Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-02-11
they'd hurry up a bit if they met us some.

they'd hurry up bit II they met us some
times"
"And had an idea we we're somebody"
"Well, what do you think Z"
81 hardly Tm sure il would be delight
full. But"
mo butts about it. I'll settle this thing.
You can have a dress made in a couple Of
days? Who's the crack dress maker ?"
MADAME Des Chenes," she said, hesitat-
insy.
''Very well. III have her send up some
silks for you to look at"
"I-don't know" said his wife, again
pausing, brush in hand, over the long and
luxuriant hair that he admired so much. But
her husband was already gone.
A couple of hours afterward a young wo-
man from Madame Des ChenG.'s entered
with a box Of silks. The gas was lit, the
shutters were closed, and piece after piece
was gathered into dexterous folds by the cum
ming and accustomed fingers and held up to
the glare Of the chandelier for her to admire
She was not very courageous little body,
Mrs. Eccleston she did not know how TO
send the girl away and take none OF her
wares she had no heart in the play she
felt in the depths of q guilty soul that she
had no place with idle and wealthy merry
makers-she who kept only one "girl" at
home. She was sure Will could not afford
it. Every time the young woman held up a
fresh combination sense of impending dis
aster filled her with depression. She found
herself unable TO choose the young woman
found her difficult to please.
what il madame allowed me to make
choice for her." said the damsel at last, in
despair Of suiting her otherwise.
And you will send II home tomorrow
evening" Z" said Mrs. Eccleston, with relief,
as if shifting the responsibility at last
Madame shall have the robe, gloves, slip
pers, laces, flowers, at nine O'Clock to-mor-
row evening"
"Very well, then" said Mrs. Eccleston,
desperately and the measures being taken,
box and damsel disappeared.
AFTER all, said Mrs. Eccleston to herself
81 dare say am making a great fuss about
nothing. Why shouldn't have a new dress
Other mems wives do ; and I'm sure earn
it, every stitch Of it, in the care and economy
l practice at home. I'll go without butter and
sugar year rather than not have it. Per-
haps it's the only chance I'll have in all my
life, and don't suppose one gown will either
make or break u.s."
Yet, for all that. she was very i'll at ease
and although she accepted Mrs. De Berrian's
kindness about the cards. it was with no Ella
ton; she felt a little as the day wore on as
though it were only a nightmare, and half
wished it were. True to the promise, how
ever, at the appointed hour the young woman
and the robe appeared, and at sight Of it
doubts vanished. II was indeed faultlessA
the most delicate shade Of rose, with pufings
OF lisse above fnger-deep rufles of Valen-
ciennes, and with long garlands OF tiny white
Scotch roses. Mrs. Eccleston was not slow
to confess TO herself that she had never seen
any thing lovelier than she looked when she
stood before the glass, the last fold laid in
place, the last rose leaf picked out, like
blushing and just opening rose herself the
fair hair waving of the white forehead and
massed low behind, the jewel.like eyes with
their darkly pencilled brows, the transparent
sweetness of the smile, the whole radiant
grace and color set of by the radiant dress
'Helen of Troy looked just like you !" said
her husband in a rapture. 'Al you want
now is diamonds"
II wouldn't give q straw for diamonds
Tell me truly, Will, don't you feel that this
dress is great extravagance Z"
"Extravagance I'd give ten times the
price for the sake of seeing you in it," And
in his old dress-c coat, that was yet in very
good style, although it had never been worn
since his wedding day, Mr. Eccleston escort
ed his wife to Mrs. De Berrian's carriage
and excited TO yet more brilliant light and
color by the sense Of her beauty, her dress,
and the idea of going out at an hour when
she had always gone to bed, she made tri-
umphal entry at the Embassy.
Triumphant is no more than a fit word for
it. Eyes no sooner saw pretty Mrs. Eccle-
ston than hearts few out to her. Almost be-
fore she knew it she was led from Mrs. De
Berrian's side by a statesman who had al
ways loomed up in her imagination like a
demi. god then she was waltzing with a IA
nous general was taking ices with titled
foreigner, and talking to him in his native
tongue was promenading with another;
was going down to supper with a third and
Mt Eccleston had no opportunity to exchange
another word with his wife till he took her
back 10 the carriage. He was content, how
ever, that night with watching her and
watching the brilliant scene, the rooms en-
powered in exotics, the superb paintings in
one, the china and bronzes in another, the
magniheence of the throngs surging up and
down the palatial stairways-all in vague
consciousness that this was at last the life to
which they naturally belonged. He enjoyed
il, on the whole. as much as she did, and
with her the night had gone like a dream.
''Well, my dear, said Mrs. De Berrian, "you
are the fashion"
1t was quite true Mrs. Eccleston was the
fashion. Cards, countless as the fakes of a
snow-storm, were showered upon her this
and that members wife was eager to have
her company in calling; she received with
cabinet lady; she sang at MUSICALS she
danced every where--for ten days BY that
time the black silk was no longer fit for call
iLg, nor, with all the constantly renewed
garniture of fresh tea-roses and violets sent
by her various admirers, wonld II do for any
more Dldtinees ddnsdRtes, and it was sent to
the dressmaker's to be furnished and made
passable once more Meanwhile the bust
ness of the Treasury was not yet concluded,
olIhnnuh ha Iaofuinr rninhf
day. Launched on the full food of society,
she could hardly withdraw and still remain in
town and unless she wanted the pink to be-
come a uniform, it was necessary to have an
other dress. Indeed, it was necessary any
way, as Mr.. Eccleston had found it hard
work to keep his hands of a gay young
attaehe who had spilled claret punch in a
broad purple splash and streak all down the
front Of it. And then Lent coming presently,
she explained, in the fashionable parlance
that she had learned, there would be but lit
tie more of the season at furthest-it was
Wednesday, one week from st. Valen-
tine's-day-Wilfs birthday. She had provi-
IDENTIFY tucked her old wedding gown into the
bottom of the trunk, on leaving, with dim
idea of possibly turning it TO account She
took it to Madame Des Chenes. Once it had
been white satin; the modiste thought it
might pass for an ivory tint in the evening
and with train and shoulders of brocade in
white and gold
''Oh dear, no, indeed" said Mrs. Eccle-
ston, not quite so much afraid of the deity as
at first. at must be just as cheap as it can
be-"
"Black velvet, then, would"
'Damasse," said Mrs Eccleston, emphat-
ically, sis good enough. Damasse and black
lace and blood-red roses" And then, at
Madame Des Chenes's persuasion, she took
ready made princess slip of black tulle and
velvet stripes to wear over an ancient silk
under-petticoat that she had forgotten she
had till spurred to invention, congratulating
herself meanwhile on the real economy that
got so elegant and severe toilette from 80
little.
Enriched with damasse and black illusion
and deep red roses, the ivory-tinted old satin
came home, with here and there tiny strap