The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-03-27
THE MYSTERIOUS DRESS.

ter entered the room, her drippnr
waterproof and umbrella giving evi.
dence OF sturdy battle with the storm
that could he plainly heard even through
closed shutters and dropped curtains ON
that upper floor. "The most polite letter
from Colonel B saying you can go
with his wife and daughters. lie knows
Ihave retired from society. Here is
the ticket, Ellie
The elder lady's frail fingers drew two
elegant squares Of pink aud gold paste.
board from All envelope rs she spoke.
But the girl, having hung her water
proofin an ad jacent kitchen, and perched
her umbrella where it could drip harm
lessly in some stationary tubs, did not
even pick them up
ut would be better to publish the fact
that I've retired from society also, nam.
ma, she said, IA little sadly.
AT 20l" cried her mother.
ut comes to that when one has one
black frock patched at the elbows"
You could 20 III white. Gentlemen
admire it, or used to. White, with II
few flowers and no jewelry. No one
could find fault with that style. The
greatest heiress in boston, when l was a
girl, was admired Ior her simplicity.
She always dressed AL white.
A sheet and piiiowcase is the only
white costume l .vuld manage. That
poor old white dress that still exists in
your memory Is short in the waist, short
Ill the skirt, won't meet in the belt, and
Its sleeves won't 60 over my wrist.
have grown in five ears.
"ls it five years si..ce you went to your
cousin Jennies 'weuding in it? Dear,
dear, how time hies Couldn't you
make over one VI your old silk dresses"
Il should be l..Lsli,ng stock, man-
ma But ! can live without going to u
ball, though should enjoy it very
much.
"The daughter Of Captain Ackland
ought to have Ol portunities, said the
widow. ~How are you to marry if you
never meet any one! A pretty girl ike
you was never meant ~ be u -pin-tc
and work for bread.
"Things point In that direction now.
Typewriting is no fun, and am NJ likely
to marry ~ ! am to go to Cuba. Don't
sigh, mamma. You would be lonely if
went to the ball, apd l should be up
late and make MISTAKES next day-.ose
my place, perhaps I'll write very
polite regret when get some fine note
paper. Now let lis have tea
The little brown teapot aud the two
blue cups and plates were soon Oh the
rL1 1.,,. l,,.I . # nk
ing excellent little dishes out Of next to
nOthing-it was very convenient under
the circumstances-and although the
girl pined for something beside the daily
routine Of typswriting and evenings
spent in listening to her mothers re.ni-
niscsnces Of former grandeur-lor Mrs.
Ackland had been belle and u beauty
and an expectnnt heiress when she mar
ried the dasling young captain-it MAS
the mother who bemoaned herself.
At last, tea being over, it was discov.
cred that the storm had passed, and that
the moon was shining. and Effie declared
that she would run down to the little
stationer's shop and get some note paper
OF the proper sort Oh which to reply to
the kind invitation and offer OF the Co..
Onel and his lady.
1t was u quiet ncighborhood, and very
late. and Efiie wrapped herself in thick
cloak, tied little blue hood over her
head, and ran lightly down stairs and
along the street toward the stationer's.
However, when she reached its door she
found il closed. The old woman who
kept it had expected no customers and
had retired early. Effie knew of another
shop of the same sort few blocks fur
ther 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, be-
side, Effie as not an old resident OF that
part of the city. Somehow she missed
the right corner, crossed the street at a
wrong angle, and shortly discovered
that she was lost.
1t was a gloomy and unpleasant street
in which the girl found herself, and she
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 long while
she went on seeing nothing but liquor
Or cigar shops, and not meeting SOL
itary guardian of the peace, and came at
last to an old building with plank wall
in the center of which an arched gate
stood open.
just as she stood opposite this gate
two drunken men came howling 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 cape, horns, hoois'
long tail which he carried over his
arm, and in his hand great paper par
ce'-in fact Sntnn ~ we ace lam iNF'