Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-03-19
"Well, you are a little goose il

elite, you can Go go. A lew nun
dred dollars can't make much diff
ference anyway. Aud when you see
the victory which may, perhaps, be
won over a certain attractive gentle
man of our mutual acquaintance by
our elder sisters more stylish toilet,
you will regret your decision in
favor of Nine. Noah's antideluvian
costume" said Lena sneeringly.
"I'm perfectly indifferent to the
praise or contempt OF the fashion
able world, for their is neither heart
nor sincerity in it. And concerning
the gentleman OF whom you SO
strangely hint, if his heart is suscep.
tible to the influence OF costly APP
parel, he can pay court to it as long
as he wishes without once exciting
my jealousy, as l want no dry
goods worshipper for my future
liege lord. So, my dear sister, you
have the field open and Gear to
yourself.
"March on, march on, ye brave, to
victory or death p sang Bertha, jubi-
lantly, waving her handkerchief at
Lena, who was picking up her mon
ey from the table where her father
had laid it, and humming a gay
opera air.
Bertha, what dress have you to
wearY You haven't any that you've
not already worn two or three times
at least, and | desire my daughters
to make as elegant appearance as
any Of their friends on this occa-
sion," said Mrs. Gregory.
As Mrs. Gregory was particular
friend of Mrs. Langdon, she felt in
duty bound to honor, as much as
possible, the advent Of her daugh.
tiers to the fashionable world and
the attire of her own daughters on
this occasion was an important con.
sideration.
"I'm going to have Nine. Leics'
ter make over my blue gros grain
silk, and you know she is a noted
genius for renewing worn ball dress
es but, if after it is done, it looks
antediluvian and smells musty, I'll
do penance by staying at home,
said Bertha.
Lena purchased the new dress and
had it made up without regard te
expense.
Bertha's dress came from the man
tuamaker's hands as beautiful as i,
could be, and none would ever have
suspected it had already been worn
unless she had been seen with it on
1t harmonized admirably with hel
hair, blonde complexion, forming
vivid contrast to Lena's more bril-
liant style of personal attractivenesi
and bright, orange colored robe.
The day previous to the bail Glars
Aipsley called, sister of Hugh
Ainsley, who was the fixed, centra
star around which the feminine lum
inaries had ambitiously beamed fol
the last two seasons, each fondly
hoping to be the final favored one.
But to the secret chagrin of each
he still maintained the same quiet
courtliness of manner toward them
all. He seemed quite Indifferent te
their heart affairs as he would have
been to the pyramids of Egypt.
This was the gentleman Lena was
bending all her energies to ensnart
and to bring to her feet before thu
present season closed.
Clara was an intimate friend O
both the girls, and che was invited
upstairs to see the dresses which haC
just been sent home.
Their beauty she warmly expatiat
ed on, but Lena would not allow hel
to leave until she had told her O
Bertha's wonderful fit of economy
and laughingly said she would take
her own opera glasses with her te
the ball, that she might descry some
interesting, poor young gentleman
with whom she knew her sister must
have secret understanding and fol
whose benefit she was carrying out
this within of prudence.
The combined entreaties of all the
trio could not induce Mr.. Gregory
to accompany them TO Mrs. Lang
don s. He pleaded headache and
fatigue.
This was a cover to the real rea.
son. His business affairs were daily
becoming more entangled by means
of several heavy failures of parties
owing him to a great extent, and all
he could see before him was ruin
and digrace but he would keep his
forebodings to himself until after
the fete was over, when, if he found
no means of extricating himself, he
would make clean breast of the
whole thing to them.
Hugh Ainsley was quite attentive
to Miss Lena that night, who Looked
very qneenly in the gay throng, and
his attentions were received with
deep satisfaction to herself. MOI
was the less interested Bertha, who
had laid no siege to him, overlook
ed.
He inquired at once where. hel
father was, as he had not seen hin