The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-10

11h tAbIChNAhht e1PRLORNAO0 -ANA
bowed deferentially.
al want something very pretty IN
ball dresses" she said. carelessly.
''Not too handsome; it is for a first
ball; for my friend here. Jeannie,
come and consult.
twas decided at the outset thatit
must be white. Something SHIN
merry" JEANNE had suggested.
Letlie waved aside all fimsy mate
rials disdainfully. "Pretty," she ad-
mitted, "but mean to give You some
thing substantially useful, JEANNE. "
Satin, the designer decided, was too
old, but he could make up a lovely dress
out of satin merveilleux. This met
with the approval of both the girls:
"And now as to style, madam. he
said, thoughtfully. ''YOu would like
something simple, yet fashionable,
presume. - El
He retired gravely to desk behind
a wooden screen, and covered his eyes
l with his hand in rapt consideration: A
few inarticulate sounds escaped him;
then he rose the inspired artist.
alt must be gold, he said, gravely,
'sbraid, | would recommend. 1t IS
youthful and well suited to the ma
terial." tE4F5
He sent an assistant for the Paris
model, while he proceeded TO further
| explain his ideas. JEANNE was, OF
course. charmed. She had never I'M
agined herself in such a costume.
81 must make some slight varia-
tions." continued the artist. The
model. you will perceive is somewhat
handsomer than [ propose. Satin and
gold embroidery" tr
sit is lovelyn' gasped both the girls
in a breath.
81 must have one like it" exclaimed
Lettie. 81 had not intended getting a
new dress for Woodbridge, but
The but was significant, and the
compliment it conveyed not lost on Mr..
Cooper. MADAM" he said bowling,
sit would surpass all my former efforts
| in the line To be sure, the dress would
require carrying off But l think. in
fact [ am sure, that you could do 1t.
He strobe away to allow his words to
take effect, returning in a few seconds
with the details all prepared, and
placed a few patterns on the table.
81 have a design for q body" he
said, ''that would complete the costume
to perfection. 1t would suit you.
madam. 1t is more than becoming; it
would. in fact, improve your figure fifty
per cent"
This seemed truly irresistible, and
proved so to Lettie. The orders were
carefully inscribed by Mr.. Cooper.
''The names and address?' he asked.
''MisS Phillimore," replied Lettie.
"Miss Carson" intimating JEANNE.
''150, Stanhope Gardens. We leave
town this day week; l trust both
dresses may be ready"
MIR. Cooper bowed, and the ladies
went upstairs to the dressmaker.
Now, it happened that just at this
moment an irascible Countess made
her entry, who was seriously offended
at some negligence on the part of q
workwoman. Mr. Cooper was called
! into requiSition, and the names were
not entered in the book. The Countess
kept him long, and when at last he was
free and flew upstairs to make good his
omission the girls had left and the
names had slipped his memory.
1t has been remarked that Lettie
looked tall. 1t was her stately
carriage that misguided, for as matter
of fact, JEANNE was the taller of the
| two. Mr. Cooper allowed himself TO be
satisfied with the dressmaker's dimen-
sions; so it came about that Lettie's or
der was made up to Jeannie's pattern,
and Jeannie's to Lettie's.
On the morning of the ball. the Squire
received the following epistle:
10 Stanhope Garden.
| DEAREST OLD GUARDIAN: Miss Prim has
| gone home for Il month, and / am bringing
JEANNE Carson with me Tomorrow l sup
! pose it will make no difference. She only left
| school ut Christmas and has never been TO 4
| ball.
Il mean to appear in such dress! the like
| of which has never been seen in Woodbridge.
White satin and gold embroideryH A real
dazzler, I'm sure you'll say. Your loving
| LETIrIA PHILLIMORE."
"a southerly wind and a cloudy sky
! Proclaim hunters morning.
So carolled the Squire when he had fin
ished his good brea kfast of rump-Steak,
and was surveying his pink and top
boots with the satisfaction of staunch
croSs-country rider
'Poor Philip, l might have offered
him mount. But there, he'll be all
the fresher for the ball tonight
They had splendid run that day.
Two hours and twenty minutes hard
riding. The Squire was not young,
but he sat well and headed the field.
When he got home, his mare had pulled
frightfully, he said; be felt dislocated
in every Joint; and that afternoon all
in the house agreed that he was not the
man he used to be.
s.I can't take YOU to the ball tonight,
girls" he said. ats been a bit too
much for me- Lady Alcote will call for
Won. But you must let me see the
dresses" he added, with merry
twinkle of his eye.
He sat quietly in his library while the
girls unpacked. Presently he took i
leaf out of his pocket-book, wrote a
few words on it and rang the bell for a
servant. ''Shan't be there to see the
working Of it," he muttered, ''but III
give Master Phil the straight tip anG
this is how he did it:
$50 in and win, my boy. Make fol-
the white satin and gold embroidery
ITO the barracks at once, he said,
handing his missive to the man.
. Great was the CONSERVATION upstairs
when the mistake in the dresses was
discovered. The girls might fume and
abuse Mr. Cooper and the whole firm
of Harley & West as much as they
pleased, but there was nothing to b6
done, and they had to make the bes
of 1t.
I s'It all comes of not going to bt
fitted" said Lettie regretfully, but W.
: really were too much occupied. Wer'
/ 1--we not, Jeannie?' r1t
Yes. Jeannie agreed that they had