The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-20

wearing at that minute, was hanging in
the closet and her own pretty hat was
packed away In the box and there she
was-fat on her back with an odor OF
iodine clinging to her and a belladcnna
plaster athwart her lung.
She wasn't awfully i'll, that was the
worst of it, il was only cold, but that
was enough.
And as she looked out Of the window.
each passer-by. each promenader in the
bright fall sunshine, every small boy.
whooping and shouting with the JOY born
Of good lungs and d Saturday afternoon,
caused the frown to grow darker Oh the
woman's face until her discomfort at
being confined to her room reached the
point of actual rage.
So it was that when the postman on his
last trip for the week brought her no
CHEEKY letters. no interesting magazine.
nothing but an advertising fashion cata-
logue she tore it open angrily.
Nobody in this world ever had so
mean and disagreeable a time as j do
she muttered, glaring at the row OF putty
faced women decked in the latest THUG
In "out-of-door costumes" Then she
sLatched up her pencil and deliberately
jabbed the point into the face OF each
figure on the page.
She evidently felt better after her ire
had found a vent, for In a moment she
was laughing aloud at the ridiculous SILK
plush atrocities in the way OF work boHea,
broom holders and satin-lined manicure
sets shown at the back OF the book.
Page by page she turned, from the
triple-plated silverware 10 the Rhine
stones and Alaska diamonds, then on
through the genuemens furnishings and
babies wardrobcs TO the bed linens,
sheets, pillow cases and shams, ornate
OkXI9 and SleenX
good nights" There her eyelids dropped
heavily and she fell into a sleep.
And as the woman slept she dreamed
And behold, II was as II ten women
stood before her-ten women shapely OF
form, but shabby dressed and with the
marks of poverty upon their garments
And they were sadly disfigured-all. one
lacked an eye; another had been mutt
lated between the nose and chin and was
horrible 10 look upon; so 1t was with a
third and a fourth, and the woman
dreamed that she turned her nead away
and hid her eyes.
But although she no longer saw them
she could not shut her ears to their
voices, as they were raised In lamenta-
lions and loud reproaches against her.
I'VE are the women who try on the
garments at the store OF Sell q Co..,
cried they In one voice. land our faces
and our figures are our stock in trade"
II have two children 10 care for and
now that ! am repulsive to look at, no
one will hire me and my babies VIII
starve" mourned one
"And my poor old father-he depends
on me. Who will engage me, so SCARED
and horrible?" cried another
INV husband Is bedridden," q third
sobbed, wringng her hands.
And l have been saving all Tor an
education" groaned young girl. And
the woman turning, as IL fascinated, to
look at the featureless face. gave cry
OF horror that quite awakened herself
Rubbing her eyes, she picked the cata-
loeue from the floor, where II had fallen.
and threw il across the room into the
crate. Then, listening a moment, she
composed her features into sweet ex-
preston. for she heard footstep on the
stairs.
"WeIl. wife, it's been pretty hard lines
cooped I'D all day alone, hasn't itr
cheerful voice called before the door was
fairly open; then added. but how con-
tented you look"
~ am contented," the woman said SORT
~ as he took her up. plaster ana AL.
with a hearty kiss.
The man gazed long at her with eyes
full Of love and pity. II don't see now
Won can be always so patient. dear
heart" he said. wonderingly.
The woman glanced toward the nan'
burned paper in the CRATE. Am -
tient, dear?" That was all she sao'