The Cecil Whig., 1882-12-02

eau auofQ IL, Cella. Wish
| could; but the dress alone would cost fl
teen dollars, to say nothing of the trim
mings and the dressmakers BILL
Cant we manage to make it our
selves. mother? The pattern that Miss
| Bowen cut for me fits beautifully, and
m sure that we can make it as nicely as
any one, if we try. Mr.. Dunstan is com
| ing to take possession of Dunstan Hall
in two weeks. He is young, wealthy and
unmarried; he will call here, of course
| as father has superintended the repairs
of the hail. and has had the care of things
since his uncle's death. Don't you sup
pose that father can add little more t"
the amount already in your possession .?
So much depends on my having some
thing nice and becoming to wear, and on
any making a fine appearance during the
| next few weeks
81 know it. - replied her mother with
a weary sigh; but I've only the twenty
| live dollar. with which to get you and
| Pet each dress. knew that your father
| can't spare another cent this month, and
| | would't think of asking him for it. l.
you get the dress you have set your heart
| upon having. it will take, at the yer,
| least calculation, twenty dollars for dress
material, lace and buttons, even if W,
make it ourselves. This would leave
only five dollars for Pets dress"
Little Mrs. Haywood eptied the con
tents of her purse in her lap as sb'
spoke. and carefully counted the shinin=
silver pieces once more, vainly hoping t.
lmount it contained. She turned the
purse upside down, and shook it vigor-
.'usly; she pinched and patted its empt'
>des. in order to make sure that no stra'
lines had slipped between the outsid,
| md the lining. Her efforts were of II,
.vail, however. Count the little pile az
often as she might, it always summed VI
| just twenty five dollars and three cents.
Pets only a little girl, and it won't
| be SO serious matter if she isn't dress
ed handsomely" began Miss Celia. ap
pealingly. Then drawing her chair clos
er to her mothers, lowering her voice
and glancing apprehensively around, she
added: u have passed my twenty sixth
birthday, you know, and l must catch a
| husband this summer, if l ever intend to-
Pet will look very nice in pretty cali
| CO..
" You bet she will ~ came like small
b.ast from behind the sofa.
Miss Celia gave terrible scream. as
a great, brown ball rolled out into the
room, and unfolded itself like nam
moth jack-knife.
First, two bare, sunburned feet were
thrust out, then head and arms became
| visible, and finally small terror of the
household-viz., the little brother-as-
Sumed sitting posture, and eyed his
lady sister with twinkling, elnsh eyes.
4" always thought that you's long
time gettin' past twenty. Pet and I've
had six birthdays since you've had a
single one,'' he began laughing immod
erately; "an' you've always had dread
| fully old look for your age, too"
" Dick - said Miss Celia, turning up
on him SO suddenly that in trying to
| dodge the expected blow he turned a
double somersault and landed in heap
near the door.
The young lady's features assumed a
medtatiye expression, and when she
| again addressed him her tones were soft
and persuasive.
I'm going to trust you, Dickie, with
a great secret. In fact, I'm going to
make a contidant of you, and I'll buy you
pint of peanuts the next time l go to
town if you will find Pet and come with
her to the maple tree in about half an
hour
| I'm do it " he cried, springing up
| like rubber ball, and darting out of the
room ith surprising agility.
a whole piut o peanuts for jest goin'
out to the maple tree" he solioquized.
''Cracky amt she a-gittin' generous in
her old age? Said she's a-goin' to make
a confidant O. me. Now she needn't
think l ma goin' to jine the church. for
| shan't do it. The minister baptized
six contidants last Sunday; but 'twould
take more one pint O peanuts to get
me into the water with my best breeches
on. They'd never be fit to be seen after
that. an don't get new duds so often
that | can afford to spile 'em just to
| please her."
Mother" remarked Miss Celia, seri-
ously, after Dicks exit, q am going to
engage both the children to assist me
this time. They have been the means of
spelling my matrimonial prospects sever
al times in the past. l think. if they
understand matters at the start, they
will be more careful this time. They
will be only too glad to have me married
and settled in home of my own"
YES sighed Mrs. Haywood, family,
as her daughter paused and seemed to
expect reply.
"You may rake arrangements to get
the dress for me-, she added as she rose
to keep the appo ntment under the ma
n1o tree SS Pot will no ula5 auourh To