The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-15
MRS. MACGREGOR'S
RED GOWN.
From the chicago Ne,us Record.

4
should shrink from this task, for IL is a deli
cate and painful one. To begin with, l call
the gods to witness that l myself am to an
infinises1mal degres only responsible for the
train Of mortifcadons and regrets involved
by that little sin OF feminine vanity where
with all the trouble began. To be more ex-
phcit. 1 will say at once, and l speak the
solemn truth, that never liked that gown:
/ hated it from the very moment when first
II shrieked at rle. Iuse that word sdvisedly.
Mrs. Macgregor's gown was Of that shade
of red which shriekS For you must know
that Mrs.i Macgregors husband was,
as you might suspect, of Scotch de-
scent, and he had an instructive. congeniAl
passion for that particular aud shrieking
shade Of red which obtained 10 surprising
degree In the Trademark plaid of the high
land clan bearing the proud name of Mac
oregon IL was In Difference to her hus-
bands absurd, yet otherwise appropriate
passion. that Mrs. MacgTegor has pur-
chased that gown. And Macgregor was de-
liRAted with 1t. It's shrieks were, in his
preJudieed SCOTCH ears, sweeter than the
tones Of the tuHefnl bagpipes. They were,
| fancy, moro grateful to his soddsn high
land soul than the mildeF persuasive infiu-
ences OF hpnan haddie or of Athol brose
Yet hated that red gown. Yes, at the
very beginning intultively recognized
and regarded 1t as thing of evil.
Mrs. Macgregor is my wife's sister, and a
sWeeter lady never walked In leather, ex-
cepting, of course, my wife herself, who, in
spite OF her very few but disastrous frail-
ties, IS unquestionably the most beautiful
aud the most emiable creature in all the
world. The Maegregors live near US; we
see one another constantly This is a great
convenience. Macgregor abounds in Scotch
thrift; 1t is an inestimable boon 20 have
brother-in-law handy when one is con-
strained to borrow money to answer sudden
and imperative demands
Last summer Mrs. Turner wrote my wife
charming letter inviting us to pay her q
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 ex-
traordinary beauties Of Calm Lake, nor 90
have TO assure you that the Turner's have
for themselves and for their friends the
most delightful retreat ia all that delight
full country. OF course Mrs. Thimble and
l were cverioyed by tie prospect of a
sojourn in this lovely spot. eaccepted
Mrs. Turner's invitation with despatch
and an enthusiasm which must have made
even Mrs. Turner's gracious hospitality
quake with sstonishment.
/ sm In no sense a man Of the world. Ny
life has been spent 10 meditation and in the
pursuit. Of tile literature of education. Ny
History Of Hsnhawk County" my First
Book for Amateur Astronomers" and nv
essay upon 1.-The Essential Principles Of
Vulgar Fractions" have enrolled my name
I say It in all modssty-in the proud
roster Of my country's benefactors. am
Of calm, contemplative nature; love
iva, - ~
ties Of society life recall now with q
painful blush how upon time l made my
appearance at a church sociable wearing
my ear muffs-the result of mental abstrao-
tion, for inst then l was deep in work upon
a logarithm invoked by the coz junction Of
Aldeharan and. the other eve Of Taurus.
So was surprised and annoyed when
Mrs Thimble, having accepted Mrs. Turn
ers lnvi alton, sugg ested to me that her
wardrobe was hardly extensive enough TO
admit Of her making successful appear
ance at q fashionable watering place. 1t had
never occurred to lns that Calm Lake was
that ktnd of place; nsither had it occurred
TO me thai Mrs. sEhimhIe,s wardrobe was
not extensive LrsCafied that or the seven
spacious closets IN our house was not per-
mitted TO use one, and so had to stow away
my linen and other traps in the lower draw
ers OF bureau. | remembered very dis
tinctly the pearl-gray dinner gown and the
brown silk and the English waking dress
and-and-buE why enumeratel was
wholly satisfied with Ars. Thimbles ward
robe. and 1t seemed to me that il the hus-
band were satisfied. surely the wife
ought MOI to complain. But Mrs. Thimble
thought otherwise, and when we referred
the matter TO Mrs Mecgregor that
worthy lady agreed with Mrs. ThImble.
Accordingly it was determined to
have Miss Kelcey come in at once and
make up @ trousseau. You understand
from this that Miss Kelcey Is a dressmaker
and here the troubles begin. 10 befeI lust at
that time--and itswas just our luck-that
Miss Keiceys aunt, old Mrs. Bigmore, had
to upand die, Rpds ia consequences of this
untimsiy heap Miss Kelley had to send word
that she couldn't come 20 do the work my
wife and Mrs. Macgregor had mapped out. or
course this caused great vexation and con.
fusion. Mrs. Thimble dissolved into tears
and II began to look as If we would have to
abandon our visit to Mrs. Turner; for, al
though was certain. knowing our COM
paratvely humble circumstances, nobody
at Calm Lake would expect US Co faunt Gus
like figures or Chinese josses. Mrs. Thin
BILE insisted that if we looked dowdy we
should be hopelessly irretrieyebly ruinedi
In the midst of this Misunderstanding agony
sort OF compromise occurred to Mrs
Thlmble. 1t waste the effect that her SID
ter lend her that red gown of hers-that
very red gown to which had instinctiVoly
taken SO fixed antipsthy. And right here
the plot despens and thickens. have talked
with several learned Presbyterian tgeolo-
gians about it. and they confirm my theory
that Satan engineers the trouble from the
beginning. To begin with, Satan created
that red gown; then he put 10 within Mrs.
Thimble's comprehension: then he artfully
imbued Mrs. Thimble with yearning for
and hankering after that gown: then he
weakened the steFneF qualities Of my nature
until became in a measure parIlteps GRIM
inis he yielding my permission 10 the Dor
rowing OF that fatal raiment-yes, Satan is
responsible for it all, so | warn everybody
against the insidious articles OF that diaboi-
ical old tyrant
To make short OF long end narrowing
experience, the red gown was duly trans
ferred temporarily to the nses of nv wife
The pearl gray dinner gown was rehabili-
tated and the brown silk and the English
walking dress were fixed mp in some sort Of
fashion-ppon my. wordf know nothing OF
this kind of flummery+-but IL was taoitly
understood that Mrs, Macgregor's gown,
thered gown, was to be the piece de resist
ance. Moreover, was solemnly informed
nay, was vehemeitIy .enjoined-that |
was to set an inviolaDie seal upon my lbs
and uponsm my coHntgnsnoe and upon my ac-
tions. lest l should betray in one way or
another the awful Beoret that Mrs. Thimble
was wearing rainlfnt that belonged to an
other. made 0very promise; but, mind
you, not until had expostulsted long and