Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-03-10

Don't say it's gonc!'
Il don't see how it can be gone"
cried Aunt Betsy, dying wildly up and
down. shaking the curtains, looking
behind the sofa. even opening the SIX
jnch drawer OF n little work-lablc.
'Oh, Rcbecca. I'm sure you iook it
with you! Iii find it. Didn't you put
it in the parlorP"
Away the ladies' flew with queer lit
lie squeals and means.
Every spot in the house was ran
sacked. even the coal-ceilar; but tho
dress was not found.
AT last Mrs. Ruflit fell into the arm
chair, fortunately rs strong rs it was
capacious, and sobbed:
This is what has como Of your
absurd fondness for drunken bcggars,
Aunt Betsy. That oma of yours has
carried Oft my dress"
She couldn't-shc hadn't n thing in
her hand" said poor Aunt Betsy.
Then conscience told her she had
left the woman alone for five minutes
while she took out the jam.
1t was all discussed over and over
again, and the fact that in Miss retsy's
absence tho woman had put the new
dress through the window, and picked
il Up when she went out, was fully es-
tabiished.
The police were notified, a dcscrip-
ton OF the dress and the put
in their hands, and Il note OF regret
written to the Dumsdays.
Mrs. Ruilit was persuaded to take
some tea and toast, and sat bcwailing
her loss and rocking to and fro.
"A dress that cost me ninety dollars
before it was made. and TWENTY-FIVE
for the making" sighed Mrs. Rufit.
Il cant afford another like it this
winter, and Colonel Cowes was to be
at The DuUsdays', and he admireS me
very much. Aunt Betsy, and it's most
annoying. III calculated on it two
weeks, and You must BEG and pray n
tipsy tramp 10 come and take tea with
0 ON purpose to have my dress
stolen"
Il didn't beg and pray her. She
asked me for n little tea, and she
wasn't tipsy,' sobbed Miss Betsy.
''Oh. Rebccca Rutlit, how crue! you
are!'
Il suppose YOU expected ne to
dance for JOY" said Mrs. Ruff. Il
must say that's too much TO expect;
murdered. if you could only give al
the money You liked 10 drunken
lramps. That's your monOmania,
Aunt Betsy, and | must say it if you
Nil me-
Then began = woful quarrel, in which
all the reproachcs that could be utter
Ell on either side found vent.
The ladies wept, and sighed. and be-
moancd themselves.
They spoke OF parting. They shook
their heads and rocked TO and fro. and
the fire went out, and the oil burnt low
in the lamp. TEe clock struck ten
and eleven, and still the ladies found
new determinations 10 utter.
AT last twelve O'Clock came. The
carriages which bore the departing
guests home from the Dumsdavs' GREAT
party were heard to roll past, and
Mrs. Ruff burst into a fresh hood OF
tears.
Il feel 50 drcadfully SICK Aunt
Betsy, y she said; $50 heavy in every
limb; such n weight somehow. Iou
know excitement is bad for me. Or.
Sweetman says I'm prcdisposed to
heart-diSease, and | know this is an at
tack of it. I've all the symptoms. NV
arms are swolicn-.ook how tight The
sleeves of this drcssing-gown are-and,
my goodness. Aunt betsy. LOOK ut the
belt! il won't meet! Can't You see how
I'm putling ~ all over? I'm going TO
diet
"Ah. my poor child" cried Aunt
Betsy, you really are! On, do let
me take your things off, aud put VOW
10 bed, and send for q doctor. Come
upstairs nj once"
Mrs. Ruff assentcd.
Aunt Betsy helped her upstaivs.
opened the bed, laid out the white
ni~ght-gown, and began TO help hcl
niece IF with the doublc.gowu. She
slipped the big loops of cord from the
big buttons, and began tugging at the
sleeve.
The lowered cashmere slowly re-
coded from the left shoulder.
Aunt Betsy paused and gave 4
scream
"Rebocca Runit!' she cried.
"Oh, what is il, Aunt Betsy?" asked
Mrs. RUlit. Am | turning blacN?:''
'LooN.' cried Aunt Betsy. ''Why,
Robecca R0ilia, you'v put your double
gown on over your new dress. No
wonder you felt queer"
'Whv, now did | come TO DO such =
thing?" gaspcd Mrs. Rutit in amaze
ment. Il must have taken my nap in
it, too
She peeled of the doub,c-gown in
dou~blo-quick time.
She had nothing 20 say, except:
mo wonder felt s%tuify.'
There was nobody 10 blame. aud
nothing to do but to make it up with
Aunt Betsy, who accorded n g~raciou,
forgiveness. and retired mcckly; but
up in her own she INDUCED her
self in n little burst Of triumph.
'''Tisn't me that's made n fool of
myself" she said ungrammatically, rs
she tied her night-cap. and blew out
the candle; land that's some comfort,
anyhow"