The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-03-22
MISS KELLY'S SUIT.

The girls in the envelope factory have
iust finished luncheon when the fore
man comes in and that owing
to a 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 mp town" in
order to inspect the various styles Of
gowns, wraps and hats offered there for
sale. She is about to purchase q 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 TINT the girls will have that
afternoon to themselves, Miss Kelly hur-
riedly fixes herself up. Then she says to
n of the girls:
-sHey, Mamel Come up town with me,
will yerg' 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 "swaggers cos
TUNES worn by young ladies about hel
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 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 sTeel
well that night. Her dreams are dis
turbed by visions of shirt bosoms, four
finland 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 a
swagger suit will appease that wild long.
ing. She must-7she 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
30 gay and l~ighthearted that her com
panions in the envelope factory cannot
refrain from r~emarking her manner.
The following Saturday evening finds
the young woman about to finish hei
sWagger suit. Ever since that idea first
seized her Maggie has been busy making
agown 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.
~. is now prepared to purchase these nee.
essary details tothe costume, with which
b 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. which she clutches closely, the
young woman HES her to a thorough
fare where the stores 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
terror. beckons to her and says, f'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 a
"Good evening" Miss Maggie says:
Il want a shirt"
Inc old man smiles again, rubs his
a faster, looks up at his stock, and
requests the young woman to 90. 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 q fourteen-year-old boy would wear
are spread before her. The prices range
from nIty cents to one dollar each. She
does not know which to take.
/ perhaps your brother would like this
Gone," the shopkeeper ventures, at the
same time spreading out one that ne,
says will cost eighty-fve cents.
The idea that Miss Kelly is making4he
purchase for any one but a male member
of her family never enters the willy old
mans head. The young woman does not
inform him to the contrary. What is Il
his business, she thinks.
II Don't know" she answers. II won.
der if it would fit him2 He's about the
same size as myself.
She is assured that this payticular shirt