Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-10-19
Nelly Ascham's Self-deniaI ;

AND WHAT CAME OF IT.
al need not ask if you had a pleasant
time," said Mrs. Belden, as the radiant
countenance Of her daughter Grace APP
peared at the parlor door.
Perfectly delightful" was the reply, and
Grace threw herself into low chair and
proceeded to give a minute account of the
juvenile party from which she had Just re-
turned. The decorations OF the rooms, the
amusements, the refreshments and last but
not least, the costumes of the youthful guests
were described in enthusiastic terms.
"But you would not believe it, mother,
Nellie Ascham was there in calico dress
10 be sure, it was pretty, light, and taste
fully made, and she looked as well as any
one. But why she wore it is mystery, for
only last Thursday she showed pretty pink
silk, with lace overdress, perfect beauty,
hat she intended to wear, and why she APP
peared as she did is, to say at the least, very
strange"
Mrs. Belden did not offer any explanation
If what both she and Grace considered a
yirlish freak, and the conversation passed to
)ther topics.
The next week Grace spent an afternoon
With Nellie Ascham. Among the girlish
hat was the party of the preceding week.
Grace resolved to crafty her curiosity in
regard TO Nellie's dress.
"May ask you question, Nellie 2" she
oegan, hesitatingly.
eyes, hundred if you wish," replied
Nellie.
"Why didn't you wear your pink silk to
May Merton's party ?"
al must confess, Grace" said Nellie,
flushing, g that that was one of the hardest
things | ever did. You know my dress was
present from Aunt Hazelton. She brought
t from Paris. Mother shook her head
when it was first taken out of the box, and
aid it was entirely too fine for child like
ne to wear and there never did seem any
lifting opportunity till Mary's party. To be
'ure, we were invited for the afternoon and
t was called a lawn party, but still the
Mertons are rich, and live in so much style,
that thought the dress would be none too
inc. So persuaded mother not to think
If anything else this time, and she consented,
out | could see very reluctantly"
"Well, why didn't you wear it p said
Grace, little impatiently.
"Did you notice that young girl that was
With me that evening 2" inquired Nellie.
" She is my cousin, Carrie Burwick. "She
came to visit us few days before the party,
md Mary, hearing of her arrival, sent word
1t once including her in the invitation. |
vas so glad, for was so afraid | should be
obliged to stay at home. Then | wanted her to
have good time, for | did enjoy myself so
much last summer out on Uncle Berwick's
farm. Carrie shared my room, and when
she unpacked her trunk, and we began to
talk about what we should wear TO Marys,
| found that | would look like bird of Par
adise beside little brown thrush, in my
pink silk dress, with all the pretty things
that go with it. Nothing that Carrie had
would begin to compare with it, and the con-
trast in our appearance would make her
feel uncomfortable, if not destroy her pleas
ure altogether.
"The next day mother and I talked it
over, and we agreed that it would never do
to wear that gay dress, and as my white
ones were not in order, | was obliged to don
the calico. Now you have the whole his
tory. ] took good cry over my disappoint-
ment, for my heart was set on wearing it.
| felt better after that, and in the end was
ever so glad gave up as | did, not for Car
RES sake alone, but two or three other girls
there, whose faces showed the relief they
felt at seeing another there dressed as plainly
as themselves. did enjoy myself ever so
much. was not afraid of tearing and soil
ing my clothes and III short time ceased
to think of them"
"Well, it's my opinion that you were
very good to give up wearing your pretty
dress Just to save another persons feelings"
laid Grace. 81 am not sure that | should
have been so thoughtful and so unselfsh.
There were other consequences of more
serious nature resulting from Nellies con-
-iderate conduct of which both she and her
mother were ignorant
Mr.. Merton, whose daughter had made the
party for her young friends. was banker,
| to whom James Ascham, Nellie's father, was
| Indebted for several thousand dollars. As
'ecurity for this sum, Mr.. Merton held
mortgage on the homestead of the Aschams.
The time for the payment of this money
| mad almost expired, and Mr.. Ascham found,
| 10 his dismay, that with all his efforts it
would be impossible to raise the amount,
and the dreadful alternative of giving up
his home stared him in the face
If he could only have more time he might
be able to save it, and with this hope he
sought an interview with the banker on the
very day of Mary's party.
Mr.. Merton promised to consider the mat
ter and give him an answer soon.
When the enjoyment of the young people
was at his height, Mr.. Merton made his ap-
pearance, and was a silent but interested
observer of their merriment. After watch
ing them some time, he inquired of Mrs.
| Merton, "Who is that young girl with
golden curls and bright, laughing eyes2 She
seems to be the life of the party"
"That is Nellie Ascham," replied Mrs.
| Merton.
ais it 2" said the banker, and he bent his
scrutinizing gaze upon her as he recalled
the interview of the day in his bank parlor.
"James Aschams daughter ?"
eyes," replied his wife, "Aud do OBJ
serve, William, how modestly and becom-
iugly she is dressed, such pleasant contrast
to some of those poor children, who are so
covered with finery that they are really IN
comfortable. They can scarcely move with
out disarranging some of their ornaments"
"An inexpensive dress, should judge"
said Mr.. Merton.
"Quite So" replied his wife, 4" but pretty"
"Then it is not extravaganza at home
that has embarrassed poor Ascham," so
liloquized Mr.. Merton, after his wife left
his side. al think | will give him more
time on that note have no patience with
people who plead poverty when it comes to
paying their debts, and yet allow their wives
and daughters to dress as though they had
the purses of millionares. This man has
honesty and sense. will try to accommo-
date him."-Iaterior.
|