Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-02-04
Miss LueIIa PerkinS'S
Party Dress.
By MARY KNIGHT POTTER.

Amt 1t almost too lovely TO
weu?' asked Miss Luella Perkins
with bnSStul sigh. SIe stood
looking at adeIc tie lavender silk
dress which she had Just taken
from its many soft wrappines.
TpS the most beautiful thing |
ever saw answered Hattie Gimp
signing, toe, but lovingly.
Miss Luella caught the tone. ana
prompt Y turned to her niece.
hattie Elna Gimp she said
slowly, next month III he fifty
five years old. Not sue SAID with
dignity, 'tnat you need bldb that
all around town, don't see any
call for a woman to tell her age to
everybody, less she's that poorly
she looks older N she is. But fifty
i've is what l an
She dropped Into a rocElng'
chair and puuctuated her remarks
with rapid, unceaslng swiDgs.
In all those years 1 ain't ever
been to real party, and L amt
ever bad party dress. What do
YOU thlnk of that, Hattie Elns
G mpl
Hatti,s sofa little face flushed
up to her pale golden hair as she
aid, Il haven't either, Aunt
Loella.'
Your and Miss Perkins shifted
contemptuously. why you amt
bat nineteen years old. How'd you
expect 20 go at that ageP
Most giIlS,' said Hattie tlmidly,
but surely, 4 guess, do go before
then.'
We'll, exclaimed Miss Perkins,
why aiu't you beeuP
Raitie looked at her reproach
tull1.
You know she said slowly.
.When | WAS gong to scAo'l
mother bad all she could do to
keep me there. let alone dressing
me up tor parties. Aud since she
died, why the girl choked aud
went up TO the elder woman and
pui her arms around her-'why, II
il had not been for you guess |
should have been IN the pOOrhouse
instead OF having a lovely home
hore and chance to study music.
Aad she patted her aunts shoulder
affectiOnateIy.
Miss Luella'S face sOftened, hui
she spoke brusqUely.
Pooh You more'n pay for your
keep; you're so handy and com
Portable round the house. Ideclare
I didn't know how lonesome 'twa'
before you came. But, as for par
lies and party dresses, there
plenty chances for YOU yet. Aud
suess you won't he dftS FIVE before
on get one. You've got bette
star'n | hat.
TIL was thlrtytfge,' she wen
on ruminatiugly, every cent 60
went to help support a drunkar'
father. There wasn't any extra let
for party dresses, | tell yOu. Then
when he died, had hard tim'
scrubOlng along, looking after tn
boys. aud by that time, even
III had any money to bay party
dresses with, | didn't have AL.
parry 10 go to. Bnt three gear
ago, when Uncle Ell left me thi
house IN Boston, and | moved her
and began to take bOarderr,
thought I'd go around lots.
'Bdt,' and she sighed puzzle
sigh, though I've been to chorc
regular, and joined he mlsslOnar
society, somehow they dou't seer
to be very sociable folks. aim
had a single invitation to a sing
dressy thing. Most I've been to
the picuics out to Riverside in I'll
summer, and a church fair th
wiutcr. Qdeer-'talnt the way
should think folks would do.
guess Tm glad you've gone to ID
Boardman's. They seem easier
get acquainted With.
However, and her face brigh
ened, now that oar minister's ma
rled. and is going to give a =
ceptlon 10 his new house, I've g
a chance to go to real party.
lsuppose It's silly for a woman ]