Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-05-23
WANTED, 4 GOWN.

& luncheon at the Millionaires' club, and. accustomed as she had been to the flesh pots of Egypt, it delighted her soul to 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.
 :" The Bibles a very demoralizing bookl she said calmly
 "Janeti'
 I'm afraid that's heresy, but it's so. D
 What are you driving atf' 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. Its only in spots You remem- Der the lilies of the field who toll not nor spin, yet eclipsed Solomon by the gorgeous ness of their raiment. We'll, that stirs up envy and malice and all uneharitablenesS in frail feminine nature Jackie. It truly does.
 What do you mean2'
 ''I'm not lily, don't you see, so six days out of tho week l hustle to beat the band. My recreation the seventh is house. cleaning. With it all 1 can't get raimont enough of the simplest sort for necessary purposes letting alone there being any glory in it. If you think the thought of the lilies doesn't make me want to swear, you don't know Then there's that text about taking no heed for the morrow; that's impractical, Jackie, and you can't deny it.
 lodged the point. Docs any mortal know what you are driving at?" 1 in. quired hopelessly.
 "Only a trivality, but trying, my lit tie sister said resignedly. 1T can't go to the Millionaires' Saturday, that's all
 .tBut you ve accepted.
 "Yes, because l took no heed for the morrow. If had. I'd known I couldn't go. I haven q gown except the skirt ana jacket wear all tho time and they are not suitable ]"
 Do you mean that you really haven't one or just none that you want to wearfo
 There no Flora MeFlimsy in this, Janet said, with a grin. Its a cold, hard fact. The burglars burgled the flat so successfully last summer that they took every gown possessed as well as the furs. 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 l didn't run into debt and buy more clothes. Mo ments l fairly glowed with the conscious, ness of virtue, but mostly my teeth have chattered like castanets.
 "Ididn realize it. 1 said tlfoughtfully.
 I didn't mean that you should. Coffee all rightY' Janet broke off. But DOW that the winters over, she resumed, lid inst as soon speak of it. You had to get yourself new outfit and couldn't help me, and you'd have been awfully uncom- fortable about it. l notice Eve had just as good a time out of life this winter in my one gown-until now" she ended sadly.
 Whats wrong with it now?'
 "Nothing, except that it was showing the result of busy life, so last week ripped it to pieces, put it in the washtuh and made it up wrong side out. Had to stay indoors two days while I did it. It now lies near to gedliness in that it's clean, but rapping at the portals of the Millionaires clad in plain virtue, wouldn' | qualify mo for admission. :"
 sJanetP' l said reprovingly.
 "Oh, don't mean that virtue isn t nee, essary, too, she exclaimed airily; Hike. wise good clothes. One have, the other I lack. Oh, Jaek!" She went off into peal of laughter, though I saw tears in her eyes. "Jackl" she gasped, isn't it delieiously 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 a gown? Think of me being in hole like that, and the days when l had dozen gownst l think it's magnidcent No one would really believe it" Sbe wiped her eyes and went off into another neal
 T think it's pathetic, broke in. "Im awfully sorry, little girl, but I've got note to meet this week, and I'm strapped Can't you wiggle out q gown somehow and gof"
 Janet shook her head effectively. She had evidently given the matter thought.
 "No. 1 sent home last week what extra money I could spare, and I will not bor- row. I'm disappointed, of course, for the luncheon will be beautiful, and the old set is to be tbere, but I'll be quite as hap py in the long run if don t go, and Sat urday I'll wire Gertrude that I'm ill. Fifty years from now it will make no diff ference. D
 But we live in the present. I said dis contentedly.
 "I've had great laugh out of it" Janet replied philosophieally, and there was twinkle in her eyes as she spoke And it is something to he asked, you know. Hurry off. You're late. D
 Janet clutched mo by the arm when I eame homo that night and pointed to gown on the floor.
 "Tbe day of miracles is returned I take back what I said about the 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 luncheon.
 And sho went. By tho aid of tissue paper puzzle, which she called pattern,