The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-06-08
CARRYING OFF THE PRIZE.

Nobody goes to church on Easter day
without an entirely new suit in the latest
fashion," said Mrs. De Novelties.
Certainly not" said Alicia. her eldest
daughter "Mrs. Pelham has written
to Paris for new bonnet, to my certain
knowledge."
"And Of course" added Emily, the
youngest scion of the house of De No.
velles, cas- youare spending the winter
with us, Madeline, you will be expected
not to disgrace u.s."
Madeline Moray looked from one to
the other of the speakers with troubled
expression of countenance.
"But, Aunt De Novelles," said she,
mamma writes me that our old Cousin
Zephaniah and his wife have come from
Maine, very poor, and that we must
economize as much as possible in order
to keepAhem of the town. They are very
old, and they need great many little
luxuries, and" >
skMrs. De Novelties face darkened Wis
IDLY.
<'Madeline," said she, will you never
forget that you belong to farmers
family downEast? Your Cousin Ze-
phaniahs are nothing to me. Of course,
while you are my guest, I shall expect
You to dress as becomes your station as
my niece"
Madeline knitted her pretty brows in
sore perplexity after Aunt De Novelties
had rustled out, leaving strong odor Of
patchoui behind her. She had admired
the devotion of her aunt and the girls in
attending the church services so regl-
larly during Lent; she, too, had sat in
the dim, religious light of the perfumed
church, trying to recall her wandering
thoughts to the words which she uttered,
and had come to the conclusion that she
Waf not half so good as her aunt, and
Emily, and Alicia. And now, Aunt De
Novelties felt no charity for poor old
Cousin Zephaniah, and wanted her
to spend all her little money for
dress and fashion to make All out
side show.
She had fifty-dollar bill yet left of the
small store which they had scrapcd to-
gether at home when they had sent her to
spend winter in Boston with Aunt De
Novelties, and she took it from her purse
and smoothed it out upon her desk
Fifty dollars! She had hoped to save it
all for Cousin Zephania.
Her pretty shot silk, with the damasse
front, was very fresh and pretty silk
she had only worn it some half dozen
times-and her neat little splt-straw hat
would look very nice, ifshe bought new
ribbon for it and re-arranged the flowers.
At least that was the mental conclusion
at which she had arrived, when Mrs.
De Novilfes issued her commands,
binding as an imperial purchase, that a
new Easter suit was among the necessi-
ties.
Madeline knew very we'll that she was
pretty. She never looked into the glass
without perceiving the difference be-
tween her fresh, apple blossom Of face,
and and hf he bn eS and eon de- complex pick
that her long hair was like bur-
nished coils Of gold, her long dashed eyes
like stars; and she would have liked
new Easter suit as we'll as any one-and
the bonnets in Madame Printemp's win
dow looked infinitely beautiful in her
eyes, with their French roses and per-
fectly simulated violets; but there was
the old man and his enfeebled wife to
remember-the ancient relics of by
gone generation who had outlived the
sympathy of almost all the world.
"No," said madame to herself, 81
must not spend this money, Easter suit
oTAno Easter suit"
70 she sat herself down in the rainy
March afternoon to rip up the shot silk
dress and alter it so that even Alicia and
Emily should not know it for the same.
But with all her skill in amateur dress
making the folds would not hang Stylish
1y, the old creases would obtrude them
selves on the eye, and the costume pro-
claimed in its every glisten and puff,
"Made over, made over, made over"
Emily To Noyo1loS cbnoE bo, boo1
Madeline" said she, "ii's of no use.
You never can wear that dress! And
your hat, too. \ plain split straw, with
out SO much as French flower"
Madeline burst into tears.
every we'll, Emily" she said ''Thcn
I will remain at home. You need not
fear that will disgrace the congrega-
ton Of st. Etheldreda on Easter Sun
day."
And this pledge evidently relieved the
mind of Miss De Novelties.
br," as she afterward told her sister
AlitA, "these half-civilizcd country girls
are capable Of anything"
And the two elegant sisters did not
take the trouble, when Captain Braba-
Fan dropped in to five o'clock tea, to
was company in the parlor.
II suppose she don't care to sec me"
the captain thought, with a sinking
heart, when at last he went away, after
having fingered as long as politeness
would admit.
II suppose he never asked for me!'
Madeline said to- herself, as, from her
window, she saw his retrcating figure
saunter slowly down the street. "Well,
it matters less than ever now about the
Easter suit Nobody will know whether
| have one or not"
But when Easter eve came, and Made
line was crying softly i'll her own room,
to think Of the radiant spring
sunset that was flooding all
The world at home, the col
orea waiter came grinning up to the
door.
"Please, Miss Maddy," he said,
"hyar's a basket O. 1aylocks. Real
springy -smellin', l do declarei Wild de
dappen's card-Cappen Brabazan, miss!'
Madeline uttered an exclamation of
delight.
"Oh, the lovely, purple things! Gus-
tiers Of lilac fragrance! Delicious re-
minders of the springtide at home Oh,
how kind it was Of Captain Brabazan to
remember that she was country girl,
cxiled here among brick walls!
Madame Cressonde's young woman
sat up until II o'clock that night to finish
the three elegant costumes which Mrs.
DeNovelles and her daughters had or
dered. The three bonncts did not come
home until Sunday mourning.
But Madeline watched them sail forth
to church, to the glitter OF golden sun
beams and tho Changing Of melodious
bells, like three fashion-plates.
And then she put on her plain little
.hhade-over dress" and, taking a fresh
cluster of lilacs from the Ease Of water,
pinned it across the split-lMaw hat.
'"There!' she thought, as she tied the
strings under her chin, "no Paris exotic
ever looked half so sweet as that! And
I am sure that heaven will incline its ear
no less favorably to my prayers than if I
went to St. Etheldreda's in Worth's
newest design"
And d she crept + to the little church nS I'm in