Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1890-09-18
THE BALL DRESS.

4 'You are invited to the regiment bali,
my dear" said Mrs. Ackland as her
daughter entered the room, her dripping
waterproof and umbrella giving evidence
of sturdy battle with the storm that
could be plainly heard even through
closed shutters and dropped curtains on
that upper floor ''The most polite letter
from Col. B, and knowing that !
forsook society long ago. Mrs Col
B will take you with her own girls;
it is really charming Of her Here is the
/ ticket"
The elderly ladys frail fingers drew
two elegant squares Of pink and gold
pasteboard from an envelope as she spoke
But the girl, having hung the water
proof in an adjacent kitchen, and perched
her umbrella where it could drip harm
lessly into the stationary tubs of said
kitchen, did not even pick them up.
sit would be better to publish the
| fact that | have retired from society
also. mamma" she said, little sadly.
"Your' cried her mother. At 90,
EfieY"
1T comes to that when one has one
black frock, said Effie. land thatpatched
at both elbows"
"You could go in white" said her
mother. 'sYou look very girlish Gen
| tlemen admire white, or used to. White
and few flowers and no jewelry-no
one could find fault with that style
The greatest heiress in Boston when
was girl was known for her simplicity
always white"
II fancy should be if went in a
sheet and pillow case costume" said
Efie. Really that would be the only
| white one | could manage That poor
old white dress that still exists in your
memory is short in the waist, shorter in
the skirt, won't meet in the belt, and
has sleeve that would not go over my
wrist. I've grown a great deal in five
years, mamma"
Is it five years since you went to
your cousin Jennies wedding in it?n
cried Mrs. Ackland Dear, dear, how
time flies. Couldn't you make over one
Of my old silks?r
II should be laughing stock, mann
ma" said Effie 'sWell, can live with
out going to the ball, though | should
enjoy it very much.
The daughter Of Capt. .Ackland ought
to have opportunities" said the widow.
"How you are to marry if you never
meet any one cannot think. A pretty
girl like you was never meant to be
spinster and work for her bread
Things point in that direction now"
said the girl ''Typewriting is not
lively amusement, and am as likely to
marry as | am to go to China Don't
sigh SO bitterly, mamma. Itwould only
make You lonelier if | went to the ball,
and | should be up late and make mis-
takes next day-lose my place, perhaps.
I'll write very polite regret when !
get some fine note paper. Now. let us
have tea"
The little brown teapot, the two blue
cups and plates to match, were soon on
the table. Effie Aclxland had way Of
making excellent little dishes out of next
to nothing-it was very convenient un-
der the circumstances-and though the
girl pined for something besides the
daily routine Of typewriting and even
ings spent in listening to her mothers
"reminiscences of former grandeur-for
Mrs Ackland had been belle and q
beauty and an expectant heiress when
she married the dashing young captain
it was the mother who befnoaned her
self.
lQc tao hair
cred that the storm had passed, and that
moon and stars were shining. and Effie
declared that she would run down to the
little stationer's and get some note paper
of the proper sort on which to reply to
the kind invitation and offer of the
colonel and his lady.
1t was a quiet neighborhood and very
late, and Effie wrapped herself in thick
cloak and tied little blue hood over
her head and ran lightly down stairs and
down the street toward the stationer's
shop. However, when she reached its
door she found it closed. The ED wom-
an who kept it had expected no custom
ers, and had retired early Effie knew
of another shop Of the same sort few
blocks further on which was always
open late, and turned her steps that way
at least she intended to do So But
there are still portions of New York city
where it is very easy to lose ones self,
and besides Effie was not an old resident
of that part of the town Somehow she
missed the right corner, crossed the
street at the wrong angle, and shortly
discovered that she was lost
1t was gloomy and unpleasant street
in which she found herself, and the girl
was somewhat frightened However,
she decided that the best thing she could
do was to keep on walking until she
came to a decent shop or met police
man of whom she could ask the way.
She acted on this resolution with her
usual promptitude, but for a long while
she went on seeing nothing but liquor or
cigar shops and meeting not a solitary
guardian Of the peace, and came at last
to an old building with blank wall in
the center of which an arched gate stood
open.
just as she stood opposite this gate
two drunken men came bowling down
the street, and IN terror of them she
stepped beneath the arch. They passed
without seeing her, but before she dared
to venture out light shone in her face,
and turning she saw figure in black,
with red shoes, red cap, horns, hoofs,
long tail, which he carried over his
arm, and in his hand great paper par
cel-in fact, Satan as we see him por-
trayed in ancient pictures, acting for the
nonce as messenger boy.
Startled beyond expression, Efie was
about to fly. when the demon spoke.
well, mamselle, I've been waiting
for you long while,r was his charac-
teristic remark. II came 50 .sar to save
time. Won't you get roasting."
Then he tossed the parcel into her
arms, turned and fled.
Effie fed also What the demon had
given her she did not know, but she
quite mechanically clutched it as she
| flew along the lonely street, and by mere
accident took the right direction and
| found herself at the corner of an avenue
she knew. She arrived at her own door
| just in time-at least SO her mother de-
clared-to save that lady from going out
Of her mind with terror. She had no
| paper, but she had the parcel which the
demoniac parsonage had cramned into