The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-12-29


yellow roses, and then there was another
long search for roses to loop it up with
that were of rich and deep enough
tint to satisfy the demands of the gown
to capture the prince. These cost so
much that she could not buy gloves or
slippers, if indeed she felt the need of
them, for Araminta apparently had not
worn any, as they had not been men
toned.
Larry called, and granny told him that
DAILY would be ready for the grand, etc.,
on New Years eve, and he was obliged
to go without having seen Della. She
was in such fever Of delight that she
was afraid he would see it, and that
would never do. Besides, she was sewing
on her dress. Poor child! She worked
hard all day and sewed on that gown by
the light of little lamp, and the rosy
sunset clouds never looked 1ovelier to
her than the deep pink folds of her dress.
The waist did not fit very we'll, but there
was great bunch Of yellow roses on the
front. The skirt hung unequally, and
the gathers were fuller in the front than
back, but the overskirt was looped in
two places with enormous sprays Of roses
and foliage. Her best white petticoat
had been starched as stiff as it would hold
by granny, and the whole outfit lay
spread on Delia's bed-a thing of ravish-
ing beauty to her and granny's eyes.
Della could scarcely eat or sleep dur
ing that last week, and now the eventfu1
night had come. The alley was ablaze
with lights, and these fell on the white
surface of the softly falling snow with a
grand effect Men hustled about, and
from her window Della could see the
brilliant s.hall," and then she put on her
first ball gown. The light brought out
the color of the roses in full effect against
the deepened pink of the tarlatan, but
Delia's plump white neck and arms, her
glowing eyes, and the roseleaf color COM
ing and going on her cheeks, and the
glints of gold in the curling hair made
one forget the rest. She had no gloves,
and she wore her best buttoned boots.
but they looked coarse to dance in. Still
she did not know it.
She was ready, with granny's shawl
to throw around her, when Larry made
his appearance. He had been shaved and
had his brown mustache curled and his
hair plastered down to his eyebrows in
two stiff sca1lops. He had a blue neck
lie and diamond pin that must have
cost at least $1.25 in it. His vest was
black, his coat gray and his pants brown,
but that was the fashion in Sullivan
alley. He bowed and scraped and got
red in the face as he saw Della in all her
beauty and magnifcence, and asked if
he had the honor of seeing her well, and
could he beg her to allow him the honor
of escorting her to the ball, and it was
nearly 8 and quite time to go, SO that
they could be in the opening march,
which always began at 6 sharp.
Della bowed as if to a stranger and
then took his arm in happy trance, and
saying, Good night, granny, they went
down the five flights of stairs and across
the street to the hall. The dressing room
was full, but emptied almost instantly
rs the first notes of the music sounded,
knd all the gentlemen were waiting for
their ladies, and as each couple met they
fell into line and marched around. Tim
Sullivan was there with Kitty Mulligan,
looking very gloomy as he saw Della
marching with Larry.
The Mu1ligan girls in their real silk
gowns were nowhere by the side of De-
liza, and she was besieged with requests
to dance, all Of which were granted or
refused by Larry. She was living her
dream now, and whether Kitty or the
naughty Lady Horsense was her rival