The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-02-25
THAT RED GOWN.
Why It Caused Mr.. Thimble
Great Amount Of Trouble.

Great Amount Of Trouble.
A sense of duty impels me, otherwise
/ should shrink from this task, for it is
a delicate and pain full one To begin
with, call the gods to witness that
myself am to an infnitesimal degree
only responsible for the train of morti-
fcations and regrets involved by that
little sin of feminine vanity wherewith
all the trouble began To be more ex-
plicit, will say at once, and l speak
the solemn truth, that | never liked
that gown; l hated it from the very
moment when first it shrieked at me.
] use that word advisedly. Mrs. Mac
gregor's gown was of that shade of red
which shriells. For you must know
that Mrs. Macgregor's husband was,
as you might suspect, of Scotch de-
scent, and he had an instructive, con-
genital passion for that particular and
Bhrieking shade of red which obtained
to a surprising degree in the trade
mark plaid of the Highland clan bear
Ing the proud name of Macgregor. 1t
was in Difference to her husbands alb
surd, yet otherwise appropriate pas
sion, that Mrs. Macgregor had pur-
chased that gown. And Macgregor
was delighted with it. Its shrielIs
were, in his prejudiced Scotch ears,
sweeter than the tones of the tuneful
bagpipes They were, 1 fancy, more
grateful to his sodden Highland soul
than the milder persuasive influences
Of tinnan haddie or of Athol brose Yet
| hated that red gown Yes, at the
very beginning in tuitively recognized
and regarded it as thing of evil.
Mrs. Macgregor is my wifes sister,
and sweeter lady never walked in
leather, excepting, of course, my
wife herself, who, in spite of
her very few, but very disas-
trous, frailtics, is unquestionably
the most beautiful and most amiable
creature in all tae world. The Mae
gregors live near US; we see one an
other constantly. This is a great con-
.venience. Macgregor abounds in
Scotch thrift; it is an inestimable boon
to have brother-in-law handy when
one is constrained to borrow money to
answer sudden and impera ative de-
mands.
Last summer Mrs. Turner wrote nv
wife a charming letter inviting us to
pay hec visit. Mrs Turner has
lovely summer house at Calm Lake
Ii you have ever visited the delightful
Wisconsin lake region you surely do
not have to be told OF the eXtraordin-
ary beauties of Calm Lake, nor do
have to assure you that the Turner's
have made for themselves and their
friends the most delightful retreat in
all that delightful country. OF course,
Mrs Thimble and l were overioyed bv
the prospect of a sojourn in this lovely
spot. We accepted Mrs. Turner's in
vitation with dispatch and an enthu-
siasm which must have made even
Mrs. Turner's gracious hospitality
quake with astonishment.
am in no sense man of the world.
My life has been spent in meditation
and in the pursuit of the literature of
education. My History of Henhawl
County" my First Book for Amateur
Astronomers" and my essay upon The
Essential Principles of Vulgar Frac-
tious' have enrolled my name-I say it
in all modesty-in the proud roster of
nv country's benefactors | am of
calm, contemplative nature; | love
tranquility, shun the eXcitements and
vanitles of society life. / recall now
with painful blush how upon a time
made my appearance at church
sociable wearing my ear muffs-the re-
suit of mental abstraction, for lust
then l was deep in work upon a log
arithm involved by the conjunction of
Aldebaron and the other eye of Tau
rus
So l was surprised and annoyed when
Mrs, Thin BILE, having accepted Mrs.
Turner's invitation, suggested 10 me
that her wardrobe was hardly extern
slve enough to admit of her making
successful appearance at fashionable
watering place. 1t had not occurred
to me that Calm Lake was that kind of
place; neither had it occurred to me
that Mrs Thimble's wardrobe was not
extensive. recalled that of the seven
spacious closets in our house / was not
permitted to use one, and so had to
stow away my linen and other traps in
the lower drawers of n bureau. | re-
membered very distinctly the pearl
gray dinner gown and the brown silk
and the English walking dress - and
- and - but why enumerate? | was
wholly satisfied with Mrs. Thimble's
wardrobe, and it seemed to me
that if her husband was salts
fed, surely the wife ought not to
complain. But Mrs, Thimble thought
otherwise, and we referred the matter
TO Mrs. Macgregor, and that worthy
lady agreed with Mrs Thimble Ac-
cordingly it was determined to have
Miss Kelcey come at once and make
up a trousseau. You understand from
this that Miss Kelcey is dressmalrer
and here the troubles begin. 1t befell
just at that time-and it was just our
luck-that Miss Kelcey's unit, old Mrs
Bigmore, had to up and die, and. in
consequence OF this untimely heap
Miss Kelley had to send word that she
couldn't come 10 do the work wife and
Mrs. Macgregor had mapped out OF
course this caused great vexation and
confusion. Mrs. Thimble disGolyOd