Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-12-01
FERNS NEW GOWN.
What! Another new GOWN 81


hopeful and de>pairing as she watched
his astonished face.
Didn't | give You money for gown
last week"
Yes. father, tut that was a street
dress-I made it myself and saved
enough TO get pretty chip hat and
VERY commendahle. very"
And the architect turned to his draft
ing-table and once more knit his brows
over his work, evidently forgetting
even her presence.
Poor Fern was ready to cry. She
turned away in despair and met the
assuring smile of the broad, bland,
homely face of Meloria, the over
worked and underpaid domestic.
"Sure. sir, We can't refuse her. The
child never gets off the patch. Now
give her the money-it won't take
how much did We say, Miss Fernsie?"
Not more thon $40, because III use
my old"
Haven't got S. to spare, came the
brusque retort. as Mr.. Hayward drew
a long straight line in a foundation
Fern turned away once more. Even
Meioi! Id was o"''iiieu l" ieoun an"
Meloria was generally considered in
vincible.
But not so; the sturdy young woman
aoNahceo 20 Ihe 'aoIe ana niaclh% her
rough, red hands upon the edge and
leaning forward, said with anctuous
determinations:
Then. sir, pay me my bacI, salary
or You II get no SHIRTS. lhere Is not
one ironed and there wont be none
TIL 20" pay me or her.
Ana she laughed trlumrhantIy as
The architect drew himself up proudly
Leave 'He room MISS in'per"hehce.
iefA' 20" e' ma
she l. h''' I" '''ihe taa' o"h St'
my pay Hi"nchi| re- ne" l'le 2lfl.
Wltho"I Mo\i III an lirh' AN" II
leave, tn" dear Know, when You II pet
ali those shirts ironed. I've foreseen
troEhie This good while and ! Just
lroned Aonr clothes a> Non needed
them lhal ~-po'nllh9 'ra@'raiIH TO
lhe GIlsiehiiig' ssarrtrd linen that
is me last one We nave.
Fern trembie't HIslbIH. Her fathers
expression changed from ra4e /" as
tonlahment' from astoni'hment to sub
mission.
How much 90 owe You? ne ask
ed, with an effort al offended dignity.
'Twenty-s"Nen dollars aud thirty
five cents, incIndin the starch and
soar bought on my own account"
I'm .oseiD.e," he replied. with a dis
sentln9 flourish OF Il fout-ruie III one
hand and compass III the other.
W eli. I'm ready to hear what We
Says."
ON. Mrjoria. What shall | do il
yon 4p?" asked Fern. in IN agony OF
~ g"
Meloria shook one hand behind her
to assure her young mistres, but the
front of the attack was severe and un-
relenting as ever
Not clint less-sure many another
girl would be chargin' We wild extra for
the Thursdays Eve staid in an brushed
your clothes for lodge meetin's an
SUNDAYS"
and YOUR gown. Fern?"
"Oh-"Fern was Just going to say
"never mind" but Meloria interrupted.
Ten dollars, sir"
We'll, since you are so foolishly ex-
travagant, I'll give it to YOU. And as
for YOU" turning wrathful face to
the servant, YOU NAV gather those
plans up and"
"Hooray! Now, Miss Fernse, veil
have the dress and if We don't be the
belle of the ball, Meloria Gillighan
amt the sense of a bat" and gather
ing her buster and chamois skin under
her arm she waved her hand in triumph
and noisily left the room.
When alone with her father Fern be-
gan to beg his pardon for her cham
pion's behavior, but her father only
received the Overtures with a sniff of
contempt. Most people he could awe
with one of his terrible chances. Fern
loved him dearly, but stood in mortal
terror of his anger and sullen frowns
Meloria was the only individual of
those under him in the social scale
who could brave the terrible scowl of
disapprobation.
You uphold that wretched creature
IN her unbounded impertinence, but
she shall leave; she shall leave"
Fern turned away with sigh Mel
oria was the stanch ally in every con-
test and Fern often wondered how
long her patience would exist under
the unusual tension of her fathers I'M
reasOnableness, and dreaded her fol- |
lowing her threats into execution.
1t was worse than useless to argue |
with her father, so she quietly began |
to sort the papers and roll his plans |
into long cylinders of the plistenino !