Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-10-24
miscellaneous.
THE MYSTERIOUS DRESS.

IL IL AL "a LAbAOO0 ORAlb0s
"You are invited to the regiment ball,
my DEAR" said Mrs Ackand, us her
daughter entered the room, her dripping
waterproof and umbrella giving evil
dence 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 let
ter from Colonel B, and knowing
that forsook society long ago. Mrs.
Col. B will take you with her own
girls. 1t is really charming of her.
Here is the ticket"
The elder lady's frail fingers drew two
elegant squares of pink and gold paste
board from an envelope as she spoke.
But the girl, having hung her water
proof in an adjacent kitchen, and perch
ed her umbrella where it could drip
harmlessly in some stationary tubs of
said kitchen, did not even pick them up.
ut would bc better to publish tho
fact that have retired from society also,
mamma" she said, u little sadly.
"You !" cried her mother. cat TWEEN
ty, Efiic y
"It comes to that when one has but one
black frock," said Eflic, ''and that patch
ed at the elbows"
you could go in white" said her
mother. You look very girlish Gem
tlemen admire white, or used to. White
and few flowers, and no ljcwelry. No
one could find fault with that style. The
greatest heiress in Boston, when was
a girl, was known for her extreme sim
plicity--always white"
81 fancy | should be if | went in a
sheet and pillow-caso costume" said
Ellie ideally, that would be the only
white one could manage. That poor
old whitedress that still exists in your
memory is short in the waist, short in
the skirt, won't meet in the bolt, and
has sleeve that would not 60 over my
wrist. I've grown u great doal in five
years, mamma"
is it five years since you went to
your cousin Jcnnic's wedding in it p
cried Mrs. Ackland. "Dcar, dear, how
time flies. Couldn't you make over one
of my old silks p
II should be laughing stock,
mamma, said ElIic. "Well, ] can live
without going to the ball, though |
should enjoy it very much"
"Iho daughter Of Chaplain Ackland
ought to have opportunities" said tho
widow GLOW aro you to marry il you
never meet any one, | can not think.
A pretty girl like you were never meant
to be spinstcr and work for her bread. "
"ThiDgs point in that direction now,"
said the girl "Typo-wrting is not IA
lively amusement. aud am as likely to
marry as | am to go to Cuba. Don't sigh
bitterly, mamma. 1t would only make
you lonelicr if | went to the ball, and [
should be up late and make mistakes
next day loose 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. ElIie Ackland had way of
making excellent dishes out Of next to
nothing 1T was very convenient under
the circumstances though the girl
pined for something besides the daily
routine type writing, and evenings spent
in listening to her mothers reminis-
ccnces' of former grandcur--for Mrs.
Ackland had been belle and beauty
and an expectant heiress when she mar
ried the dashing young captain-it was
the mother who bcmoaned herself
At last tea being over, it was dis
covered that the storm had passed, and
that moon and stars were shining, and
Efie declared that she would run down
to the little stationors and get some
note paper Of the proper sort on which
to reply to the kind invitation and offer
of the general and his lady.
1t was quiet ncighborhood and very
late, and Ellic wrapped herself in u thick
cloak and tied 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 old wo-
man who kept it had expected no Gus
toners and had retired early. Effic
knew of another shop of the same sort a
few blocks further on which was al
ways 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, Effio was not
an old resident Of that part Of the town
Somehow she missed the right corner,
crossed the street at il wrong angle, and
shortly discovered that she was lost
1t was a gloomy and unpleasant street
in which she found herself, aud the girl
was somewhat frightened However,
she decided that the best thing she could
do was to keep on walking until she
came to decent shop or met police
man of whom she could ask the way.
She acted on this resolution with her