Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-06-25
THE PEERS CHOICE.
by EMMA @. JONES.


sparkling.
"Oh, girls, girls!" she cried, dropping
into seat and tossing her hat in one di-
rection aud her gloves in another, 'what
do you Think"
1--WE think you're an idiotp snapped
Beatrice, her eldest sister. ''If you've
anything to tell. why don't you tell it,
and leave out your exclamations"
Cassandria smiled sweetly. She was
the beauty Of the family, the belle of the
neighborhood, and she could afford to
keep her temper
Don't be unamiable, Beatrice" she
replied; "'tis unlady-like, and patience
is god-like attribute. I've been over
to The Ferns"
"Wellg" responded Beatrice, knitting
her black brows.
Lord Thrapstone has come"
"Whatr shrieked Beatri, e, scattering
her silks on the carpet.
"Lord Thrapstone has come, repeated
Cassandria, serenely.
"And you-did you see himi" painted
the elder sister.
''No; he has driven over to lotion
with Mr.. Thornley,, but Mrs. Thornley,
drawing out her card-case, and produc-
ing therefrom two scraps OF tinted paper,
''she gave me invitations for the ball on
Thursday, the ball in honor OF his lord
ships visit"
Beatrice stretched out her hand and
took the invitations, cycling them medi-
tativcly.
There are three of them," she re-
marked; "we are all invited"
"Yes; of course Mrs. Thornley, would
not be so unmannerly as to omit one OF
us; but Bess won't go--she's not ex-
pected to go, said Cassandria.
Bess, sitting near the window, glanced
up from the tiounces she was futing, but
ventured no reply.
81 can't see how any of us can CO."
remarked Beatrice. "What shall we
wearl Lord Thrapstones ball will be
no common affair--the grandest people
in the county will be there"
'l'm going" put in Cassandria, terse-
ly, that's settled, and will have some
thing appropriate to wear. How would
that blue silk make over with lace over
6rcss2"
ssHow9" snarled Beatrice; ''quite
no doubt, the only available article in
the house, but you won't"
II don't think it quite suits you, re-
turned Cassandria, wickedly; ''blue is
scarcely your color, with your tar hair
and saffron complexion"
Beatrice blazed with wrath.
.I'd as soon have tar hair as taffy, I'm
sure !" she retorted land good, healthy
color is better than washed-out pink
But, dropping personalities, you sha'n't
have the blue silk"
"We'Il see about that Cannot you
resurrect the mauveT
1.-THE mauve, indeed A threadbare
rag that you've worn dozen times"
| s'But no one VIII recognize my gar
ments on you," returned Cassandria,
with pointed sarcasm.
| "Oh, sisters, sisters ~ cried Bess, Just
in time to intercept violent rcjoinder,
spray don't be spitcful. Let's arrange
matters peaceably-nothing is ever
gained by wrangling."
"True enough. Bess, said Cassandria,
crossing to her side aud laying one
white hand on her shoulder; ''and you
must help us-you must be our fairy god
mother. What are we to do. Bess"
Bess dropped her fiuting-irons, and
leaned her round cheek in one brown,
dimpled hand. After q moments re-
Election, she looked up.
"Well," little sigh fluttering the
bib of her holland apron, and look Of
childish wistfulness in her brown eyes
"well, suppose you'll have to take my
dress-the blue and white silk that Aunt
Morley gave me-" she said, slowly.
Cassandria caught her in her arms, and
kissed her.
"Oh, you darlingl" she cried; 81
knew you would-and it Just suits me.
Well take it down TO Miss Shipley this
minute. You can take the old blue. and
welcome, Beatrice. But | must have a
lace over-skirt, and some snow-drops,
and gloves, and ribbons. Oh, Bess,
throw away that stupid work and think.
Can't you spare the money!"
Bess did throw aside her work, and
rising from her seat, she went out into
the long dining room through whose low
windows the purple lilacs were nodding.
In the old Fashioned sideboard, with the
quaint silver and china. she kept her
little cash box. She unlocked 1t, and
counted its contents--the slowly -accu-
mulated proceeds of numerous butter
pads nodded by her skillful hands
Bnt her countenance fell, and she
sighed drearily. There was not dime
to spare. Her father must have his
chocolate, and there were suniry bills
coming due. Not surplus penny in the
cash box.
"Well, well, signed Bess, re-iocking
the side-board, and tripping off to her
own room, ''they shan't be disappointed.
I'll do without the shawl and hat what
does il matter7"
She took her own private purse, very
diminutive affair, from her bureau
drawer. When Aunt Morley came on a
summer visit, and brought her the blue
and white silk, she also gave her money
to purchase a hat and shawl, and Bes'
had been boarding II aud dreaming OF
her new outfit, with oil young girls
love of beautiful things. But she gave
it up willingly. yet not without a pane
of regret. ALI her life long Bess had put
tersef aside, and laborcd for those she
loved.
| She tripped down to the sitting-roon
with the tiny purse In her hand;
"Here tits. girls" she said, "anc
there's not another cent TO spare. You
must do the best you can with it--and
here's Aunt Morley's silk"
The girls set up an outcry at sight O.
! the glistening fabric. In the midst o.