Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-11-26

recherche affair."" so. yes, full dress, OF
course. "'.Mauve faille and diamonds .
Maggie's heart sank. How poor and
cheap her black silk had suddenly be-
come! She was sure, very sure that
no amount of fresh ribbons could make
it full dress" She wandered aimless
ly across to a darkened alcove, where
evening fabrics were displayed by gas.
light. The salesman was showing q
lot of glistening satins to couple OF
young girls From their conversation,
it seemed that they were in search of
something for amateur theatricals.
$50 ridiculously cheap, too" the
arms length piece of coral-pink satin,
''only fifty cents yard!'
Only fifty cents! Maggie could
scarcely believe that she had heard
Alright. Why, her plainest afternoon
pink-it was her favorite color. The
young girls had turned away; Maggie's
heart seemed to stand still, then a dar-
ing resolution was born.
''Is this suitable for.evening dresses?''
she inquired timidly. as she stepped up
to the counter.
Eyes, ma'am," answered the clerk,
promptly, taking in Maggie's social
status at glance. ''Some of our
smartest Paris importations are from
this identical goods. How many yards,
a'am?"
Twelve" Maggie faltered.
''Twenty yards is the smallest pat
tern we ever SELL" answered the clerk.
loftily. s'Remember, madam, these
goods are but sixteen inches wide. %
To tell the truth, Maggie had moi
thought of the width at all. 1 think
she would have given up the dress alto
gether. but somehow the stern look of
the gentleman behind the counter
bewildered her and she stammered:
''Sixteen yards. please"
In a minute the shimmering stuff
was cut off; then there were Innings
and threads to be bought, and, some
minutes later, when Maggie emerged
from the store, it was with diminu-
tive parcel and an empty pocketbook.
AS she hurried across to Simeon
Grants. she told herself that she ought
to have gone to the insurance office
first. But it really didn't matter after
all And pink satin gowns were not to
be picked up at such prices every day.
She found the abstract office locked,
but there was a card on the door. She
stood on tip-toe to read it Mr.. Grant
was out of the city and would not re-
turn until next week. Her first inn
pulse was to rush over to the bank and
tell Dick all about it. But what was
the use, it would only trouble him.
She would get the money next week;
then she would tell him.
It was almost tea time when she
reached home; she did not wait to re-
| move her wraps, hut with trem bling
fingers opened her bundle. Somehow
the beauty of the pink satin seemed to
have departed. In the glare of day
light it certainly looked different. It
was coarse and f1imsy and the cotton
filling was painfully conspicuous.
Maggie laid the new dress away, but
all the next day her Sunday medita-
tions were disturbed by visions of it.
On Monday morning, as soon as Dick
was fairly out of the way, she drew out
her cutting table and began work in
earnest. But things did not progress
smoothly. The goods frayed and
raveled at every touch; and there was
certainly not enough to make the dress
as she had planned. She was begin
ming to feel cross and worried when
some one raped lightly. Throwing
something over her work, she opened
the door to find Mrs. Sanders smiling
and debonair.
'sGood news!" she exclaimed, gayly,
throwing herself into a chair. Bailey
has consented to do the decorations,
after all. Fancy worlz?" she ques-
toned, as she picked up a scrap of the
pink satin, twirling it in her hands as
she talked. 'Provoking, isn't it, that
they should bring such goods out in
these lovely shades? Why, my cook
and second girl have actually gotten
dresses of the stuff The vulgar creatures
imagine themselves fine ladies' 1t
seems utterly impossible for them to
understand how hideous these base
limitations are in the eyes of well-bred
people," Mrs. Sanders seemed not to
have noticed Maggie's crimson face.
81 should like you to see Bailey's
decorations. she said, as she arose to
go. by the way, what is to hinder
your coming over at about nine?
shall be dressing, but can instruct the
footman to admit you. You can look
at the rooms and have ample time to
get away before the guests arrive
Maggie had a dim recollection OF
thanking Mrs. Sanders and of slowing
her cut. Then she went back into the sit
ting-room and. laboriously gathering up
every scrap of the hateful pink satin,
thrust it into the closet and turned the
key. Putting on her hat and shawl,
she went out into the open air and
started down the road, walking in a
rapid, aimless fashion. The air was
sharp and cold, but the blood throbbed
holly in her veins
A vehicle was coming rapidly down
the road. AS it came nearer she rec
ognized it as the Sanders coupe.
When it was nearly opposite her the
coachman drew up the reins, beclon-
ing to her. She wondered vaguely
q !bCl|\9|