Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-17
THE LOST DRESS.

A quiet, elderly lady, in stone
colored merino dress and a black lace
cap, had been anXiously peeping out of
the window of pretty house in Milk
town, at intervals throughout the dull,
cold Winter afternoon of day not
long gone by
When about 5 o'clock, a young girl,
showily clad in terra-cotta red, with
an impossible bird, in a cap of impos-
sible fur, was seen making stately
progress down the long street, holding
in her arms an immense and puffy
brown-paper parcel.
Occasionally this young person made
an effort to look behind her without
turning her head, and when at last she
arrived at the doorsteps Of the house
we have mentioned, she turned coquet-
tishlv to see who it was who had been
walking behind her for some distance.
Seeing that it was only hobbledc-
hoy apprentice from the tinman's,
with length of stovepipe under his
arm. a black smirch on his nose, and
no appreciation of terra-cotta waist
coat, twenty iuches in circumference
in his countenance, she turned away
in disgust and rung the bell violently,
leaning her back against the door, and
regarding the apprentice with a scorn
which amazed him, and which proceed
ed from the fact that he was not the
line-looking young man, with mus,
tache, whom she had imagined to be
following her.
In an instant more she tumbled into
the arms of the elderly lady, who ha(
opened the door with unexpected
promptitude, amid the derisive laugh
ter of the youthful tinman
"Bless me. l hope you haven't hurt
yourself?" said the old lady. And is
this really Mrs. Rutiics dress at last
We'd almost given it up"
MADAME says she couldn't help it,
said the girl, rubbing her elbow, which
had come into sharp contact with tht
door. "It's such busy time;;" anC
delivering the parcel to the old lady
she walkel away, with dark views o
life in her young bosom, and an up
lifted nose that bespoke scorn of al
apprentices
Meanwhile the old lady hurried in
to the sitting room at the back of tn,
house, and placing the parcel upon
table cried, with gasp of relief:
There it is, Rebecca; and yol
needn't have worried about it all day
at all"
At these words a lady, who was still
only middle aged, and who was sittin!
wrapped in voluminous double gowl
in great armchair near the littl
Franklin stove, started to her feet
gave a cry Of delight, seized the par
eel, opened it at one end, and emptie
from it ruby colored silk dress, al
nounces, furbelows and cachemir
beading, which she instantly proceeds
to try on.
The old lady superintended the pei
formance, pronounced the fit perfect
picked out lingering basting threa
and spread the train abroad, Will
Mrs. Ru1it, who was fat and blonde
and very gushing, constantly repeated
"You know it's the first time Nv
appeared in colors for years, and tn
Dumsdays are so stylish. You knov
| would wish to appear particular
E well. And does it taper in nicely a
: the waist, Aunt Betsey? And doe
the train turn when | walk"
AT last even this nervous lady wa
satisfied, and having looked at he
j back in two glasses, declared that sh
i must take nap before she began t
Il dress, and vanished for that purpose.
And Aunt Betsey, having poured
cup of tea from little brown teapc
- that simmered constantly on the stow
dropped into the vacated chair with
sigh of relief, for Rebecca, though
good-heartel woman, who bad give
her aunt an excellent home for year
became at times trine wearisom
with her affectations, her immen'
anxiety conc ,rning her middle'agc
. charms, and her Hoods OF tears abol
nothing
Had the dress really not con
- home, and had Mrs. Ruilit really bee
obliged to send a regret to the Dunn
days that evening, Aunt Betsy won
have had a weary time of it. Now 81