Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-06-19

such a beautiful vinaigrette when
| was married; and ten dollars Is all
| can spare. Well, suppose | can get
my gown for thirty five, and havaa dress
maker come to the house that will be
cheaper. OF course, it won't fit ike fur
below's.n And she went to look up
wedding present for ten dollars; and as
she couldn't find anything for just ten
dollars that suited the circumstances Of
her friend, and as she had the money in
hand, she paid fifteen for the loveiiest
piece of bric-a- brac, that had just been
marked down from twenty dollars. Il
needn't give so much for the material for
my gown, she reflected, as she counted
her remaining ducats.
"Havc you decided about your spring
suit~yet ~ asked friend, later. rs it
to be gray or brown ~
Il don't know answered Mrs. Mills,
~ have been obliged to spend some Of
my money, and that makes it difficult to
decide"
1t was few days afterward, when she
had happened in at neighbours In the
evening for game at whist, that the
conversation fell upon the Cincinnati
sufferers. Everybody expressed great
commiseration Eyes" said Mr..
Salem, one of the guests present, 1--WE
are all very sorry. but it doesn't
keep us awake nights, and we don't
like TO abridge our own material COM
forts for their sake; we are sorry In a po-
etical, immaterial way. Now who OF as
would give our personal adornments for
their benehtl mean to pass round the
hat, and see who is in earnest about this
business. Here goes my seal ring, my
intaglio, for an example; 1T came from
Rome, and was blessed by the pope.
"And here 90 my earrings" said
lady present; II always disliked them"
''And here's my locket," cried the
hostess: '1ockets have gone out of fash
ion"
~ have no ornaments to give" said
Mrs. Mills.
s'You have tiny gold chain around
your neck, Mrs. Mills, whispered her
neighbor. ''Do you wear it for a charm9"
'sMrs. Mills has charms enough with
out it, /" said Mr.. Langworthy, aside, at
her elbow.
s'Hushl' returned Mrs. Mills. 81 have
my pocketbook. Perhaps ten dollars
will answer quite as well; it is the small
est bill in it,
sOh, give him the chain-he only
asked for ornaments-and save your
money" advised friend"
But Mrs. Mills only replied with flush,
and threw in the ten-dollar bill, mental
~ calculating the shrinkage of her spring
suit. perhaps.
Twenty dollars is rather a small
amount for spring suit" she reflected,
later. LET me see, ten yards at a dollar
a yard-it's no use to buy cheaper, for
the elbows will be out in no time if do;
that leaves ten dollars for the dressma-
ker, Innings, buttons and extras. I'll
ask how MUCK Miss Slasher has day."
"Three dollars day is my price, mad
ame,n reported Slasher; land | might
have it done in three days, if you are in
hurry. Isuppose you have machine?'
81 could bring mine, but that dollar
extra.
''And nothing left for Innings and ex-
tras," thought Mrs. Mills. 81 must give
up Slasher, too" She went home lost in
thought Her spring suit was aproblem
which would have vexed Ncwton's in
genuity to solve; the laws Of gravitation
were triAing in comparison; and while
she worked over its solution an acquaint-
ance who had seen better days rang her
bell
''You can't guess what l came for, >
she said, coloring furiously, and unfolding
a lace fichu "lou know got into debt
when the children had the measles, and
just now / want ten dollars desperately.
Now here's this tichu-what earthly good
is it to me, poor widow, doing her own
house work? haven't worn it for ten
years. | see they're coming in again,
and thought maybe you could give me
ten dollars for it, and not feel cheated. .
but Mrs. Knowles, it's worth fifty at
least. | couldn't think of giving you
ten dollars for it; it would be like grind
ing the face of the poor I'll lend you
the money gladly. But why don't you
rattle it2''
II don't want to publish my poverty,
that's all. l don't mind an old friend
like you knowing it; it's patent enough,
anyway. But when you rattle anything
people always feel as if they were con-
1ciIlHS au CNcLldSIAug 1dNOI upon you,
and those who don't draw the prize
think they've made you present. l
don't care if its worth a fortune. /
want ten dollars now more than / ever
shall again.
''But will lend.it to you-I viii give
it to YOU / have ten dollars that
don't exactly know what to do with
Do let me have the rare happiness of
making q present.