The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-06-05
His New Coat.
Helen Forrest Graves.

Helen Forrest Graves
'Is it really true, Max, that you are
going to have dinner-party at the
Grange? Of learned gentlemen? And
papa is to be invited?'
Fanny Leslie flung her little crochet
cap into the air, and caught it again
with the dexterity of slight-of-hand
performer.
Max Lynfeld, who was sitting on the
low 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,
nodded emphatically.
'All the scientific lights of the con-
vention are to be invited said he.
'Spectacles and baldheads will be at a
premium. Don't you wish y0u 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 letterings, of any old
gentleman in the land? Isn't Professor
Tolmaine especially anxious to make his
acquaintance? 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 about? Jealous because you
can't make out the company, eh? I'm
sorry for you, Fanny; but you had no
business to be woman.
1T isn't that said Fanny, with ludi-
crous solemnity. 'What day is the din
ner to be, MAXI
'The seventeenth. Just two weeks
from to-day. But I say, Fan, what are
you in such hurry for7'
It's almost sundown, said Miss Les
lie, gathering her scarf about her should
ers in hurried way. 'And I have
wasted ever so much time here already.
Good by, Maxi
'Yes; but 1 say, Fanny
The only response to his appeal was
.else lisht, quick sound of the glrl's loot
steps, aS IL a;t+aJ - n-.-ay O'Cf tiic Cdi pct
of autumn leaves that covered the path,
into the yellow mist of the October af-
ternoon.
'What a pretty girl that ISL Max
Lynfeld murmured to himself. 'Her
eyes are exactly the color of hazelnut,
and she has got the sweetest little sugar
plum of mouth that l ever beheld
But 1 don see why she need be in such
hurry
And he disconsolately picked up the
game-hag which he had unbuckled from
hisshoulder, and strobe away, whistling.
Meanwhile, Fanny Leslie had sped
to the dreary, old-fashioned stone house,
5lotched with mldew and full of spec
trail silence, where old Mr.. Leslie sat,
specialized and absorbed, among his
books, and Alma, the eldest daughter,
was in the kitchen making damson
pudding for dinner.
She looked up as Fanny came flying
in.
Il 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 the
dinner-party at the Grange is to be on
the seventeenth, and papa is to be one
of the invited guests'
Alma Leslie paused in her task of
sprinkling snowy sugar over the crush
ed, purple damsons in the plate.
ooh, Fanny!' said she. But of course
he can't 60. He has no coat fit to be
seen at dinner-party in Colonel Lyn-
fields house.
alma, he must go!'
sHow can he, Fanny?'
1T will be such treat for him, Alma,
to meet those scientific gentlemen, and
get glimpse of the world he has so long
left behind him. pleaded Fanny. 'We
must manage it somehow
Alma knitted her black brows to-
gether.
'How much money is there in the
drawer, Fan?' she asked, abruptly.
Il don't quite know-ffteen dollars,
I think.
sAll this proves the impossibility of
our fine dinner-party, Fan, said Alma,
struggling her shoulders. Fifteen dol
lars would just about purchase the cloth
for new coat
Fanny looked gravely at her sister.
sWell,' said she, that is all l want.
give me the cloth, and I'll make the
coat
'What nonsense, Fanny!'
1T isn't nonsense at all.
sXu make broadcloth coatl
sWhy shouldn't ~ Didn't make
a cloth ulster for myself, and make it
nice, too2'
But you are not tailor!
I'll be tailoress, which is just as
good.''
you have no pattern, Fam
4 can rip papa's old coat apart ano
get the pattern from that, Alma. Where
is it?' Is he wearing it now?
'He has got on that old dressing-gowr
of his,' said Alma.
sThen get the coat-that's dear
and rip it carefully apart said Fanny
while l 60 down to the store and bu.
the broadcloth. We haven't secont
of time to loose
The next two days were days of cut
ting, stitching, pressing, calculating, II
the big, sunny south room which tn
Leslie girls called their houdoir.
Old Mr.. Leslie sat among his dust
tones and ponderous dictionaries, wit