The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-11-11

pretty, but it got too tight for me. Did
you like it p
Yes--do-do you know where she
has gone p asked, my heart beating
faster every minute.
"Oh, no, she's always travelling
around from one place to another.
She's newspaper correspondent.
When 1 saw her the next day she
asked, with slight hesitation; How
did the silk dress fit p
The silk dressl' repeated, in sur
prise.
Yes, dill you not open the bag Of
rags that / sent you last nightp You
see | found that my friend had forgot-
ten, after all, to take the dress, and
when l saw it still hanging in the closet
l thought l would ask you to accept it.
1t would be SO becoming and just about
fit you"
1 heartily thanked Mrs. Barr, men
toned that ] had not yet examined the
contents of the bag, and when evening
came fastened home to st last lay my
hands on that valuable dress. But
stern, unrelenting fate was still against
me. Jack had innocently sold the bag
of rags, silk dress in the bargain, to u
passing ragman. He bittely reproached
himself for not having looked into the
bag before selling the contents, but re-
proaches were of no avail now, and all
| could do was to look out for that rag
man and identify him according to
. / ctn
red beard and sunburnt face" The ma
jority of junlimen seemed to be built on
that plan, and / was several times greeted
with such remarks as these: What yer
starin' at p Think ye'll know me
agin p Say, what do yer take me for,
missus ?"
Finally, L was positive that had the
right man. grew desperate and called
him to the house Jack was now fail
ing so rapidly that the doctor had said
that only change of air would save
him and L determined to make a great
effort. l did not ask the man if he had
the dress inquired what had become
of it. He pretended to be ignorant of
my meaning, but frightened him into
confessing that he he'd given it to his
wife. Then 1 demanded his address
and Immediately went there. A woman
with dirty face, and still dirtier hands,
appeared in the doorway. made
known my errand. "Lor," she said,
it won't do much good now, even if I
can find it. 1t was worn ont long ago"
mo matter how much worn out it is,
l must see it, cried.
Startled by my vehemence, she hur-
ried away and soon returned with the
tattered remains of what was once my
beautiful silk dress / seized the thing
and felt among the drapery for the
missing will Yes, there was certainly
something hard there, and 1 astonished
the woman by paying her 81 for the
ragged dress
1t did not take me long to 60 home
and open my bundle by Jacks bedside.
my poor DEAR" said as hurredly
ripped the drapery, Il have now some
thing that will bring you health and
happiness.
But Jack could not rejoice with me
until the will was actually in our hands.
Then he closed his eyes and l knew he
was thanking God for his goodness.
The distant relative quickly relin-
quished everything when he saw this
later will. Noble Jack offered him
generous share, but the man politely re-
fused it and went on his way.
In sunny Florida Jack ccrroborated
his physicians statement by regaining
health and strength. To-day there ex-
lists no happier, stronger man than my
husband. By the way, he wanted to
keep the black silk dress a reminder Of
old times, but insisted that it should
be buried with all our past cares and
worries.