The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-11-06
Iowa State Press
KATHlE'S WEDDING DOWRY.

Iowa State Pressl
KATHlE'S WEDDING DOWRY.
"Only one silk and that not new 1!
Dear me, dear me, it is dreadful - and
Mrs. Grayson caught up the pretty bod
ice of the garment i'll question and gave
it a splteful little shake. Kathie, hem
ming rutfies by the window, laughed.
What can't be cured must be en-
dured; there's no help for it, auntie," she
said
"Yes, there was help for it," cried the
lady, tossing the bodice from her, g if
you had taken my advice; but you must
go and act like simpleton The idea
of girl of your age giving away her
hard earnings, and then getting married
without decent change Of clothing |
declare it is too absurd. And you are
making such good match, too. Charles
Montague comes of one of the best fami-
lies in the country, and he will be rich
one of these days"
CAT which time, let us hope, my scanty
wardrobe will be replenished," said
Ka,hie, merrily.
Her aunt frowned contemptuouslv.
"But what are you to do now 2" she
went on. "What do you think Mrs
Montague, of Oaklands, will think of you,
when she sees your outfit ?"
Not one whit less than she thinks of
me to-day" answered Karhie, stoutly.
Mrs. Grayson laughed in scorn.
You poor little sinpleton Wait
until you know the world as | know it.,
and you'll change your tune. tell you,
Kathie, appearance is everything. 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."
Kathe WINGED, but she answered
bravely:
81 don't believe Charles will ever feel
ashamed of me-"
"Wait till he sees you in your shabby
garments"
Shabby garments" said Kathie, open
ing her bright brown eyes "My gar
ments are not shabby, auntie. am quite
sure never looked shabby in my whole
life"
Mrs. Grayson glanced at the trim,
graceful little figure. The close fitting
and collars were spotless as snow Kathie
was right she never looked shabby.
Her garments seemed to be part and par
Gel Of herself, like the glossy feathers and
black tuft of a canary. Yet these same
garments were usually made of all sorts
of odds and ends, for Kathie was poor,
and obliged to be rigidly economical
But she was possessed of that tact, or
talent, or whatever it may be called,
which is more to woman than beauty or
fortune which enables her, by the mere
skill of her willing fingers and artist soul,
to make life, her home, her own person,
ga thing of beauty and JOY forever"
Mrs. Grayson, Kathie's welltodo aunt,
with daughters Of her own, who trailed
their silks in the dust and tumbled their
laces and plumes and looked dowdy all
the while, regarded the trim little figure
by the window with half admiring, half
contemptuous smile.
You're rather pretty girl, Kathie,
and you understand the art of getting
yourself up in good style. What you've
got will do we'll enough, but there's so
little of it. Your bridal outfit is shame
full, upon my word What will you do
for carriage dresses, and dinner dresses,
and evening dresses, when you are Charles
Montague's wife? Why, when was
bride | had everything; round dozen of
silks of every hue, poplins, merinos, It's
sues and half dozen sorts of wraps.
l didn't 60 to James Grayson bare Of
clothes, tell YOU"
Kathie said nothing. She bent over
her ruffles, her bright eyes dim with
tears.
"Such a simpleton as you've been,"
her aunt continued, "after toilng and
teaching for your money, to turn round
and give it away! declare it puts me
out Of temper to think of it,
What else could do ?" the girl burst
out passionately. "Could I see poor
Georges cottage sold over his head and
he and his wife and children turned out
into the street %
"Assuredly," answered the lady, coolly;
" he could have rented a house easy
enough. In your place, | should have
kept my money in my pocket; but you
wouldn't listen to my advice. You are
sorry for it now, no doubt"
81 am not sorry for it, | would do
the same thing tomorrow. I'm glad l
had the money to pay poor Georges
debt. and | don't care if do look shah
BY"
every we'll, l shall try not to care,
either. l shan't help you; | told you
that from the beginning; | can't afford
it. and even if could | should not feel it
nv duty You would be headstrong and
senseless, you must bear the consequences.
I'll give you some lace for your neck and
sleeves, and yoYWay wear the garnet set
of Josephine's"
II don't want the lace; l have some
that belongs to mamma and l wouldn't
wear Josephine's garnets for anything"
"Oh! very we'll don't snap my head
of. l beg; you needn't wear them.
Much thanks one gets for trying to assist
YOU. You won't wear my hat, either, l
suppose how about that ?"
IT have plenty Of trimmings; shall
trim that light felt wore last winter"
"And your jacketr Where's that to
come from, pray :"
Kathie's tears were gone, her brown
eyes flashed like stars
"I intended to make myself jacket Of
vrandfather's old. coat," she replied.