Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1898-02-24

oa1h 0Sol hiuiiV " ueT disappointed /
face IN the mirror. I'D like to know |
WHO you think is going to look at YOU, |
any way? You amt to be put up on !
platform, for crowd OF people to stare
at and crltlcise. But-Oh, dear.' and |
in the midst of her words. poor, Miss
Luella broke down completely, and
had what she afterwards called "A
regular house-cleaning cry. Swept
away all the cobwebs, and cleaned out
the dusty corners better'n any patent
serubbers / ever used"
She said nothing to Hattie, however.
for, as she told her discreet confidant
IN the looking glass, ''She's got
chance here, too. If she takes hold of
it the right way, she's worth the silk
dress. If she don't-well, we'll see. =
SO she watched her neice carefully,
and with growing triumph. Once in
a while she thought she detected GER
| tain wistfulness IN the girls face, but
that's all. Cheerful and interested as
ever in all about her, Hattie never
even told her aunt that she wished she
could be better dressed for the concert.
Once Miss Perkins questioned her 4
BIT.
If your concert is in the evening"
she said tentatively, won't the girls
dress up good deal?'
Well, said Hattie slowly,'I think
they may"
Il wish, then, | could afford to get
you a better gown, child.
You're dear aunt to think of it, "
answered the girl gratefully. But
you know you can't, and, anyway, [
guess I'm not too proud to wear that
nice brown cashmere
Miss Perkins face glowed. and she
started impulsively to say something,
but instead only chuckled softly.
The reception at her minister's was
to he on Monday evening. When the
time came for her to dress, she re-
fused all Hattie's offers of assistance,
and lock ed herself into her room alone
Three-quarters Of an hour later, n
handsome woman in black, courtesied
graciously before Hattie, and said So
berly, "How do you like your black
bird aunt?'
''What in the world!'' exclaimed her
niece. Then, before Miss Perkins
could answer, ooh! but how pretty
you look, Aunt Luellal'
Miss Perkins smiled little grimly.
"Well, I concluded an old woman
like me had better stick to her own
colors When it came to putting on
that light 'dud. I couldn't make up my
mind to it. Made me feel as If + a
have to be introduced to myself"
''My!" said Hattie with an unsuspi-
cious hug, you don't know how glad
I ann You look ever so much better
in this than in the lavender
Miss Perkins gave a grunt. To be
sure she did not want Hattie to realize
the sacrifice she was making Yet she
felt little indignant at the girl
manner.
''Just as if. she said to herself, 'it
was for my good instead of hers,,'
Something III the elder woman's
expression made Hattie look at her
keenly.
aunt LuelIa,' she said slowly,
what are you going to do with the Law
cnder silk
oh! 1hat?' replied her aunt :
We'll, as I amt going to wear it, you
nights we'll have it. 'Twon't take
much altering to tit You 1lrst-rate,
Aunt Luella! Aunt Luellai ex.
claimed Hattie, with tears in her voice
and ewes. you've just done this fol
me; you know you have. And [ WON'T
LET you. When you've wanted a party
dress for so long. | guess | can do
without one for little while. You
, shan't DO it, you shan't' And she
hugged her aunt convulsively.
Miss Luella' face beamed affection
, ately, but she spoke with asperity.
I Hattie Edna Gimp, We amt got t
vour aunt. I'm going to wear thi
, gown tonight. and you're going t
| wear the lavender silk tomorrow
. and the less words we have about it
: the; better. When / was your age.
took what was given me and wa
thankful"
g With much dignity. which did no
i III the least impose upon her grateful
fearful niece. Miss Perkins left fo
{ the reception.
Arrived at the ministers house. sh
( took off her wraps slowly, and looke'
=. with much interest at the rather elab
. orately dressed women about her. l
a was not so easy. when she saw tn
/ many light rich gowns. TO feel quite s.
), happy over her own black silk as sh'
e had pretended
e That lavender" she said 10 her
: self. would have been just the thing
= do feel countrlted IN this. Now
. there's Miss Fitzvllllams as sh
q ~pied one Of the few women she knew
: that IS an elegant green, but !
amt a bi. handsomer than m.
r lavender. Ia like TO have mad h .
( see II
i Then with sigh she called hersel
L u order. 'LuelIa Perkins, for
woman OF vour age. you're a wallin
II lnfant And at the ministers, too
l. I'm ashamed Of YOU