Thomas County cat., 1889-08-29

"Well, we re pretty couple TO tnlnk OF
going to ball How Odd was you your last
birthdayr'
Mandy, you needn't be throwing 1t up to
feller that he's getting on to the shady
side of life. I'm willing to admit that
amt quite so young as 1 was once, but you
amt SO old as Ibe. It's on your account
was thinking of it,
"Well, Nathan, don't think OF it any more
It's foolish
Nathan slept very poorly that night. He
was thin king of the ball. Poor, foolish fel-
low, he wanted Mandy to have one more
chance to shine. He said to himself: ''Why,
they couldn't none of the girls compare with
her. I'd like to know what's been the
good of our coming to town if we amt
a-goin' to git inter sassiety. I've alters
wanted to move in the best circles and when
here's chance to git acquainted with the
Hallams and McDonalds and all the rest,
what must Mandy do but turn stubborn"
He had set his heart on going and he
could not bear to give it up.
At breakfast the next morning while
Mandy baked griddles' full of crisp, brown
cakes, and Nathan heroically devoured
them as they hoated in rich amber sirup.
he spoke: MANDY, I've been thinking it's
our duty to 60"
'To go to what. Nathan?" said Mrs. Skin.
ner, absently. She was thinking she must
get something to tempt Natban's appetite.
"He never stopped off with four griddles
full when we was up home. 1t must be the
air amt quite so good here in the city," she
thought.
'Why, the charity ball." said Nathan.
tmpatiently interrupting her reverie.
..n
Ing herself; 'Iremember you did speak OF
It,"
"Speak of it? I say we must go! he
you know. Our money may be took away
from US if we don't use it right
''Well, can't helpit. I'd like to help
some of them awful poor folks, but can't
go to that ball, and, Nathan, I wouldn't
quote Bible to git me to go.''
you've got to, Mandy. I've set my boot
down that Well go, and I won't be dis
puted."
IfIwere to tell you that Mandy never in
tended in the least to go, you would Won
der why she meekly answered: "Very
well, Nathan, if you're SO set on goin', I
suppose We'll 60"
Mandy was wise woman, and she had
net lived with Nathan Skinner all these
years without learning to let him have his
own way, apparently.
"Good. Now, Mandy, that sounds right.
You know you'll have to have a new dress
and some other fixin's."
Nathan Skinner, you're extravagant.
Such things is sinful. Isnail just wear my
black silk"
"No, you won't do no such thing. amt
been reading the papers lately for nothin'.
II you'd noticed you'd a seen me study !ng
them new fashions. What was lookin'
fer, a new gown fer my Mandy"
Nathan leaned back in his chair, shut his
Iyes and said, meditatively: 81 see We
standin' on that ballroom floor a wavin' a
ostrich feather fan, yer back hair put up
on the top of yer head, yer front hair cut
ruther short and wsvy like, and a dress
let's see, what'n yer dress bel l think
q purity red velvet, and you'll wear gloves,
Mandy, long ones, to reach plum to yer
shoulder"
He opened his eyes and said, briskly: "rn
60 with you and help you git things; you
see know yer taste is pretty sober and
amt a-goin' to have you look glum. Well
have to git at it to-day, Mandy. After you
git the dishes done up, We'll 60 down and
see what we can find"
That day they were seen to enter every
dry-goods store in the city. Nsthan in
variably took the lead.
"Trot down yer best velvet" he would
say, 81 don't care how much it costs" g
The shade of velvet which he wanted was
not to be found. He had an exaggerated
notion in his mind, CLEANED from some very
dashy novel, as to the wonderful richness
which velvet might possess A disappointed
couple they started home that night.
'Let's give it up, Nathan"
"Well, rather think / won't. They keer
more variety in them big stores down tc
New York, don't theyl I'm goin' to send
there"
He composed q letter beginning s'Dear
Sirs," and then there was a long pause.
The letter when finished did not satisfy
i + \ \ al