The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-09-13

a thorough warming" she said. 1T is
a chilly evening""
''Yes'm."
The girl thrust the velvet-bowed
SHOES, which CAPPED for lack of buttons,
out to the fire, and, half from embar-
rassment, held up hand to shade her
face. 1t was a small hand. with an am
biguous red gem on the forefinger. The
nails were all bitten to the quick, Miss
Sydney noticed.
The face shaded by the hand was not
unpretty. The brown eyes had
straightforward, honest glance, the
mouth was rather sweet, there was that
delicacy of modelling, Just bordering on
fragility, which gives to the early youth
of so many American women tleetlng
charm. 1t was a face which softl Y
banded hair and a low knot would
suit; but, with the bad taste of her
class, Cary had adopted the style of
couture which became her least. All
the front hair was an unkempt tangle OF
bang" At the back was a mass OF
lutte switches. braided and surmOunted
with a Gilt comb, and on top of the
erection was perched straw hat lined
with blue and crnamented with be-
draggled cocks tail. The dress, of
cheap material, was blue also, and was
frilled and fiOunced into a caricature of
the prevailing fashion. a rutf1e of
soiled lace surrounded the girls neck,
beneath which, over a not Over-clean
muslin tie, hung a smart locket of yell
low metal - very yellow. Bangles
clinked round the slender wrists. Be
meath the pulled and ruffied skirt a
shabby petticoat of gray cotton peeped
out Though the weather was chill,
/ the girl wore no wrap. Miss Sydney
| noted these details in half the time it
has taken to describe them, and stirred
with pity that was half Indignation,
she said:
'.My child, how could you think of
coming out on such q day without a
shawl?'
q haven't any shawl"
"WeIl, jacket, them
81 haven't any jacket, either, that
matches this dress" glancing compla-
Gently down at the beruffied skirt.
But you would rather wear Il jacket
that didn't match your dress than catch
a cold, wouldn't you?'
Yes" admitted the girl, in rather
an unwilling tone. ''But the only one
I've got is purple, and it looks horrid
with this blue" Noting dissent in her
companions face, she added: 1--WE poor
girls can't have wrap for every dress,
like rich ladies do"
"NO," said Miss Sydney, gently, So I
know it. l never attempt to have diff
ferent wrap for each dress wear. [
can not afford it, either
Cary stared. ''How queer." she
began, then changed it to: ''But you and
us are quite different, ma'am
There was something wistful in the
face, which touched Myra Sydney. ''It
will be time wasted, | dare say she
said to herself, sstill | should like, Just
for once, to argue out the dress queS-
ton with girl like this. She is one
of great class, and, poor things, they
are so dreadfully FOOLS b and ignO-
rant" She made no immediate reply
to her companion, but rose and rang the
bell.
Il am going to give you cup of
tea" she said. Hank, how it rains.
You can't 90 yet, and you will be less
likely to take cold when you do 90, if
YOU start well warmed. Besides, want
to have you stay. / should like to have
little talk over this question of dress,
which is so interesting to all of us
women " She smiled brightly at he1
guest, who, as if dazzled, watched the
entrance of the tray with its bubbling
kettle, its plates of thin bread, and but
ter, and crisp, dainty cakes; watched
Myra measure the tea, warm the pot OF
CAV Japanese ware, and when the brew
was ready, fill the thin-lipped cups, and
drop in sugar and cream.
How nice'' she said. with sigh o.
sat 'sfaction. Her heart opened under
the new, unwonted kindness and com
fort, aud Miss Sydney had little diff
Guilty in learning what she wished tC
know. Cary Thomas was the girl.
name She had lived sat home" til
two wears ago. Did she like the city:
Yes, she liked it well enough, but i
was not much like home to board. Sh'
and another girl that worked at Snow
& Asher's had room together out IL
Farewell street. They had pretty gooC
times when they were not too full o
work, but in the busy season they
stayed so late at the store that they
didn't want anything when they 90
home, except to 90 straight TO bed
They got seven dollars a week, anC
more when there was extra work to do
''Can you lay up anything out o
that?" asked Miss Sydney.
"NO, ma am, not a cent; at least,
don't. There are some girls in the store
that do, but they've got sick friends t;
save for
Now" said Miss Sydney, having thu
felt her way, to 90 back to the JACKIE
question. As l told you, | can't at al
afford to have one for every dress"
Cant you, am; and what do yo'
do, then?'
Il buy one jacket which will do witt
everything | wear"
But that isn't a suit" said Cary
, doubtfully.
mo; but is it absolutely necessar,
everything should be suit?"
The girls at our store think so nue.
of suits" she said, in puzzled tone o
self-defense.
t Il know some people have a fame
for them, and they are very pretty some
times But don't you see that the
must cost great deal of money, an
r that working people, you and myself