The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1892-06-23
THE BLACK LACE DRESS

winch would have made
head swim.
But Kate Carleton, humble little
photograph colorer though she was,
.was young and pretty with yellow
hair waving away from her low square
forehead arched brows and deep
hazel eyes. while the confinement and
monotony of the city life had not vet
stolen all the fresh roses from her
cheek.
For Katie Carleton, like many an
fotheT had left comfortable, If not a
luxurious. farm house home, with the
idea that fortunes were to be picked
up in the city as readily as backber-
,rieS on sunny stone wall Poor girl
She had found out her mistake soon
enough yet she had too much pride
to return, q useless burden, to the
honest old uncle and his daughters,
who made cheeses and raised poultry
in the venerable precincts of Elder
berry farm. Nobody wanted a gov
terness; her little poems were returned
,Labeled Respectfully declined" from
the newspaper Offices and the water
COLOR drawings whereby she had
expected 70 take the ARTISTIC world by
storm, hung in the circulating library
windows until their margins were
smoke blackened and their bright
cOlors hopelessIy furnished, without
any one ever taking the trouble to ask
9the price. And at last just as Katie
was beginning to wonder whether
death by starvation was really such a
spainful end, some kindly soul told her
eof chance to get employment from
a great photograph establishment in
the Bowery. -
J Hetta Lacy was employed there.
too-not exactly in Katies humble
capacity but as the smart young lady
who received the customers, helped
them with their bonnets and wraps
and answered. general questions. She
considered it quite eondesaensioa On
cher part to patronize Katie; and Katie
chad too few friends to be specially
particular about their quality. And
1aoW. as Miss Lacy sat opposite her. in
lilac poplin dress. end with an arti-
,. fetal bird in her hat one could but
othink of paroquet that had somehow
oauttered down into dove cote.
d No" SAID Katie lam not going"
: Il know why said Henrietta spite
fully. Its because Evan Merits
doesn't approve of fancy balls.
Mr.. Merits ought to be better
Judge Of what is and what is not
proper than mere country girl like
ame. - said Katie. mixing little more
lultramarine blue for the sash of a
epqdding faced little boy with a cat in
ibis arms.
r o l dare say" said Henrietta
ltossing her head. 'Aqd you're really
determined not to go?"
Yes quite"
: Then perhaps you wouldn't mind
lending me the black lace dress that
kyou pasted the gold stars on when YOU
edid mean to go. I find that the lower
is completely torn off my white
tarlatan and really haven't time to
tplan any new costumes.
# You are quite welcome to it Hen
srietta," said Miss Carleton kindly.
Il can put on little gold fringe
land make a very decent Midnight
-Qut Of it. " said Hetta, indifferently.
b Only, Katie, think you are a goose
not to gon'
Katie did not argue the question
she only painted quietly on, and Hen
rietta Lacy went away.
20, Mr.. Merris!" said she, radiant
ly. as. on ascending the steps OF the
Photographic salon. she met the hand
some Young foreman of the printing
office overhead. I've just come from
Kate Carleton's. And you ought to
see the lovely dress she has been pre-
pairing for the masquerade ballr'
'lndeed!' Evan Merris' brow dark
ened slightly. I thought she had
kdecided not 10 go"
, Il don't know about that" SAID
YMiss Henrietta artlessly; Il only
know that she's got beauty of a
dress black lace. all sprinkled over
with gold starsl'
Mp. Merris passed on, and Henrietta
eateFed the sal9p, copgratulating her
self on her fnesse.
1--we put spoke IN her wheel !
guess" said the young damsel to her
self; and serve her right for getting
Evan Merits away from mo, that had
known him yea before she ever
showed her pink and white baby face
here. And didn't tell anything but
the truth, either: / did see the dress
there AID she has been making it,"
Kate Carleton expected Evan Merits
in vain that night The little bow of
fresh blue ribbon in her yellow hair
, was all in vain; the now ruffle at her
, throat and the spotlessly irone ed white
, apron were donned to no purpose.
, She extinguished her little lamp at
. 10 o'clock, and, creeping into her
, alcove bed, cried herself to sleep she
did NOT exactly know why.
The next night was the night of the
much talked Of masquerade ball
Evan Merrls hated and despised those
miscellaneous gatherings from the
bottom of his heart--and yet just
when carriage after carriage was
! driving up and the crowd arriving he
CHANGED to be standing in the bril-
, liantly lighted street leaning against
q lamp post, and modify watched the
} pretty att red figures flit by.
Suddenly he gave q start There
was the black lace dress starred over
with gold, floating across tho pave
ment worn by p slight graceful
figure. md leaving a faint Iodor of
musk and patehouly in its pathway.
But he did not sec the triumplal fash
OF the yelled eyes. rs for an instant
they rested on his face.
. There she goes he murmurod 10
himself as tho diaphanous lolds of
black and gold disappeared under the
decorated nrehway; and there, be-
noath her foct crash 10 ruins the air
castles that my silly brain has been
building for tho last three monthsr'