The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-08-06

She nodded her pretty head sogcly, an
Jack laughed, his face flushing warmly.
"I'll stake my life on Viva I'll g
further, grandma. III concede all yo
have said, in case am not right" he de
clared positively.
"Well, we'll see" Grandma Wellington
said wisely.
"only think of i'll Was there ever sucl
luck, mamma-Retta Actually dres
apiece for Us from papa's peoplei Isn't /
superb? And in time for the lawn party
too"
Viva Morris certainly was sweet anC
pretty enough to have won Jack yelling
toms heart, or any other mosculine's. Sh,
was petite, with lovely dark eyes, and lux
urious brown hair, and rare pale complex
ion, like roseleaf, with no tint or color OF
its pure pallor, and a little passionat,
mouth, as red and luscious as ripe straw
berries, back of which the white teeth flash
ed enchantingly.
Mrs. Morris, in the easiest chair the little
cottage afforded, laid her novel down and
looked at Viva, interestedly.
IA new dress apieceH"
Retta Storms, tall, aristocratic. looking
arranging her fair, massive braids more IA
her notion before the sitting. room glass
turned languidly around:
Don't make such an sensation over an
express parcel, Viva. Undo it ani we will
see the contents"
Viva hastily brought the scissors and
shipped the thick string, while Retta read
the letter accompanying it aloud.
"My dear great-grandnieces," II said, al
take the liberty and pleasure Of sending you
each dress for the rectory lawn party, hop
ing you will be pleased with them and wear
them"
1t was signed IN full, "Mary Augusta
Wellington"
just as Viva reached the inner tissue
paper
"Oh, do hope mines a summer silk
changeable blue and gold - Rctta said, en-
Enthusiastically.
"lf mine only is delicious gray - Viva
said.
And then the inner paper was removed
and Mrs. Morris gave a shrek Of horror
that would have done justice to the occasion
If the parcel had contained human bones.
"lier old, worn out dresses" she gasped,
hysterically.
Secondhand, horried old things, that
beggar wouldn't wear! !" Retta cried, in yex-
alton.
While Viva, keen disappointment on her
pretty face, lifted up the quaint garments,
SO full and voluminous, and shook them
out
"They are as old fashioned as the hills,
but they're pretty, anyhow" she said, the
dismay in her voice almost concealed by
her brave determination TO make the best
of it. "Really, if there was to be masquer-
ade now, this funny plaid silk marked Ret
Ia Storms wouldn't be so bad"
"But there is to be no masquerade, and
old Mrs Wellington needn't think I'd make
guy of myself by wearing her cast-off
clothes. I'd rather do up your suits all the
week, at the seventy five cents apiece you
pay me, than be disgraced by such toilet
as that would make"
Retta wss bitterly indignant, and Mrs.
Morris scarcely less so.
ats old Grandmother Wellington over
again." she said, with what she supposed
was fine contempt. erich and stingyI
wouldn't marry into that family again-no,
not for all they're worth And you'll be
sorry for it some day, when Jack develops
the family meanness."
am risk all Jacks meanness," Viva said,
coolly; "and in the meantime think see
very pretty dress for myself in this lovely
pink and silver-threaded barege. It's so
awfully old-fashioned, shall make believe
IT'S new-just out. I'll rip it up and make
1t over, and put some pink satin bows upon
IT, and trim my rustic straw gypsy with
wreath of wild brier to match in color"
Retta elevated her nose haughtily.
"And be an old-fashioned thing, after all.
Mrs Judge Miyart and old Miss spenser
are sure to be at the lawn party, and they'd
recognize the dress. for the old lady Yelling
on and they were girls together. Fancy
Algernon Mivart hearing bis grandmother
'ay was in one of her cast-of dresses I'll
'ell the horrid old dud to the second hand /
woman and buy enough lace bunting for a
new polonaise."
Viva held her little dusky head TO one
ide, like reflective bird, and scanned the
Questionable silk.
81 wouldn't If / were you, Retta. The
'la'd is very nobtrusive-almost check
md your most becoming shades-lemon and
'lue. Let me fix it up for you, when do
nine. A little of the lovely old lace on
nammas black silk, and a new blue sash-"
"Don't talk such nonsense. tell you
wouldn't have Al. Mivart know il for all
he world"
Nor would she be persuaded. The very
ome day she sent for the one "old clothes"
woman in the place and drove the sharpest
'argain possible, receiving enough to buy a
heap, snowy, eream-lace bunting; while
Viva set to work, ripping and sponging and
'Tesslng the old-iashioned pink barege, with
he lusirous silver thread eriss- crossing all
hrough il sOl fabric; aud at length, on the
ilsFnoon Of the famous lawn party in the
ooiory grounds, Outshons Retia and every
ne elOe IN the pure, sweet girlish simplici-
and becoming lovelinsss Of her tOilet, that