West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-01-24
In BORROWED FEATHERS.

IL was n rainy evening, and Hattie
Murray's well-worn blue merino gown
was literally besprinkled with bright
drops as she came into Daphne Walters
room at the ''Old led House,
!hat was the name by which it went.
although the red paint was long ago
washed OF ats crumbiing shingles.
lt had beea hotel once in the old
post-revolutioDary days, when four horse
stages went rumbling by, and cock
hated travellers trotted past with saddle
bags strapped behind them.
III was now a cheap boarding house.
Kept by Mrs. Sandison, where most of
the girls boarded who worked in Lis
combe's Silk Mills, halt mile down the
river
- Hattie Murray did not live there. be-
cause her father owned a dreary sheen
farm on the flats beyond, and she helped
with the housework morning and even
ing in lieu of her board, and she had run
over In the rain for an evening chat with
- ne girl who stood at the next loom 70
She was blue eyed, yellow. haired
girl, IKE French doll, with pretty
teeth and a simpering way of showing
tnem; and slender as were the wages
she earned, she always contrived to be
showlly attired. She worshipped dress
as Parsee worships the sun.
Daphne Walters was quite a different
sort OF person-olive complexioned.
with sombre, glittering eyes. and a dim
fps. ''OS0 70 'n' corner OIL her
She wore a brown serge gown, which
Hattie was quite sure must have be
longed to 'Mrs. Noah" !" and in place OF
the cheap imitation iewelry which
sparklcd all over Hattie's trim person,
her plain linen collar was fastened by
bow OF narrow brown ribbon.
She looked up with smile, and
pointed to a wooden chair close to the
table beside which she was working.
why, Hattie" said she, ''you are all
dripping with rainp'
"Oh, it's nothing" cried Hattie.
hinging off her hood and shawl "What
are you working att That old thing2o
with contemptuous upward tilt Of her
pretty little nose.
Daphne looked down at the garnet
cashmere dress, which she was re-trim-
ming with bows Of fresh red ribbon, and
smiled a little.
1T may be DID," said she, 'but it is
the best have got"
"You are not going 10 wear that to the
husking dance7"
''Irs that or nothing, Hattie" Daphne
answ red, composedly. "Do You sun
pose can afford white silk toflettes or
wine-colored plushe5 out OF my ten dol
lars week7"
Hattie's face clouded over.
its a shame that old Liscombe paws
rs such starvation wages" F" pouted she.
''But that's just what I've come over to
talk to yon about, Daphne. I've been
TO New York to-day, in the cheap ex-
cursion steamboat
II noticed that you weren't at the
room said Daphne. "Rosa Bucknor
took it.n
''such time as 7 have hadle cried
eager Hattie. ''And such lot OF new
ideas as I've picked upl Put away that
dowdy old cashmere, Daphne. You
won't look twice at Il when you hear
what We seen. I've been to the
Holton Street Bazar.n
well, what Of that1' calmly ques-
toned Daphne.
Have you never heard Of it4D
Hattie lifted her hands and eyes in
protesting manner toward the ceiling.
" hAtNaH HAiM NAtNf 'AlANN any one
can be so ignorant OF what is going on
Well, my dear, it's a place where yon
can buy-or hire, II you like that better
the prcttiest, most sty sh dresses you
ever saw for mere song"
"You must have been into the do.
mains Of the Arabian Nights" said
Daphne, dsily.
ats a second hand place" explained
Hattie, "whore fine lad es dispose OF the
things they have worn only few times.
and ono can get superb bargains
Daphne shrugged her shoulders.
Owe should look fine shouldn't we,
said she, Gin dresses that had been worn
by fine ladies'"
Owe cou Il alter them over"
ono, thank youW SAID composed
Daphne 81 prefer the old garnet cash
mere, with the knots of new ribbon.n
"Oh, but" pleaded Hattie. "you
don't know There's the lOvclicst yellow
moire.antique perfect, only for a wine
stain on the front breadth. and That
could be covered up By changing the
drapcres 90 the back YOu are such
brunette, Daphne, you'd look superb IN
yellow And it cost q hundred and