The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-03-08
MISS LUELLA PERKINSS PARTY DRESS.
by MARY KNIGHT POTTER.

That evening Miss Perkins was sit.
ting IN her little room off the parlor.
when Jennie Smith called to see Hat
tie. The two girls took music lessons
OF the same teacher, and next week
they were to play at pupils concert.
What do you think?" Miss Per-
kins heard Jennie say. "Mr lamont
has decided to give the concert next
Tuesday evening, instead of in the
afternoon, and, it's to be at Blank
Hall"
Is it?" asked Hattie. ''Does that
make any difference to us?"
Any differencel" exclaimed Jen-
ME. Well, it does to me- haven't
an evening dress that is fit to wear.
and 1t is about as short notice to get
one up in as one could have"
"Ohl" said Hattie, ''have we all got
to wear evening dresses?"
Il should say, returned her friend.
that we have. My dear, no one ever
plays at an evening concert, and espe-
ciaily i'll such hall, unless one is
dressed for it. Besides, we are to have
n reception after the performance.
"Well," said Hattie mournfully.
but with decision, "I haven't got any
evening dress, and 1 shall Just wear
my brown cashmere, no matter what
the rest do
Here Miss Perkins was called away :;
but she had heard enough. There
was absolutely no way to get dress
ready for Hattie, even if she could af-
ford such expense.
And cau't afford it, she said to
herself. Three of the boarders going
to leave this week; the bill for her
music lessons fifteen dollars more'n I
expect, and such lot for my laven-
der silk! can't do it, anyhow She'll
Just have to put up with her cashmere.
Land! she's lucky to have that I'd
thought L was made, if I'd had such
a pretty dress when [ was her age
In spite of herself, however, she
felt much upset. She knew SO we'll
the natural discomfort a girl feels
when she is appropriately dressed.
Had she not suffered real agony,
many times in her young life, because
she could never dress like her com
panions?
"Well, L can't help il, she said to
herself impatiently. "There amt
time to get a thing ready, even if 1
could manage with the money"
And she began to put away her own
new dress. She had almost finished
folding the draperies, when she
stopped short. and dropped the dress
upon the bed
81 can't do it," she said aloud,
tremulously. For forty years I've
actually hungcrcd and thirsted for an
evening dress. And now I've got it.
1T is too much to ask q long. suffering
saint to give it up to somebody else.
And L amt saint. Nor don't want
to be either she continued, some
what belligerently; 81 never did have
any opinion of people who made q
business of being pious. It's bad
enough to do things you have to.
without skirmishing round. hunting
up, land knows what Self-sacrifce
is very well, but there is such a thing
as sacrificing ones self till you make
pigs other people. I amt going TO
bring Hattie up to think she's got to
have the best of everything, no mat
ter if L go without"
Miss Perkins shook her head victor
lously, and went on folding her dress
Pretty soon, however, she stopped, and
again began her audible self-commu-
nings
Poor child 'Tis mean. She ought
to be dressed somewhere near right
Mr.. lamont said, il she pleased the
audience, he'd no doubt she would get
some pupils. And people are such
born fools, they let dress count good
deal And / s'pose / could wear my
black silk. 'Twon't really be out of
place Don't make any difference. I
s'posc, if woman of ffty-fve amt
dressed up to kill"
Here she sighed voluminouslv. II
did make such a difference to herl
You're n vain old woman" she
said scornfully TO her disappointed
face in the mirror. I'D like to know
who you think is going to look at you.
any way? You ANT TO be put up on a
platform, for q crowd Of people TO stare
at aud criticise. But-Oh, dearr' and
in the midst Of her words. poor Miss
Luella broke down completely. and
had what she afterwards called "a
regular houSe-cleauing cry. - Swept
away all the cobwebs, and cleaned out
the dusty corners better'n any patent
scrubbers ] ever used
She said nothing TO Hattie, however.
for, rs she told her discreet confdant
IN the lookingglass, shes rot a
chance here, too. " she takes hold OF
1t the right way, she's worth the SILK
dress. If she don't-well, we'll see. "
80 she watched her neice carefully,
and with growing triumph Once i'm
n while she thought she detected n GER
tam wisttulness IN the girls face, but
that's all Cheerful and interested ne
ever in oil about her. Hattie never
even told her aunt that she wished she
could be better dressed for the concert
Once Miss Perkins questioned her
bit.