The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-11-26

recherche affair."" 20. yes, full dress, o
course" .Mauve faille and diamonds.
Maggie's heart sank. How poor an,
cheap her black silk had suddenly be
come! She was sure, very sure tina
no amount of fresh ribbons could maxi
| it full dress" She wandered aimless
| " across to darkened alcove. wher
| evening fabrics were displayed by gas
| light. The salesman was showing
| lot Of glistening satins to couple o
young girls. From their conversation
| it seemed that they were in search o.
| something for amateur theatricals.
80 ridiculously cheap, too" tn,
young man was saying. as he held a
arms length piece Of coral-pink satin
..only fifty cents yard.'
Only fifty cents. Maggie coult
scarcely believe that she had heart
Alright. Why. her plainest afternoon
dress had cost that much. And cora
pink--it was her favorite color. TIL,
young girls had turned away; Maggie.
heart seemed to stand still, then dar.
ing resolution was born.
lis this suitable for.evening dresses?'
she inquired timidly, as she stepped uT
to the counter.
YES. ma'am," answered the clerk
promptly, taking in Maggie's socia
status at a glance. Some Of on,
smartest Paris importations are from
this identical goods How many yards,
ma ann?
Twelve" Maggie faltercd.
"Twenty yards is the smallest pat
tern we ever SELL answered the clerk
loftily. Remember. madam, these
goods are but sixteen inches wide.
To tell the truth. Maggie had not
thought Of the width at all. l think
she would have given up the dress alto.
gether. but somehow the stern look OF
the gentleman behind the counter
bewildercd her and she stammered
''sixtecn yards. please"
In 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 tn 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.
1t was almost tea time when she
reached home; she did not wait to re-
move her wraps, hut with trembling
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. II
was coarse and flimsy 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
rave!ed 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
Good news" she exclaimed, gayly.
throwing herself into chair. bailey
has consented to do the decorations,
after all Fancy work?" she ques-
toned, as she picked up 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' II
seems utterly impossible for them to
understand how hideous these base
limitations are in the eyes of well-bred
people," Mrs. Sanders seemed not t
have noticed Maggie's crimson face.
Il should like you to see Bailey.
decorations" she said, as she arose t.
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 lool
at the rooms and have ample time t.
get away before the guests arrive"
Maggie had dim recollection o.
thanking Mrs Sanders and of showing
her out. Then she went back into the sit
| ting-room and, laboriously gathering NJ
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 ant
started down the road, walking in !;
rapid, aimless fashion. The air wa
sharp and cold, but the blood throbbet
holly in her veins.
A vehicle was coming rapidly dowr
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, beckon
ing to her. She wondered vaguel,
| - I|hlIDl(l|