Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-09-30
ALPENA WEEKLY ARGUS.
MISCELLANEOUS.
TESTERS SACRIFICE.

Pretty Bessie motifs stoou peiore
her looking-glass, intently gazing at
her own fair image therein reflected
not with blushing vanity or anxious
care, but cool, critical business'like
glance. Tonight, she was TO attend
her first large party; and, as Bessie
was eighteen, pretty, ambitious, and a
country-girl with whom parties must
always be rare, we may guess the
amount of preparation, even greater
that there was little or no money to be
spent,
For whole week had Bessie been
planning and her older sister Hesther
working out plans in the shape of dress
now nearly finished for Bessie, though
this was her first large party, had been
TO several small ones, and, being a
young woman of decided ideas and
opinions, knew pretty well what she
wanted, yet was not adverse to having
the work done for her. Hesthers skill
had turned and fitted the pale-blue
silk gown that she had worn on SIM
liar occasion herself, in distant city,
years before Hesther's fingers had
hemmed and sewed on the yards of
bias ruffiing that fashion then approx
ed and Hesther was even now basting
lace frills in neck and sleeves, the last
finishing-touch.
"There is only one more thing l
want, Hesther," said Bessie, at last,
still at the mirror II haven't got
enough hair"
Her sister looked up somewhat wear
lily.
What not enough hair 4? You
have plenty"
mo, indeed-not half enough. I've
tried fixing it, putting it out every
way and no use-it won't do. And
they wear such pile of hair now,
that one looks horrid without it.
ga most foolish and tasteless fash
ion," spoke up Hesther. with energy.
eyes, / know that but still it is
the fashion, and / shall not look half
dressed without more than | have
now. l ought to have braid but
a good one will be too dear for my
possessing of course, and l would not
wear one Of those dreadful cheap
things. / must do without, l suppose,
let the Lawford girls sneer as they
will"
1t was in the days of immense
"chignons," hideous and tasteless
things as they were, though dear as
any present fashion to the female
heart and Bessie's silky yellow
brown locks, while thick and long,
were yet, as she said, not half enough.
Hesther looked at them, and realiz-
ed this startling fact with dismay.
The Lawfords, who were to give
the party, were the richest and most
fashionable neighbors ; and Hesther,
who did not care for parties herself,
was as anxious for Bessie's success as
even that young lady. Had she work
ed, fitted, stitched for this-failure
and disgrace at last9 1t was too bad
She sat with puckered brows, the
shimmering blue silk in her lap, look
ing at Bessie, who stood patting and
pinning her bright tresses, vexation in
every gesture. Suddenly, Hesther
sprang up in her own implusive way
for Hesther, at twenty-eight, was ten
times as impulsive as Bessie at
eighteen-hung her work aside, and,
stepping before the glass, looked over
her sisters shoulder. They made a
picture worth seeing, both very pretty,
both alike in general style, though
Bessie's rich color and fresh round
ness gained her the preference, as a
beauty. Hesther was graver, paler-
though quicker to blush, we may
notice-and fully head taller. Her
eyes were little haggard now with
overwork, but there was a tenderness
about them, that Bessie's clear, cool,
rather hard eyes lacked. Both had
fine heads of hair-the same color to
a shade. One swift wistful gaze, and
Hesther, with fine resolved heroic
air, began unwinding her coil of
tresses-which done, she laid them
against the others braids, as if compar-
ing, and cried
"There it matches to perfection.
| thought so"
Bessie turned to her, startled and
flushing.
"What do you mean, Hes ? What
are you going to do?" she asked ca
gerly.
"Do Why, child, you shall have
my hair We haven't cent to buy
you braid, even if there were time /;
but you shall look as well as any of