The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-01-01
MISS KELLY'S SUIT.

The girls in the envelope factory have
Just finished luncheon when the fore.
man comes in and announces that owing
to break in the machinery work will
be suspended for the rest of the day.
Though this will make some difference
in the amount of their bills at the end of
the week, the girls are not sorry for this
half holiday. 1t 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 a 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 new
suit and proposes to have it in the latest
style. She can get 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, Name! 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 women 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
fine display of these pleasing innovations
in woman's attire. Miss Kelly inspects
them all with elaboration. 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 a sad, hopeless expression, she
goes home. Miss Maggie does not sleep
well that night. Her dreams are dis
turbed by visions of shirt bosoms, four
inland ties and cute little vests. In the
morning she awakes unrefreshed
Her longing to possess n swagger suit
has grown during the night She tries
to overcome this by settling her mind on
other objects, but fails utterly. Only
swagger suit will appease that wild long
ing. She must-she will have it within
week, but how?
Presently an idea strikes her. The
cloud clears from her face. Her spirits
rise. During that afternoon Maggie is
SO gay and lighthearted 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 nee
essary details to the costume, with which
she proposes to create 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, which she clutches closely, the
young woman HES 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 moment, gazing at
the display in the windows. A younc
man steps to the doorway from the in.
terror, 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:
IT want shirt"
''The old man smiles again, rubs his
hands faster, looks mp at his stock, and
requests the young woman to go into
more particulars. She does go, and the
result is that soon three or four of these
articles, made from linen and about the
size fourteen-year-old 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-five cents.
The idea that Miss Kelly is making the
purchase for any one bnt male member
of her family never enters the willy old
mans head. The young woman does not
inform him to the contrary. What is it
his business, she thinks.
II don't know" she answers. II won
der If it would fit himi He's about the
same size as myself"
She IL assured that this particular shirt