The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-04-29
HIS NEW COAT;

HIS NEW COAT'
'1s it really true, Max, that you are
going to have a dinner-party at the
Grange1 Of learned gentlcmenG And
papa is to be invited?"
Fanny Leslie flung her little crochet
cap into the air, and caught it again
with the dcxterity of slight of-hand
performer.
Max Lynfcld, who was sitting on the
.ow stone stile that separated the we'll
kept grounds of the Grange from the
weedy wilderness of the Leslie estate,
with gun balanced on his shoulder,
and game-bag slung over his back, nod
ded emphatically.
"All the scientific lights of the conven-
ton are to be invited" said he. "Spec.
taclcs and baldhcads will be at premi-
um. Don't you wish you were a learned
old fudge-eh, Fan? OF course, your
governor is to be invited. Don't he
know the most about Egyptology, and
ancient Roman lcttcrings, of any old gen.
tleman in the land? Isn't Professor Tol-
maine especially anxious to make his ac-
quaintance2 And isn't Doctor Lebrun
going to bring, in his waistcoat pocket,
slab of stone Clipped off from the nose
of some Assyrian statue or other for him
to identify? What are you looking so
sober about9 Jealous because YOU can't
make out the company, eh? I'm sorry
for you, Fanny; but you had no business
to be woman"
"It isn't that" said Fanny, with ludi-
crous solemnity. "What day is the din
ner to be, Max?"
"The seventeenth. Just two weeks
from to-day. But say, Fan, what are
you in such hurry for?'
'It's almost sundown," said Miss Les
lie, gathering her scarf about her should
ers in hurried way. "And have
wasted ever so much time here already.
Good-by, Maxw
eyes; but say, Fanny"
The only response to his appeal was
the light, quick sound of the girls foot
steps, as she fitted away over the carpet
of autumn leaves that covered the path,
into the yellow mist of the October after
noon.
"What pretty girl that isl" Max Lyn-
field murmured to himself. "IIer eyes arc
exactly the color of a hazelnut, and she has
got the sweetest little sugar-plum of a
mouth that l ever bcheld But l don't
Sec why she need be in such hurry"
And he disconsolately picked up the
game-bag which he had unbuckled from
his shoulder, and strobe away, whistling.
Meanwhile, Fanny Leslie had sped
to the dreary, oldfashioned stone house,
blotched with mildew and full of a spec.
tral silence, where old Mr.. Leslie sat,
spectacled and absorbed, among his
books, and Alma. the eldest daughter,
was in the kitchen making damson pud
ding for dinner.
She looked up as Fanny came flying in
'T thought you never were coming,
Fam" said she. "Did you bring the
powdered sugar?"
Here it is." Fanny flung little pa
per on the table. "But oh, Alma! thu
dinner-party at the Grange is to be OIL
the seventeenth, and papa Is to be one o
the invited guests"
J Alma Leslie paused in her task o
sprinkling snowy sugar over the crushe
purple damsons in the plate.
ooh, Fanny" said she. ''But o
course he can't 60. He has no coat fit t,
be seen at dinner party in Colonel Lyn
fields house."
"Alma, he must gow
Glow can he, Fanny"
~ Will DC ouIl " tlCdb lOt ullll, Allllsi
to meet those scientific gentlemen, ant
get glimpse of the world he has so lon,
left behind him." pleaded Fanny. "W
must manage it somehow
Alma knitted her black brows together
''How much money is there in tn
drawer, FAM" she asked, abruptly.
Idon't quite know fifteen dollars,
think"
"All this proves the impossibility Q
our fine dinner-party, Fan" said Alma
Struggling her shoulders. "Fifteen dol
lars would just about purchase the clot
for new coat"
Fanny looked gravely at her sister.
"Well," said she, "that is all want
give me the cloth, and I'll make tn
coat"
"What nonsense, Fannyw
at isn't nonsense at ALL"
"You make broadcloth coatm
.'Why shouldn't 1? Didn't l make
cloth ulster fo. myself, and make it nic'
too2n
''But you are not tailor!"
'Ill be tailoress, which is st
good"
"You have no pattern, Fam"
;, 81 can rip papa's old coat apart an
get the pattern from that, Alma. Whe
is it2 Is he wearing it now?n
'He has got on that old dressing gov
of his, said Alma.
! "Then get the coat-that's dear