Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-07-20

WIG uoXG Jay carried ner bundle In triumph
to her dressmaker. That was her idea. Her
dressmaker, of course, was one Of that inf
mite number of sewing women, found only
by sheer good luck, who are called "jewels'
by feminine gossips, and who charge two
prices. They are said to be reasonable as
distinguished from the real modiste. Ac-
cording to immemorial usage among dress
makers, this particular "jewel" of Minnie's
did not set price, but she said it was
splendid plan" that she would try, and that
she would make everything satisfactory"
What can be more satisfactory than satisfac-
toryl Minnie departed in great spirits.
Time ratified on and brought the night Of
the clubs first meeting
The Blossoms acceptance had been duly
sent, and Alexander had been complacently
informed that dress suit would be provided.
He trusted to his wife implicitly, believing
not that in two months she would create a
wonderful novel, as ladies so easily do-in
other novels-but that she would pursue the
more useful and perhaps more womanly plan
Iof calling on her father. Men are SO tardy
i'm conceding to their wives other than do
Imestic virtues But one man was about to
have his masculine prejudices swept away.
The important night having rolled into War
rensburg, Minnie came dancing down stairs
in something" the gifted dressmaker "had
patched up out of nothing" and consequent
TALLY babe her dependent husband to "come
up and get ready" He went. The bundle
was brought out for him to open. 1t was q
regular tailor's box such was Minnie's craft
Iiness and lo on the collar of the coat was
the clarifying name of New York tailor.
Minnie, Of course, had obtained the name Of
IL. G,4 "a.
hands.
Alec, with full heart, donned the suit
and stood before the mirror. He cast two
careful, comprehensive glances at the trim
reflection, clasped Minnie to the new coat
and exclaimed in many raptures, ''You dar-
ling! lists the regular thing~
''Are you satisfied" asked the wife, wish
ling him to commit himself beyond retrac-
ton before she divulged the low origin Of
the suit.
"Of courser cried Alec warmly, wishing
he were woman, SO that he could gush
little. Satisfied Why, it's one of Acker-
mans best-that's what it is. See the way
it fits. I could tell that was Alderman
mile off,"
When he had raved for ten minutes Minnie
confessed the history Of the suit. $50 you
tStt, dlCe1 dlly ou0 Sdld dt ldSU, We WOu1tu
do know something"
Mr.. Blossom looked at the coat more crit
iically, trying to detect blemish, but he
couldn't.
care you still satisfeda' asked Minnie.
He had to admit that he was.
Snow, how much do you suppose it costa"
Nh. Blossom couldn't tell ''Now, tail
or"-he began.
ssTo;IoriO o~;ol N6,,,,;o ttvo,, xooo, ,,ob
ber counted on just $40, and out Of that I
have this suit, which you say you like, and
this dress of mine. You would have paid
SIS for the suit alone. Tomorrow I shall go
and pay up, and warn you that every cent
candy, every single cent? For Minnie had
the woman's love of extravaganza after all.
So this was Mrs. Blossoms triumph. Not
gentleman at the club was better dressed
than her husband.
They were both In raptures Alexander
especially, when he had convinced himself
that his suit did not proclaim to the world
the disgraceful truth that it had been con-
structed by dressmaker.
The next evening, when Mr.. Blossom came
home and instituted the search for Minnie,
she did not leap out at him from her old I'M
thought of hiding place. She was in her
room and crying.
''Whats the matterp' asked Alexander.
She did not reply at f1rst but still kept her
head from him, but when she had been,
wrought up to the proper state Of sympathy
and alarm she cried little more bitterly
than before, and quite unconsciously relaxed
her grasp on piece of crumpled paper. AL
exander OWNED that this dingy scrap was
,p% o1yoJ
1t contained atrocious writing executed in
red ink, and looked like the work of dyna-
inter. But it was not SO brief. 1t began:
'sMrs. Blossom to Mrs. Darden, mans Dress
Suite" and after eighteen or twenty lines Of
trimmings, Innings, buttons, extra cloth,
making, etc., eliminated In "totle $50. u!
Under this ''totle" Minnie had written in;
trembling figures what she owed the tailor,
$685. and then she had made a ''totle" of her
own. The dress suit had cost her $72.
"You hate me-" she sobbed; you'll think
you've married simpleton."
Alexander was not distinguished for keen
insight into human nature, but with SO beau
tiful and appealing creature as Minnie in
tears who would not know the proper chordi
''Sinpletonl" he cried: and distrusting the
power of words alone he seized her by the
waist, "sae jump" and gleefully whisked her
about the room, $50 you want compliment
on your fnancieringa You shall have it.
You have got thing worth s75 for s72;
made 50 by simply turzing over your some
what dimpled hand. simpleton, forsooth;
you are money grubberl Take me to the
theatre, capitall and will give the supper
afterwards. Eha What do YOU think of
that's"
Minnie, flying from tears to smiles, fool
1shly thought Alexander more adorable than
ever, and that evening at the play, although
it was very fatal tragedy, they successfully
maintained the highest spirits. But better
than all, when the story was related to
Minnie's father, he-knowing how to strike
the right chord-immediately presented her
with large check as a guarantee that her
first charmingsfutile efforts at economy were
properly appreciated. Hartford Times.