Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-11-23
GRANDPA'S OLD COAT.

Dear me, it is dreadful" and Aunt
Grayson caught up the pretty bodice
of the garment in question. and gave
it spiteful little, shake. Kathie,
hemming ruffies by the window,
''What can't be cured must be en-
dured there's help for it, auntie, -
she said.
Eyes, there was help for it, cried
the lady, tossing the bodice from her,
eff you had. taken my advice but you
must go and act like a simpleton
The idea of girl of your age giving
away her hard earnings, and then get
ting married without change OF
/ declare it is too absurd.
And you are making such a good
match, too! Charles Montague comes
OF one of the best families in the
and he'll be rich one of these
days, though he may be poor enough
at the start, and you, having as good
as thrown your money away, can
contribute nothing-not even able to
buy your own clothes, which every
wife ought to dc"
eat which time, let us hope, my
scanty wardrobe will be replenished, .
said Kathie, merrily.
Her aunt frowned contemptuously.
''But what are you going to dc
now?" she went On. "What do you
think Mrs. Montague, of Oaklands,
will think of you when she sees your
OUTFIT" IL
''Not one whit less than she thinks
of me to-day answered Kathie,
stoutly, ''or should be greatly mis-
taken in my estimate of her charac-
ter"
Mrs. Grayson laughed in seorn.
''You poor little simpleton! Wait
until you know the world as / know
it, and you'll change your tune.
tell you, Kathie, appearance is every.
thing. Your bridegroom himself
will feel ashamed of you when he sees
you IN the midst of his stately sisters
in the grand rooms of Oaklands.
Kathie WINGED, but she answered
bravely: 81 don't believe Charlie
will ever be ashamed of me, OF
should give him up to-day"
s'Wait until he sees you in your
shabby garments
"Shabby garments!" said Kathie,
''My garments are not shabby, aunt
lie. I am quite sure never looked
shabby in my whole life G
Mrs. Grayson glanced at the trim,
graceful little figure. The close-fit.
ting blue merino was faultless; the
linen cuffs and collars were as spot.
less as snow. Kathie was right; she
never looked shabby. Her garments
seemed to be part and parcel of her.
self, like the glossy feathers and blach
tuft of canary. Yet those garments
were usually made of all sorts of odds
and ends, for Kathie was poor, and
obliged to be rigldly economical
But she was possessed of that tact
or talent, or whatever it may bt
called, which is more to a woman thar
beauty OF fortune; enabling her BY
the mere skill Of her willing fingers
and artist soul to make life, her home
her own person, ''a thing of beauty
and joy forever.
Mrs. Grayson, Kathie's well-to-dt
aunt, with daughters of her own, whit
trailed their silks in the dust ant
tumbled their laces and plumes and
looked dowdy all the while, regarded
the trim little figure by the window
with a half admiring half contemptu
Gus smile.
"You are rather pretty girl
Kathie,'' continued the aunt, sane
you understand the art of getting
yourself up in good style. Wha
you've got will do well enough, per
haps, but there's so little of it. You
bridal outfit is shameful. What vii
you do for carriage dresses, and din
ner dresses, and evening dresses
when you are Charles wife? Why
when I was bride had everything
a round dozen of silks of every hue
poplins, merinos, tissues and hal
dozen sorts Of wraps. I didn't 60 Il
James Grayson bare of clothes,
tell you"
Kathie said nothing for a moment
nut bent over her rnffies, her brigh
yes dim with tears then answering
You well say. that, aunt; but is !
kind that you should tantalize me
when you know that your father wa
a rich man, while mine was poor
and my uncle, with all his promising
to me, died leaving me nothing"
'Such a simpleton as you hav
been," her aunt continued, "afte
toiling and teaching for your money
to turn round and give it away!
declare it puts me out of temper
think of it,
"What else could 1 do?" the gil
burst out passionately. "Could !
see poor Georges cottage sold owe
his head, and his wife and childre
turned into the street,
''Assuredly," answered the lady
! cody, she could have rented a hous
easy enough. In your place, / shonl
have kept my money in my pocket
but you wouldn't listen to my advice
You are sorry for it. now. no doubt,