The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-05-14
THE SILK DRESS.
What Tt Cost, After Twenty Years
of Waiting.

'There's Annie Beldon!' said Aunt
Jane, looking up from her knitting as
she heard the sound of footsteps on the
plank walk which lay along the front
fence. "Poor soul! [ never see her
that L don't think of that verse in the
Bible which says that from him that
hath not shall be taken even that which
he hath. " and she sighed deeply.
Hooked from the window just in time
to see Annie Beldon before she turned
the corner of the next street. She was
a faded, careworn looking woman, a
little past middle age, with dark brown
hair thickly sprinkled with gray Her
dress was rusty black cashmere, her
black shawl was decidedly shabby, and
her Grape bonnet was shabbier still
She looked neither attractive nor inter-
esting, and turned from the window
and took up my crocheting again, re-
marking only that 'she looked as if she
had had her share of sorrow
Sometimes / think she has had a
good deal more than her share" said
Aunt Jane. 81 know dozens of women
would have sunk into the grave under
only half as much. And the best of it
is, she don't never complain. She's the
cheerfulest soul that ever breathed."
docs she live near here?" I asked,
more out of politeness than from any
real interest in the subject.
mo! butshe was my next-door neigh
Dor for twenty-five years when this was
farmhouse. The town lay two miles
of then. and we never looked to see it
grow up right to our very doors. An
ME wouldn't be wearin' such shabby
clothes if there hadn't been a mortgage
on their place. She could have sold
every acre at good profit if it had been
free.'
Tell me about her, Aunt Jane" l
said, as the old lady paused. You'll
have plenty of time before supper"
Dear me, child, there isn't much to
tell, n maybe the little there is wouldn't
prove very interestin' to you. know
Annie looks shabby, n old, n gray
now, n not much like she did thirty
years ago. We was girls together, m
she was the prettiest an liveliest little
thing | ever saw. Her ewes was black
as Goals, N her hair hung in long eurls
to her waist. She had a laugh n a
good word for everybody, m more
beaus than she could tend to. There
was only two of 'em, though. that she
favored at all. One was Tom Lay
tom N
'The owner of the Layton Mills?"
Interrupted.
Yes; but he didn't own the mills
then. He was only superintendent
there, N though he was a savin', in
dustrious young man, no one looked to
see him get to be millionaire. But he
had a good salary, n his father was
weu-to-do, n he was reckoned a good
match fer Annie. For awhile folks
thought she'd marry him; but he warn t
a professor, n Annie set deal by her
church. She allowed that if she mar
RED man who never went inside of
one she d be false to her principles, for
the Bible says the righteous shall not be
boked to the unrighteous, YOU know.
!om took it real hard at first, but he
oldn bear Annie no i'll will. n when
she married Luther Beldon he sent her
handsome present. Luther he was a
Ieal steady Young man, but somehow or
other ne didn't have no luck. He had
Sood far1n, but, work as he might, he
never made nothin' off it more'n n a bare
nVln, n Annie had to pinch n screw
10 keep Clothes to their backs. She was
d master hand at .managin m she
worked like horse, but wear after wear
nent 3y n they didn't get no better off
Drouth n early frost, m too much
ram, Rep 'em alters behindhand M
5eSs r@,n, wnen they was thinkin' they was
gom TO DO better there'd come some.
'ning that would put 'em back again
Luther he got discouraged. but Annie
si'e never lost heart. Leastways she
never seemed to. When they'd come
over here n Luther he'd get to tellin'
now crossWays things alters went for
nlm, she'd alters have. something cheer
iui 10 say. She'd tell about IF was a
Iong lane that had no turnin'. m il was
a,,els thons darkest jest before the dav, N
'nere was alters silver linin' to eyery
cloud till Luther he'd get pleasant
ssan tEa; n ready to laugh with her over
~, Amt I.got treasure in my wife2
ne q say. Long as frosts m mildew
a hoods don't take her away from me.
guess can get along
ihey was over here to take dinner the
eay was thirty. / was wearin' for the
4rst time new black silk dress which
oonh ou mad given me for birthday pres
has, III III was thick m soft m mighty
nahindsome, nan n Luther he didn't seem
aole to keep his eyes off it.
wonder when I'll be able to 0;ve