Connecticut western news., 1892-03-03
MISS KELLY'S SUIT.

xnOuRu LulS VIII IuAKS some Q1ucr6nc6 in the amount of their bills at the end of the week, the girls are not sorry for this half holiday. It gives them an oppor- tunity to do many things. There is Miss Maggie Kelly, for instance.
 This young lady had long been wait ing for chance to visit that locality in- definitely described as up town" in order to inspect the various styles of gowns, wraps and hats offered there for sale. She is about to purchase a new suit and proposes to have it in the latest style. She can get a fairly correct idea of this by visiting the various establish ments where costumes are displayed. After the foreman has made the an- nouncement that the girls will have that afternoon to themselves, Miss Kelly hur- riedly fixes herself up. Then she says to one of the girls:
 Hey, Mamei Come up town with me, will yerT' The young lady addressed assents, and so they start.
 They spend pretty much all the after noon visiting the big dry goods stores and inspecting the costumes worn by the omen out shopping. Maggie scans the latter closely, and is much struck by the beauty of several ''swagger" cos tunes worn by young ladies about her size and build, Why could not she have one?
 In the next establishment visited is a fine display of these pleasing innovations in woman's attire. Miss Kelly inspects them all with deliberation. The more she does, the more infatuated does she become with the swagger costume. She inquiries the prices, and her heart sinks as she finds they are beyond the amount of her capital. With her face bearing sad, hopeless expression, she goes home. Miss Maggie does not sleep we'll that night. Her dreams are dis turoed by visions of shirt bosoms, four in-hand ties and cute little vests. In the morning she awakes unrefreshed. Her longing to possess a swagger suit has grown during the night. She tries to overcome this by settling her mind on other objects, but fails utterly. Only n swagger suit will appease that wild long, ing. She must-she will have it within 8 week, but how?
 Presently an idea strikes her. The cloud clears from her face. Her spirits
 
 80 gay and hghthearted that her com panions in the envelope factory cannot refrain from remarking her manner. The following Saturday evening finds the young woman about to finish her | swagger suit. Ever since that idea first seized her Maggie has been busy making | gown and jacket. All she lacks is the ! shirt bosom and tie. She would have had these before but for lack of funds Having received her weeks pay at the factory on Saturday afternoon Miss Kel- ly is now prepared to purchase these nec- essary details to the costume, with which she proposes to create a pleasant sensa- ton on the Hill on Sunday. | After her supper they dine on the Hill | at noon-Miss Kelly carefully counts her money and finds that she has just one dollar and twenty-five cents. The bal ance she has given to her mother earlier | in the day. With this sum in a small purse, wi hich she clutches closely, the | young woman hies her to thorough | fare where the stores announce that gents furnishings" are sold inside at ridiculously low figures. She stands in front of the place a moment, gazing at | the display in the windows. A young man steps to the doorway from the in- terior, beckons to her and says, "Step | in, lady; everything cheap" This invitation and announcement as to prices seems to be all that is neces- sary to induce the young lady to enter. She steps in. An old man stands behind | the counter. He mods his head slightly, rubs his hands together, smiles and says, Good evening"" Miss Maggie says: "I want a shirt"
 "The old man smiles again, rubs his hands faster, looks up at his stock, and | requests tue young woman to go into more particulars. She does SO, and the result is that soon three or four of these articles, made from linen and about the size a fourteen-year-oldb boy would wear, are spread before her. The prices range from fifty cents to one dollar each. She does not know which to take. Perhaps your brother would like this one," the shopkeeper ventures, at the same time spreading out one that he says will cost eighty-ive cents. The idea that Miss Kelly is making the purchase for any one but a male member of her family never enters the willy old mans head. Tine young woman does not inform him to the contrary. What is it his business, she thinks.
 Tdon't know" she answers. "I won der if it would fit him2 He's about the same size as myself"
 She is assured that this particular shirt will fit her brother as if it grew on him. ek ks tame had the article been twice as large. Miss Kelly concludes to take this par ticular garment. Then the shopkeeper smiles a more oily smile and rubs his hands together with more vigor, as be inquiries if the young lady will have her brothers initials on the tab?"
 The necessity for such an arrange ment having been made clear to the young lady's mind, she thinks 1t would be better if her brothers initials were l placed on the tab.
 "What will it costT' she asks.
 "Five cents for each letter, lady. Do you want them"
 "Yes," she replies.
 "M. M. K." are the initials she tells him. These, she tells herself. will in- form everybody that the article belongs to Miss Maggie Kelly"
 While the initials are being placed on the shirt tab Miss Kelly selects s tie. for which she pays twenty-five cents. When these purchases have been made, she goes home. Going into the front room by herself, she fits, cuts and sews, and sews, cuts and fits until far into the morning. Not until then is she certain that all will look right on the morrow. Sunday comes. Waiting until the afternoon, our heroine attires herself. The costume is perfect. She shows it to her mother. Her father is out at the