The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-08-25


trimmed with white lace. Et h
II do hope won't be the only one
I'm a thicls Dress thought Jenny, sigh
ing involuntarily. 70
One Of the girls in front Of her turned
suddenly and looked back, and Jenny
recognized her as Edith Alden, the
girl from New York, in whose honor
the party was given, She nodded as
indifferently as she could, and the next
moment they were in the dressing
room.
The room was half-full Of girls, all
chattering like magpies; and Jennie's
heart sank like lead rs she saw that
nearly all wore light dresses, and the
few whose dresses were dark had
turned them in at the neck and filled
In the space with illusion or silk, so as
to give them pretty effect, while all
wore little ornaments in the shape of
chains, fancy pins, or bracelets. Obi
II only She could slip out and go homel
But it was too late for that. Half a
dozen girls had already spoken to her
She made her way to far corner,
and began slowly to unbutton her long
,loak, dreading the moment when she
should stand revealed in her plain,
dark dress, with the ancient hair
breastpin as her only ornament, and
just then she heard some one say:
Lend me your glove-hoolx, Fannie.
l never can button these gloves with
my fingers"
Gloves! Jennie had never thought of
gloves! The only pair she owned were
dark brown, and were reserved exclu-
sively to wear to church. Oh! what
could she do! 1t was bad enough to
have on dark, heavy dress-but no
gloves! Tears of wounded pride rose SO
thickly to her eyes that she could not
see TO unfasten the "fascinator," which
had caught in the breastpin.
She heard the girls troop out, eager
to see what was going on below; but
she stood there fumbling with the
breastpin, and Washington, how earn
estly!-that she hadn't come, and won
dering II she would ever have the cour-
age to go downstairs
Want to use my glove-hook, Jen-
ney?" asked Ella Eastman. on her way
to the door.
'I-no-I-I didn't bring my gloves"
faltered Jenny, without looking around,
and dragging desperately at the "fas.
cinator."
well, came very near forgetting
mine" said Ella, in an indifferent
tone. Come on, Edith. Are you
ready?"
almost. Go on, don't wait for me.
I'll follow you in minute"
'1'll wait at the stairs for you. I
want to look down into the hail." said
Ella, as she left the room.
An instant of hesitation, then
swiftly the girl from New York crossed
the room to Jenny's side How sweet
she looked in her white crepe with
pearls on her neck, and a great bunch
of tea roses on her breastl And how
carelessly she tossed on a chair her
plumy fan and lace handkerchief.
Then, as in dream, Jenny saw her
plunge her hand into a blue plush
''party-bag" and heard her say:
ut is too bad you forgot your gloves.
Can't you use these? They look as if
they'd fit you. always bring two
pair, SO that if tear one pair have
another ready. And ! want you TO have
these roses, too. See how pretty they
look against your dark dress. They
scarcely show at all on mine"
Then-so quickly that Jenny scarcely
knew how il was done-the roses were
pinned on her breast, and with a little
smile and nod, as if well pleased with
the effect, the girl from New York was
gone.
Jenny stood there a moment, dazed,
bewildered with lump in her throat,
hears in her eyes, and the pretty
gloves in her hand. Only the arrival
OF fresh bevy of gay young guests
aroused her
Why, Jenny Cole, that you?" said
one. How nice you look, Jenny" from
another; and, Where did you get those
exquisite rosesT cried q third.
They were present." answered
Jenny. slowly, as, drawing on the
gloves, she moved SO as 70 see herself in
a long mirror.
She hardly recognized herself, so
much did the beautiful flowers add TO
her appearance. And, oh! how happy
and gay aud we'll satisfied with every.
thing she felt as she descended the
stairway few minutes later and
joined the merry crowd in the parlorA
And to think that she owed it all TO the
girl from New York!
Madge was sitting up in bed with an
Old shawl around her shoulders when
Jenny came in at midnight
I've just been taking my medicine"
she said ibid you have a good time.
Jennyp And, oh! where did you get ali
those roses?"
The sweetest, dearest girl in the
world gave them TO me- answered
Jenny; "and she's coming TO call ON
you tomorrow, Madge. told her
about your cold,-and-"
Who is coming TO call? Who is the
sweetest, dearest girl in the world?"
fiSeerMpted Madge. "Do explain who
you mean, Jenny"
~ mean the girl from New York"
answered Jenny.
What? That hateful, stuck-up girl