The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-06-13
THE VELVET CLOAK.

II was a bright morning In early
autumn. when Hettie Camplin met her
friend, Mrs. Danvers, 70 go shopping
together. Hettie was a modest sweet
looking, little creature. quite IA con-
trast 10 the dashing woman, who now
walked beside her. People. In fact.
had frequently wondered how the two
came 10 be so intimate.
Hettie's husband had expostulatcd
often, II don't want 20 interfere In
your friendships. my dear. but ! do
wish you would see less of Mrs. Dan
vers," he had said. II don't fancy
her.
The two ladies directly entered Val
lace d Dukes fashionable tor
They have such beautiful cloaks.n
said Mrs. Danvcrs. land you know we
agreed. the other day, to buy cloaks
exactly alike
IL don't know-Tm afraid I'll
have &c give IL up said Hottie, hest
tatingly. Dick told me. nj breakfast
he couldn't afford 20 give me "a new
cloak, at least a velvet one, this win
ter. He said he was only "A clerk.
with not too large a salary. I've only
got forty dollars, which Is all he could
spare"
Bother Dick. ' was the reply. 'Who
cares what he saidP My husband told
me. too. only this morning. that |
mustn't think of such "A thing; but |
coolly informed the gentleman | did rs
/ pleased. Guess he knows that pref
~ well. already
II wouldn't dare tell Dick that"
Gays Hettie.
you wouldn't? Poor little soul
You don't know how 90 manage a hus-
band. The right way Is just 20 get n
thing when you wan IL, and then, you
zee, when the bill comes i'm, why,
you've got II, and they can't help
themselves, so they have IL 10 pay for.
That's the way 10 fix 'eml And it's
the very way we are going 20 do this
time"
Hettie knew we'll that this was very
had advice. Her cheeks burned, and
she felt very much inclined TO turn and
walk out Of the store. leaving Mrs.
Danvers 20 her own devices. II was n
pity she did not obey the wise impulse.
For the velvet cloaks were so lovely,
ohe fingered, and looked, and longed.
and nj last met the fate OF the woman
who hesitates.
Mrs. Danvers' willy tongue and bad
example prevailed. When they left
the store. two cloaks were ordered TO
be sent home. for which each purchas-
er was 10 pay sixty dollars; and when
llettie went 10 bed that night, the
beautiful velvet thing was locked in a
drawer In her wardrobe. not ten feet
from the bed.
She meant TO tell Dick the very next
day; but the longer she thought the
moro she dreaded IT,
IN wear IL "A few times, and then |
won't mind IT," she said. smoothing
out the rich fringe, o feeling
particularly happy, however, In the
possession OF the coveted cloak.
But IL was not SO easy TO wear IT,
On Sunday. she went 10 church with
Dick, and she would never have dared
TO put IL on then. During the week.
the went u one afternoon with Mrs.
Dnnvers. and then the hidden treasure
was put on. Mrs. Danvers was In
raptures over its beauty; but Hetty
could not enjoy IL. She was so afraid
OF meeting Dick. She would nearly as
soon have faced n cannon, ar have met
him, and seer the look of grave SUR
prise In his eyes. When Hettie got
home. she flung the cloak upon "a chair,
saying:
.'Despicable thingl How could /
ever have got myself into such n
worryP The idea of being afraid TO 81
out for fear of meeting ones osy
husbandl And he the best fellow In
the world, tool That's just the reason
OF IL. III he was hateful, and wouldn't
get me things. why / wouldn't care;
but when he II SO good. and works 40
hard. poor fellow Just despise my
self for trying TO deceive him. ] don't
think I'll ever wear that thing AGAIN.
However. n week or two later,
Dick was obliged 20 20 away from
home for n day or two; and then Het-
tie wore the velvet cloak once more.
but she felt M II every eye was upon
her; and she took IL upstairs, when
she got homo, with a firm resolve 10
tell Dick. and never wear II again, un-
I'll he knew about H.
But when Dick came back, she
turned n pitiful little coward. and
could not open her mouth She was