The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-01-05
THE BALL DRESS.

my dear" said Mrs. Ackland as her
daughter entered the room, her dripping
waterproof and un brella giving evidence
of u sturdy battle with the storm that
could be plainly heard even through
closed shutters and dropped curtains Oil
that upper floor 1.-THE most polite letter
from Col. b, and knowing that |
forsook society long ago. Mrs. Col
b will take you with her own girls,
it is really charming of her Here is the
| ticket"
The elderly lady's frail fingers drew
two elegant squares of pink and gold
pasteboard from an envelope as she spoke
But the girl, having hung the water
proof in an adjacent kitchen, and perched
her umbrella where it could drip harm
lessly into the stationary tubs of said
kitchen, did not even pick them up.
"It would be better to publish the
fact that | have retired from society
also, mamma, she said, a little sadly.
"You' cried her mother. At 90,
Ef1ie?'
1T comes to that when one has one
black frock, said Effie. "and that patched
at both elbows"
"You could so in white said her
mother. You look very girlish. Gen
tlemen admire white, or used to. White
and few flowers and no jewelry-no
one could find fault with that style
The greatest heiress in Boston when |
was a girl was known for her simplicity
always white
Il fancy | should be if went in a
sheet and pillow case costume" said
Etfie Really that would be the only
white one could manage. That pool
old white dress that still exists in your
memory is short in the waist, shorter in
the skirt, won't meet in the belt, and
has sleeve that would not go over my
wrist. I've grown great deal in five
years. mamma
''ls 1t five years since you went to
your cousin Jennie's wedding in it,"
cried Mrs. Aclland. Dear, dear. how
time flies. Couldn't you make over one
of my old silks?'
II should be a laughing stock, nam
ma, said Effie. well, can live with
out going to the ball. though should
enjoy it very much"
1.-The daughter of Capt. Ackland ought
to have opportunities, said the widow.
GLOW you are to marry if you never
meet any one cannot think. A pretty
girl like you was never meant to be a
spinster and work for her bread"
Things point in that direction now
said the girl "Typewriting is not
lively amusement, and | an as likely to
marry as | am to go to China. Don't
sigh SO bitterly, mamma. Itwould only
make you lonelier if | went to the ball,
and should be up late and make mis-
takes next day-lose my place, perhaps.
III write very polite regret when
get some fine note paper. Now. let us
have tea
The little brown teapot, the two blue
cups and plates to match, were soon on
the table, Efie Ackland had way of
making excellent little dishes out of next
to nothlng-lt was very convenient un-
der the circumstances-and though the
girl pined for something besides the
daily routine of typewriting and even
ings spent in listening to her mothers
"reminiscences of former grandeur-for
Mrs. Ackland had been a belle and
beauty and an expectant heiress when
she married the dashing young captain
it was the mother who bemoaned her
self.
AT last, tea being over, it was discov
cred that the storm had passed, and that
moon and stars We're shining, and Effie
declared that she would run down to the
little stationer's and get some note paper
of the proper sort on which to reply to
the kind invitation and offer of the
colonel and his lady
1t was quiet neighborhood and very
late, and Efiie wrapped herself in thick
cloak and tied little blue hood over
her head and ran lightly down stairs and
down the street toward the stationer's
shop. However, when she reached its
door she found it closed The old WON.
an who kept it had expected no custom
ers, and had retired early Efie knew
of another shop of the same sort few
blocks further 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 besides Effie was not an old resident
of that part of the town Somehow she
missed the right corner, crossed the
street at the wrong angle, and shortly
discovered that she was lost,
1t WAS gloomy and unpleasant street
in which she found herself. and the giri
was somewhat frightened. However,
she decided that the best thing she could
do was to keep on walking until she
came to decent shop or met police
man of whom she could ask the way
She acted on this resolution with her
usual promptitude, but for a long while
she Went on seeing nothing but liquor or
cigar shops and meeting not Il solitary
guardian of the peace, and came at last
to an old building with . blank 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 a light shone in her face,
and turning she saw figure in black,
with red shoes, a red cap, horns, hoofs,