,
and stately Myra Bellairs, fair as a
blushing rose, with her naughty red
mouth and bewilderingissviolet blue
eyes that to every one in the world
was cold and SERENE. e1cep; to Ar
thur Torrens,sth only man in the
world who had ever'won her love, ,and
who had won it and held it. and made
her absolutely happy.
But Myra and her chief friend, Lu,
cy Delmaine, we're not discussing her
lover just at that moment, but the
object of their animated conversation
lay carefully displayed on the rose
'ilken couch, marvelously magnif,
cent dress. of foamy lace.
"And only thirty pounds 1t seem,
incredible.
Mrs. Delmaine carsssed it with her
fair. diamond hand.
at was the greatest bargain l ever
heard Of Myra said in her low ex
| quisite voice. Il have always wants
ed real lace dress, but l certainly
never expected to End one so cheap
and so magnificent as this. 1t is
worth hundred and fifty pounds"
Il think So" Mrs. Delmaine re-
turned. GLOW did you happen to
secure such a wonderful bargain,
dear?"
81 saw an advertisement in the
Queen saying that a real lace dress
must be disposed of at great sacri-
fee. So | went to the address,
very respectable lodging a.house, il
Bloomsbury, and found the dress and
the owner-a pale, miserable locking
creature, but lady born and bred,
and she had been very beautiful. once,
| think"
"What a charming story; do con-
tinue, hyra, dear"
There is really very little to tell"
she said. 81 asked to be shown the
dress, and she opened the square ce-
dar box, lined with satin, that con,
tanned it, and l fell in love with it.
although 1 took care not to let her
know that"
Mrs. Delmaine laughed softly.
"Of course not"
'She told me it was the sole re,
naming relic'of former wealth. She
said she had parted with everything.
They had b0sn wealthy French peo-
pie, it seemed, and really she was ,
most refined and lady-like, but SO i'll
and weak she could not speak much :
without coughing. This" and Myra
laid her dainty, pearl kidded hand on
the dress, "was her wedding dress,
and never worn but .once; cost two ]
huu9red pounds when lace was not so
expensive as now." II
"And you got it for less thon one
fourth Of its proper value. Myra, how
id you do it?" I
hyra lifted her eyebrows in a COM {
posed way. {
81 simply told her what l would
give her, and although 1 know she |
would think it a terrible sacrifice, she l
would also know that, thirty pounds t
in cash was better than useles. gar 6
ment in the box"
"Of course she was not foolish =
enough to refuse it, but, Myra, it was c
tremendous bargain tor yon" t
"Of course, Miss Bellairs said, COM !
plscently, "but people in REDUCED cir {
cumstances must expect to make sac ,
rifces; could have given her one i
hundred pounds and still secured the t
dress cheaply; but preferred to do |
the best l could" /
Her blue eyes rested in loving
pride on'the
"And only thirty poundsl" sighed
Mrs. Delmaine. Il am afraid 1 am
envious, Myra! Why, the box alone
is treasure, it is worth FIVE pounds
at the least"
81 rather admire it," Myra said,
complacently. "Did you see the
name on the inner lid? Gracie1e De
Lesley. Avec amour. Dieu vols garde'.
Just trife romantic, isn't it,"
A look of womanly sadness was
temporarily in Mrs. Delmaine's bright
dark eyes.
And Pitiful Myra.
Miss Bellairs arose to finish her
call, while Mrs. Delmaine's aeft fin
gered maid returned the dress to the
box.
II certainly feel vely sorry for the
poor thing" she said coldly, "but l
dare say the money will do her
great deal of good. 1 hope Arthur
will like it."
She went down to her carriage,