The Republican journal., 1882-03-09

| lliS VI uCl COuuC OuC lO-udN Will u SJdu-
new silk gown, real good silk, too, for
priced one just like it at Mathar and MiX's
for my niece Sophrona's weddin gown,
and she felt as though she couldn't see
her way to buy it; and then gloves and
umbrysol to match, and bonnet all
covered with flowers atop of her head,
why, felt as though it was my privilege
to pray for her, and maybe to speak to
her about such mortal extravaganza
there amt no -four and feed business in
Barton TIL ever keep up such dressin' as
that"
"Thats So" echoed Mrs. Martin, "and
| | know he amt doing dreadful well,
neither; for Paphro was into the bank
the other day, and he heered Barber a
askin' for an extension wonder they
let him hev it
"Well,' said Widow Brooks, "folks
will bite off their noses while the world
endures; but seems us though he'd know
better n to buy her such things"
"Pshaw. men don't know no more
about clothes women folks clothes, any
way, than they do about the moon," said
Mrs Martin, who did not really persuade
clothes enough to keep her respectable
from the tight grasp of "Paphro's" pocket
book.
"I guess he'll find out more'n he ever
knew, when the bill comes in for that
tinery," went on Mrs Weeks "And,
moreover, think its my dooty to let the
bank folks know what | think about it.
| don't want to hev our bank took in, no
way"
"Wouldn't you wait bit, and talk to
her, mabbe ?" interposed Miss Eunice Pell,
the village tailoress, who had not an eX-
ated opinion of Miss Weeks, having more
than once suffered from her hasty Judge
ment.
IL donno mabbe won't 90 tomorrow.
If he's got a extension they can't help it
now. | think will have talk with her;
she had ought to see the error Of her
ways, anyhow"
Land y sighed Miss Eunce.
But not on Monday or Tuesday did
Mrs Weeks deal with the offender. Tn
expected company kept her at home.
Wednesday was sewing society day, and
Mary Barber appeared at Mrs. Weeks
house where it convened dressed in her
blacksilk, sponged and pressed over till
it looked like new, and trimmed with the
handsome lace distracted from the gray
silk among Georgy's dresses and wraps
she had found a little box of French flow
ers. and IA cluster of blush roses at her
throat fastened the pretty tie that was
also gift one of her wedding gifts in
deed. Mrs. Weeks was filled with new
horror, and Mrs. Brooks opened her
green eyes to their fullest extent,
"Sakes alive.' she said to her hostess.
''Did you ever. Just see that lace on her
gownd It's real thread. know lis 4;
cost dollar yard if it did a penny. |
never did"
If Mrs Brooks had known what the
lace did cost perhaps her eyes never
would have shut again. Georgy Lasalle
never gave thought to the cost Of her
dress, that was left to the dressmaker
whose bills were paid 10y her father with
out question. Nothing was too good for
Gcorgy in his eyes, and to consider what
she WAS giving away when her father lay
dead never entered her mourning soul.
Nor did Mary know any better. She had
Hot been brought up III the knowledge of
laces any more than Widow Brooks, who
had made a lucky guess indeed when she
suggested thread lace, without an idea of
its price
Mrs. Weeks did not make a successful
call at Mrs Barber's on Thursday; She
began wrong. She said at once on taking
seat in Mary's tiny pallor: Il have
come to say a few warning words of ad
vice, Mis- Barber, on the subject of your
dress"
Mary had a temper Of her own, which
long control had merged into dignity.
Excuse me !" she said, cOldly. II must
1aolina ~ 1iconSC cnoh n rarSnpa1 hiaat
with a mere acquaintance"
"Well !" exclaimed the astonished Nisi-
tor, "dont you think ! haven't got no
right to Sdmonish backslider in the
church, specially one as young as you be "
"No, | don't" said Mary, quietly. 81
decline to receive admonition except from
my husband, or my pastor. If had done
you any harm or wrong, Mrs. Weeks, it
would give you a right to talk to me on
that subject. cannot and will not re-
ceive unkind criticism on my trivial priv
ate affairs from you"
"Trivial well mabbe you won't find
they're so mighty trivial in the end ont"
and with this back handed thrust Mrs
Weeks departed.
Mary was indignant, but at last begun
to see ludicrous side to the affair and
resolved not to tell Augustus about it lest
it should annoy him, for she knew he was
anxious enough without hearing her small
troubles. But Mrs. Weeks did not delay
her work. Her nephew was general clerk
in the little Barton bank, and was as
frugal as all anchorite in his own expenses,
because he had to be. Only last Sunday
he had glanced across the church at Mary
Barber in her elegant dress and bonnet,
and sighed as he thought how such grace
full attire would become his own dark-eyed
wife, looking doubly sad and tired in her
well-wor Sunday suit, turned and fresh
ened and dyed over for at least six years.
He was quick to take the alarm and to
spread it before his employer, for it was a
private bank, this little nucleus Of the
moneyed interest in Barton, and Mr..
Short, who was at its head, made up his
mind to give Barber no further extension
of credit.
His son owned the flour mills at Coven-
try where Barber dealt and received a
hint to send in his bill, which as a matter
Of courtesy he had not pressed. Mrs.
Weeks related the upShOt Of her visit to
Mary Barber at the counter of the coun-
try store where she met Mrs. Brooks, and
the store keeper overhearing it thought
it the part of wisdom to present his ac-
count and give a hint to the butcher who
was his brother in law.
SO the ball rolled on ; not in days did it
gather force enough to crush its objects,
but in the course of months it increased
and grew mighty. Just as Mary Barber
held to her breast a fair, frail little baby,
new born to the world of deprivation and
distress that awaited it, her husband fail
ed, and failed hopelessly. Mrs. Weeks
said, triumphantly: 81 told you so. |
always told Deacon Weeks that my judg-
ment of folks was worth havin' | can
see through stun wall as well as any
body"
But while she plumed herself on her
judgment, forgetting its results, Mary
Barber, bearing the story from her hus-
bands lips which she had read first in his
face, laid down her whring head on the
l. L 49,