Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-05-11
OLD STELLA.

''There is positively not dollar left
to buy dress for Irene; and yet she
will insist upon going to the ball.
Could you let me have your old green
silk to make over for her, Clare?"
The small figure perched on the
top of huge Saratoga trunk sprang
down upon the floor and stamped her
foot so vehemently that the bue satin
bow few from her tiny slipper.
'Wear Clare's old green silk to
the ball!'' cried Irene, Indignantly.
''Indeed / won't, mamma! / will
stay at home first"
''The best place for you," said her
sister, calmly. Il see no use in TAX
ing child like you to Mrs. Miller's
grand ball.
ga child. indeed!'' flashed the
young sister, with a pout of her rose
bud lips. II am as tall as you, Clare,
and 1 was II yesterday. It's real
mean to call me a child, and leave
me at home every time get invited
out! 1 know why it is, though! It's
because mamma spends every dollar
papa gives her in decking out Clare,
and there's never a decent thing left
for me to wear!" she said, as she left
the room.
Irene went to her chamber, attired
herself in neat walking suit and hat,
and tied blue tissue veil over her
luxuriant golden ringlets.
"Miss Rene" said old Aunt Stella,
the cook, entering her room, s'won't t
they let you go to the ball, dear?''
"No; they don't want me to well
come Giles home; they don't want
him to see me at all, looking presenta-
BILE. He's rich now, and so mamma
wants to secure him for Clare. What
do they care that he and 1 were sweet
hearts before he went away? 1t didn't
interest them at all when he was poor
he might have married me, and well
!come-and he would have engaged
himself to me, know, but for his
poverty. Now that he is rich, how.
ever, l must give up all hopes,
and see Glare, with her fine dresses
and fine ways, steal my own old
sweetheart's love away, while I am
not even able to come into his sight
at all, unless 1 come looking like 8
beggar!" H.
| The old woman had been listening
quietly and earnestly, world of in
telligence in her glistening black face
and eyes. AS Irene finished, she
nodded her head and shook her finger
at her cautiously.
Honey she said, ''dey hab made
up der minds to shut your sweethear
from you. De prettiest girl in d.
world won't look prettier for shabby
old cloes; beauty, my dear, and low
too, for dat matter, has got to depend
! a heap On dry goods. Massa Gile
hab got good, true heart, but h
amt seen you in these two years, ant
you wasn't engaged. If Glare XII,
keep you out OBJ his way, and get he
own handsome eyes to work on him
( who kin say she won't win him? Blu
see here, honey; you was my it'll
) chile in de ole days; now don't yo'
E be too proud to take a helping hans
, from me; and We'll circumwent
: Ten dollars will buy lots of prett,
, thin white stuff, and some scarle
bows and flowers, and you kin hav
a nice dress to wear to the ball
Here's the moneys" she took a ten
. dollar bill from the bosom of he
!; dress. 'sGo out and buy the stuff
and say nothin' to none of them, an
you and me together'll have it mad
afore tomorrow night. Then YOU
! come before Giles looking like a fres
+ young flower, and if the loves in hi
heart, it will wake when he sees you
h and Clare's eyes won't stand an
J. chance at all. Go, honey-whe
l. you're happy and rich, as his wife
: then it'll be your turn to buy a me-
o dress for old Stella"
;. It was frank service, frankly Of
n fered, and, after a moments startle
t pause, Irene accepted it; she thre
= her arms around the old woman
e neck and kissed her.
eff ever / marry him, you shall liv
y with us and 'housekeep' for me, 70
= dear 'old dear!' she SAID, and drie
her tears and laughed happily.
!. Il The merry mood did not leave he
r :. either, much to her mothers surpris'
r. ''Irene takes her diappointmel
lightly" said she to Clare. .'If thel
1t were any way in the world for her
!: obtain dress, I should fancy ST
D. hoped to steal march upon us. Bl
It that's impossible.
They were indeed SO well contente
+ at what they believed the success {
j their cruel plan, that they submitte
- resignedly to 1rene's shutting herse
33e in her own chamber, and being {
no use to either of them.