The Iola register., 1889-08-09

"Well, we're pretty couple to tAink OF
going to a bali How o.d was You your last
birthday9''
Mandy, you needn't be throwing it up to
a feller that he's getting on to the shady
side of life I'm Hing to admit that
amt quite so young as was cnce, but you
amt so old as lie. It's on your account
was thinking of it,"
swell, Nathan, don't think oft any more.
It's foolish -
Nathan slept very poorly that night. He
was thinking of the bali Poor, foolish fell
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 a 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"
eTo go to what. Nathan?" said Mrs. Skin.
ner, absently. She was thinking she must
get something to tempt Nathan'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,
impatiently interrupting her reverie.
20, yes" answered Mrs. Skinner, recall
ing herself; 'Iremember you did speak OF
it,"
"Speak of ita 1 say we must go! 'He
that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord,
you know. Our money may be took aw:y
from us if we don't use it right
well, l can't help it. I'd like to help
some of them awful poor folks, but can't
| 20 to that ball, and, Nathan, l wouldn't
| quote Bible to git me to CO."
you've got to, Mandy. Fve set my boot
| down that We'll go, and l won't be dis
puted."
III were TO tell you that Mandy never in
tended in the least to go, you would Won
der why she meekly answered: every
well, Nathan, if you're so set on goin', l
suppose We'll GO"
Mandy was wise woman, and she had
| not 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 IL have to have new dress
| and some other tixin's.'
Nathan Skinner, you're extravagant.
Such things is sinful. 1snall just wear my
| black silk
mo, you won't do no such thing. I amt
been reading the papers lately for nothin'.
| If you'd noticed you'd a seen me study .ng
them new fashions. What was l lookin'
| fer, a new gown fer my Mandy"
Nathan leaned back in his chair, shut his
ewes and said, meditatively: 81 see We a
| standn' on that ballroom floor wavin' a
ostrich feather fan, yer back hair put up
| or the top of yer head, yer front hair cut
| ruther short and wavy like, and a dress
| let's see, what'll yer dress be! l think
| a purity red velvet, and you'll wear gloves,
Mandy, long ones, to reach plum to yer
| shoulder"
He opened his eyes and said, brslily: "Tll
| go with you and help YOU git things: you
see know yer taste is pretty sober and
amt a-goin' to have you look glum. Wen
have to git at it to-day, Mandy. After you
| git the dishes done up, we'll go down and
see what we can find"
That day they were seen to enter every
dry-goods store in the city. Nathan in
| variably took the lead.
"Trot down yer best velvet" he would
say, Il don't care how much it COSTS
The shade of velvet which he wanted was
not to be found He had an exaggerated
notion in his mind, CLEANED from some very
| iashy novel, as 10 the wonderful richness
which velvet might possess A disappointed
couple they started home that night.
Lets give it up, Nathan
.'Well, | rather think won't. They keep
more variety in them big stores down tc
New York, don't they: I'm goin' 10 send
there
He composed a letter beginning "Dear
Sirs." and then there was long pause.
The letter when finished did not satisfy