Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-11-03
From the Helping Hand.
THE WALKING-DRESS.

''Such extravaganza! muttered
Aunt Prue, land her father q poor
clerk"
"William," said my mother, as
strained my eyes to catch q glimpse OF
the pretty passing figure, 81 saw such
a nice advertisement to-day of nur-
sery -governess. Why won't you call
on your way to the store? Such
chances are gone so soon. Here Is the
paper, and that's the place" designat-
ing it.
''Of course, it's extravaganza con-
tinued Aunt Prue. 'fDo you remem-
Der what your walking dress cost
your" turning to my sister Kate, who
had merely remarked, "How do you
know it s extravagant %
Twenty dollars for material" said
Kate promptly; "ten dollars for max
ing and trimming"
"Nherer' exclaimed Aunt Prue, in a
burst OF virtuous indignation, 81 never
faucied it cost so much as that. Why,
it's wicked, even for you. There's my
levanrine SATIN"
THAT you've had forty years, !"
laughed Kate.
"rhirty-five, if you please, Miss
Kate. I'm not quite a hundred" said
Aunt Prue. with awful severity.
But. aunty, even thirty-five years
ago." Kate continued, still laughing,
50 silk could be bought with but little
more than the same money a common
dress costs now. Besides, remember,
/ intend 10 wear mine esll summer"
And so, suppose, Bell Mortimer
wiz GET but one for the summer, but
that oneoughC TO pinch her dreadfully.
Why, it was bound ST the ruffles with
blue silk"
/ lett Aunt Prue still talking upon
her favCrite theme, the extravaganza
OF the world IN general, and hailed an
omnibus few squares off. AS | en-
tered it, a sweet, modest-looking girl
was just leaving it. | caught one
glance Of q pair of beautiful brown
eyes.
"By Jove!" | said to myself, "walk-
ing-dress trimmed with blue; looks
like the Identical girl Aunt Prue was
declaiming about" I followed her
with my eyes for a long distance, when
she seemed TO turn, with q wild gesture
OF distress, and run toward US; but,
OF course, as we were very much in adj
vance, and constantly moving she
made but little progress. yours,
sir ?" queried an over-dressed young
fellow IN yellow kids, as, after stoop-
ing towards Inc. he held up dainty,
brown leather purse, edged With silver
steel. Not mine--prob baby belongs
to the young lady who got out" said
|, SIS | took iC, stopping the bus at the
same moment, and sprang on to the
pavement, and walked toward her.
son, sir! you have got it was so
frightened-sO very much afraid" and
the brown eyes were filed with tears;
the fingers trembled, though the resto-
ration OF her pretty little treasure had
brought a faint glow to her cheek.
Mechanically she pressed the spring
it openod just as | was on the point Of
turning away; bat her piteous excla-
nation and sudden and startling pale
ness arrested my steps.
''Tbe-the-moneyi Is gonel" and she
looked wildly about her; then half
gasped, "Oh, yesl it has gone-his
money-gone ~
A pretty situation for g. young man
who had Just restored a purse to it's
owner-and | made the most of its
wretchedness. For the moment felt
like q convicted thief. "I'm sure I'm
very sorry, MISS" said, stammering
a little, and growing very red; cit was
handed to me. | remember the fellow
very well, too-a suspicious character,
| am sure. Gould hepossibly have alb
stracted the money when he picked it
up?" I pitied her, she looked so dis
tressed-and what might she not think
OF me- Ny faltering tongue and con-
fused appearance were against me.
Chow much money had you, miss ?"
/ managed to ask, for her fearful eyes
and quivering lips quite unnamed me.
'sThree fifty. dollar notes." she re-
piled. family.
''Will you allow me to take your
number, and l will report TO a de-
tective who has done some business for
me?" said. taking out my tablet.
She was very pale and quiet now,
and looked at me IL q way [ did not
like, but which, under the circum-
stances, was quite natural.
''Ninety-four Green Street., was the
4CDAys
"Why! | was to call there!" I ex-
claimed. in surprise; sat least, it was
my mothers wish, to see nursery
governess -
my sister, she said, flushing pain
fully, "she has never been OUTPUT is
ambitious" and again her lips quiz
cred painfully-she turned away.
assured her that | would attend to
the recovery OF the money and left her,
for / knew her heart was full.
In the afternoon, having placed the
business in the hands OF Stackford,