, 1881-06-17

the party? - | asked, to gain time, for
was surprised out of my usual serenity.
mo, indeed" answered Miss Smith.
Its young folks party. But can
have the dress, Mrs. HoughtOn? Please
say yes"
u suppose so, answered, mentally
congratulating myself tnat the dresses
designated were somewhat worn and
soiled, and still puzzled to know how
these people, with whom l had nothing
III common, could SO accurately describe
garments | had almost forgotten.
There was nothing for me to. do but
produce the two dresses, which did,
and after the girls departed in high glee.
They had been gone Il half hour when
the house servant entered, bearing two
cards.
Miss Grace Miller!'' I exclaimed, in
voluntarily. The Millers belonged to
the elite of Grayridge, and we visited
socially, but not intimately. l was sure
they did not owe me n call.
Eyes, ma am, and her sister, Miss Ad-
die" answered the girl. They say they
only want to see you just minute"
When entered the parlOr. before
could offer the customary salute, Miss
Grace advanced and kissed me in gush-
ing manner.
s.My dear Mrs. Houghtonw she ex-
claimed II have come to ask you such
favor; we young folks are going to have
n Martha Washington Centennial Leap
Year party, and 1 am dying to personate
Marie Antonette. YOu know. she Was
lust my style, and L wish you to lend me
your lovely blue silk I can Just barely
remember seeing you Miss Grace was
only three years my junior with 1t on
when you came among us bride. L was
quite IA child, but L assure you 1t made
lasting impression"
cone difficulty in regard to the dress
you speak of" ! replied, sis that 1t is
not all the style required. and would
look ridiculous"
''That can be easily remedied," she re-
Joined, 'by a slight alteration; and now,
while think of 1t, dear Mrs. HOughtOn,
Addie would like to wear your rose col
cred moire, with the lace overdress.
was completely nOnplussed. Miss
Grace assumed that / would not refuse.
Quick as light thoughts chased through
my mind. The magnificent lace for
which any father paid a fabulous price
could / trust the delicate fabric to n
giddy girl? But must make some an
swer.
"You can have the pink MORE, Miss
Addie," l said, ''but the lace has been
taken off and packed away, l scarcely
know where, and, besides, no one but a
regular modiste could put it together as
it was originally"
To my infinite relief Miss Grace said;
"Oh, We can easily improvise an over
dress"
Compelled to submit or give offense, l
produced the dresses, and after num-
ber of exclamations of admiration over
the beauty and richness of the articles,
the ladies departed, overwhelming me
with thanks. fEEs+tf
1 returned to my sewing, but had
only taken the needle in my hand when
the bell again pealed.
This time it was a servant man with n
huge basket and note. The messenger
was from Rose Bower, the home of Mr..
Woodbridge. good friend of my hus-
band, who lived q mile from Grayridge.
The note was from his daughter. She
had graduated with the highest honors
at fashionable boarding-school the
June previous, but her spelling was
none of the best. / broke the seal and
read:
My DEAR Mrs. HoUGHToN: Us girls
are going to have a Martha Washington
Centennial leap year party the 22d. You
know it is his birthday, and l want you
if you please to loand me your buff satin
to ware. 1t is too late for me to make a
new dress, as splendid as that in town.
Mamma says you had it on when you
was bride to party at Judge Simp-
sons and she thought it was Just lovely.
There is Miss Glencole here from Buff
falo visiting me. We went to school to-
gether and she never brought any of her
patty close with her. Mamma says you
used to ware a cherry y-corded silk, and if
it is convenient could you send that too.
as it viii suit exactly. Please do not
disappoint yours lovinly. An revoir,
MoLLIE WooDBRIDGE.
P. S.-Miss Glencole is about your
size. Don't forget the sash. / mean
the one that belongs to the cherry
corded silk.
Having acceded to the former requests
1 could not, without giving mortal of
fense, refuse Mollie Woodbridge, and
yet 1 shrank inyoluntarily at the thought
of my clothes being worn by strangers,
some of whom l scarcely knew at sight,
and others had not even seen.
My wedding-dress' still remained, a
heavy white silk with garnitures of rich
lace and rare flowers. Besides this was
| a handsome black velvet basque and
several evening dresses of lighter tex
ture, and 1 determined if any one else
made application to refuse upon the
plea that the stock was exhausted.
For some days / was not troubled with
visitors, and congratulated myself that
matters were no worse, but the after
noon preceding the 22d 1 was startled by
the unceremonious entrance of Miss
Lucy Wycoff, the sister of Tom partner,
and my heart sank because j dared not
refuse any request she might make. I
asked her to be seated.
''On, no" she replied, II haven't
a moment to stay. came in hurry to
ask if you can let me have some antique
iewelry. You know. suppose, that we
are going to give Martha Washington
Centennial leap-year party. tomorrow
evening, and L am going as Martha
Washington. My costume is perfect ex-
cept some antique jewelry.
l must here digress to say that when
was married, my family, by common
CO assent, gave me a pair of ear rings that
once belonged to my mothers grand
mother, with strict injuctions to keep
them as an heirloom and sacred relic,
as they were unique in design and gore
valuable. When Miss Wycof made the
request L did not remember the exist
ence of the gems in my possession, and
replied promptly that my jewelry was
all too modern to suit the character