Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-06-22
WANTED, A GOWN.

I pots or EBYHG5 IL delighted her soul 10 leave the meager fare of Bohemia and revel among them once more Two days after the invitation came she made very startling announcement as she served my coffee.
 aThe Biblo' s e very demoralizing booliI' she said calmly
 Janet!
 I'm afraid that's heresy, but it's SO.
 What are you driving attp I demanded sternly.
 "Well, of course don't mean it's all de- moralizing, she conceded, putting her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands q It 's only in spots. You remem. Der the lilies of the field who toll not nor spin yet eelipsed Solomon by the gorgeous. ness of their raiment. Well. that stirs ID envy and malice and all nneharitableness i'll frail feminine nature, Jackie It truly does
 What do you mean?"
 Pm not lily, don't you see, so six days out of the week l hustle to beat the 1 band. My recreation the seventh is house. cleaning. With it all l eazTt get ramont enough of the simplest sort fer necessary purposes, letting alone there hoing any glory in it. If you think the thought ef the lilies doesn't make me want to swear l about taking no heed Tor tho morrow; that's impractical, Jackie and you can't deny it. J
 lodged the point Docs any mortal know what you are driving at2' l ii quired hopeIessly.
 Only triyality, but trying, my lit tie sister said resignedly. can't 20 to the Millonaires Saturday, that's all "
 4 But you ve accepted n
 Yes, because l took no heed for the morrow. If 1 had. I'd known l couldnt go. I haven t Il gown except the skirt ana jacket I wear all the time, and they are not suitable.
 Do you mean that you really haven't one or just none that you want to wearfn
 There's no Flora MeFlimsy in this. " Janet said, with grin. its cold, hard fact. The burglars burgled tho flat Sc successfully last summer that they took every gown possessed, as well as the fnrs My wardrobe this winter has consisted of one cloth gown and charitable thoughts neither of them very warming-but the thing that upheld me was that I didn't run into debt and buy more clothes Mo- ments I fairly glowed with the conscious. ness of virtue, but mostly my teeth have shattered like eastanets
 
 II didn't mean that you should. Coffee all right2" Janet broke off. But now that the winters over, she resumed, "I'd 1 just as soon speak of it. You had to get yourself q new outfit and couldn't help me, and you ad have been awfully uncom= fortable about it. l notice ve had just as good tiino out of life this winter in my one gown-until now she ended sadly.
 Whats wrong with it now2p
 Nothing, except that it was showing the result of q busy life, so last week I ripped it to pieces, put it in the washtub and made it up wrong side ont. Had to stay indoors two days while did it. It now lies near to godliness in that it's olean, but rapping at the portals of the Millionaires', clad in plain virtue wouldn't qualify mo for admission. 2
 tJanet!" 1 said reproyingly.
 "Oh, l don t mean that yirtue isn t nee essary, too, ;" she exclaimed aifily; Hike. wise good clothes. One I have, the other 1 lack. Oh Jacz!' She went off into a peal of laughter, though I saw tears In her eyes. "Jackn' she gaspod, 'isn't it deliciously funny? Isn't it absurd to be asked to the Millionaires' and have to be taken sick at the last moment and send regrets because really you haven t gown? Think of mo being in hole liko that. and the days when l had dozen gownsi l think it's magnificent. No one would really believe it. Sho wiped her eyes and went off into another peal
 ''I think it's pathetic, ; broke in I'm awfully sorry, littlo girl, but pye got a note to meet this week, and m strapped. Can't you wiggle out gown somehow and goF"
 Janet shook her head collectively She had evidently given the matter thought.
 No. l sent home last week what extra money l could spare and I will not bor- row. I'm disappointed, of course, for the luncheon will be beautiful and tho old set is to be thore, but I'll be quite as hap py ill the long run if I don [ go, and Sat urday I'll wire Gertrude that Pm ill Fifty years from now i5 will make no diff ference. /"
 But we live in the present. ? I said dis eontentedly.
 f'I've had q great laugh out of it, :" Janet replied philosophicallv. a,sl thero was twinkle in her eyes as sEo roKo. And it Is something to be asked, you know. Hurry off You're late <"
 Janet clutehed mo by the arm when I camo homo that night and pointed to gown on the floor.
 ''The day of miracles is returned take back what I said about tho Bible. Aunt Susan sent it. It's three-quarters worn, and it looks like the old boy, but it has possibilities, and I'm going to the i luncheon.
 And she went By tho aid of a tissue paper puzzle, which she called pattern, saw her evolve pair of sleeves in a manner that elieited my deep admiration. but more than the sleeves my masculine brain could not follow. l only know that on intervening eho shipped and tried on and stitched and evolved smart whole that inspired respect for her abilities. 1 Then she cleaned her gloves, retrimmed her old hat and on Saturday arrayed her self
 ..You renllg look if. ,, sald IS she was