The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-06

costumc), would you mind showing
me the silk dress you wore yesterday?
l would like to examine the drapcry. 4"
II should be glad to do so, but gave
1t to friend who went away last eve
ming to stay several months. It's pref
ty, but it got too tight for me- Did you
like it?"
"Yes-do-do You know where she
has gomez" asked, my heart beating
faster every minute.
''Oh, no, she's always travelling
around from one place to another She's
newspaper correspondent"
When saw her the next day she
asked, with n slight hesitation: "How
did the silk dress ftp"
The silk dress!' I repeated, in sur
prise.
YES, did you not open the bag of
rags that I sent last night? You sec I
found that my friend had forgotten
after all to take the dress, and when 1
saw it still hanging in the closet I
thought would ask you to accept it.
1t would be SO becoming and Just about
fit YOU"
heartily thanked Mrs. Barr, men
toned that had not yet examined the
contents of the bag, and when evening
came hastencd home to ut last lay my
hands ON that valuable dress. But
stern, unrelcnting fate was still against
me. Jack had innocently sold the bag
of rags, silk dress in the bargain, to a
passing ragmnn. lie bitterly re-
proachcd himself for not having looked
ilto the bag before selling the contents.
of
and all l could do was to look out for
that ragman and identify him according
to Jacks description: Large, stout
man, red beard and sunburnt face"
The majority of junllmcn seemed to be
built on that plan, and was several
times greeted with such remarks as
these: What yer starin' at?" "ThinlS
yer'll know me agin?" Say, what do
yer take me for, MISUSE"
Finally I was positive that had the
right man. grew desperate and called
him to the house. Jack was now falling
SO rapidly that the doctor had said only
n change of air would save him, and /
determined to make great effort. l
did not ask the man if he had the dress:
l inquired what had become of it. lie
pretended to be ignorant of my mean
ing, but frightened him into confess
ing that" he had give it to his wife.
Then | demanded his address and i'm
mediately went there. A woman with
dirty face, and still dirtier hands, ap-
peared in the doorway. made known
my crrapd. "Lor," said she, sit won't
do much good now, even if l can find
it. 1t was worn out long ago."
mo matter how worn II &c ,,,.+
see it." cried.
Startled by my vehemcnce, she hur
ried away and soon returned with the
tattered remains of what was once nv
beautiful silk dress. | seized the thing
and felt among the drapery for the
missing will Yes, there was certainly
something hard there, and astonished
the woman by paying her two dollars
for the ragged dress.
1t did not take me long to 90 home
and open my bundle by Jacks bedside.
'My poor dear said, as hurriedly
ripped tie drapery, 81 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 knew he
was thanking God for His goodness.
The distant relative quickly rclin-
pushed everything when he saw this
later will. Noble Jack offered him a
generous share, but the man politely
refused it and went on his way.
In sunny Florida Jack corroborated
his physicians statement by rcgaining
health and strength. To-day there
exists no happier, stronger man than
my husband BY the way, he wanted
to keep the black silk dress as a re-
minder of old times, but insisted that
it should be buried with all our past
cares and voorhees,. Jennie Smith. in
Banner of Gold.