The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-06-18
THE BLACK LACE DRESS.
BY AMY RANDOLPH

BY AMY RANDOLPH
And you're not going to the dance
after all, Katie Carleton7
| Henrietta Lacy was sitting in the
modest little third-story back room,
which was all the home that Katie
Carleton had; a square room, with
one bulging window, looking out
upon the roof, and the walls covered
with coarse, zigzag pattern of
crimson on pea green ground.
while the carpet, we'll worn in spots
and CAREFULLY darned, was of a monde
script color and design-great
sprawling leaves and scrolls bursting
out in a tangled complexity which
would have made designers head
swim.
But Katie Carleton, humble littl
photograph colorer though she was,
young and pretty, with yellow hair
waving from her low, square fore
head, arched brows. and deep hazel
eyes, while the confinement and
monotony OF city life had not yet
stolen all the fresh roses from her
cheeks.
For Katie Carleton, like many
another. had left comfortable, il
not luxurious, farm house home,
with the idea that fortunes were to
be picked up in the city as readily
as blackberries on sunny stone
wall. Poor girl! She had found
out her mistake soon enough, yet
she had to return. useless burden
to the honest old uncle and his
six daughters, who made cheeses
and raised poultry in the venerable
precincts of Elderberry Farm. No
body wanted a governess; her little
poems we're returned, labelled "Res-
pectiully declined," from the news.
paper offices; and the water colored
drawings, whereby she had expected
to take the artistic world by storm,
hung in the circulating library win
dow until their margins were smoke
blackened and their bright colors
hopelessly tarnished, without anyone
ever taking the trouble to ask the
price. And at last, just as Katie
was beginning to wonder whether
death by starvation was really such
a painful end, some kindly soul told
her of chance to get employment
from great photograph establish
ment in the Bowery.
Hetta Lacy was employed there,
too-not exactly in katie's humble
capacity, but as the smart young
lady who received the customers,
helped them with their bonnets and
wraps, and answered general ques-
tions. She considered it quite a
condescension on her part to pat.
ronize Katie; and Katie had too few
friends to be specially particular
about their quality. And now, as
Miss Lacy sat opposite her. in a
lilac poplin dress, and with an artif-
cial bird in her hat, one could but
think of a paroquet that had some
how futtered down into doyecote.
No, said Katie, | am not going.
l know why, said Henrietta, spite
fully. It's because Evan Merris
doesn't approve of fancy balls.
Mr.. Merris ought to be better
Judge of what is and what is not
proper than a mere country girl like
me, said Katie, mixing a little more
ultramarine blue for the sash OF a
pudding faced little boy with cat
in his arms.
Oh, dare say! said Henrietta,
tossing her head. And you're really
determined not to go.
Yes. quite.
Then perhaps you wo uldn't mind
lending me the black lace dress you
pasted the gold stars on when you
did mean to 60 | find that the
lower founce is completely torn off
my white tarltan, and l really
haven't time to plan any new cos
tunes.
You are quite welcome to il,
Henrietta, said Miss Carleton,
kindly.
l can put on little gold fringe
and make very decent Midnight
out OF it, said Hetta, indifferently.
Only, Katie, l think you are goose
not to go
Katie did not argue the question
she only painted quietly on and
Henrietta Lacy went away.
Oh, Mr.. Merris said she, radiantly
as, on ascending the steps of the
Photographic saloon, she met the
handsome young foreman OF the
printing office overhead. I've just
come from Katie Carleton's. Anc
you ought to see the lovely dress
she has been preparing for the mas
querade ball!
Indeed! Even Merris's brow
darkened slightly. thought She
had decided not to 60.
| don't know about that, said Mis-.
Henrietta, artlessly; | only know
that she's got beauty of dress
black lace, ali sprinkled over will
gold stars!
Mr.. Merris passed on and Hen
rietta entered the saloon, congratu
lating herself on her finesse
= l.. Il