Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-02-03

was not old, of course, but the new silk
seemed aggressively youthful. As her
aunt held the waist against her face,
Hattie's clear eyes suddenly saw that
the rosy lavender made the sallow face
look a sickly green, and the delicate,
fluffy trimmings only emphasized the
wrinkles and gray hair.
But Miss Luella only saw that the
soft, shining stuff was her very dream
of party dress, and it never occurred
to her that it could be unbecoming. So,
though Hattie was much troubled, she
said nothing to mar her aunt's pleas
ure.
That evening Miss Perkins was sit
ting in her little room off the parIor,
when Jennie Smith called to see Hattie.
The two girls took music lessons of the
same teacher, and next week they We're
to play at pupils concert.
What do you think?" Miss Perkins
heard Jennie say, Mr.. lamont has de-
cided to give the concert next Tuesday
evening, instead of in the afternoon,
and it's to be at Blank haI!"
rs it?" asked Hattie. Does that
make any difference to us?''
ANY difference!" exclaimed Jennie.
well, it does to me. 1 haven't an even
ing dress that is fit to wear, and it is
about as short notice to get one up in
as one could have"
"Oh!" said Hattie, shave we all got
tc wear evening dresses?"
Il should say" returned her friend,
that we have. My dear. no one ever
plays at an evening concert, and espe-
cially in such a hall, unless one is
dressed for it. Besides, we are to have
a reception after the performance"
WELL" said Hattie, mournfully, but
with decision, Il haven't got any even
ing dress, and I shall just wear my
brown cashmere, no matter what the
rest do"
Here Miss Perkins was called away;
but she had heard enough. Next Tues
day, and this was Friday night! There
was absolutely no way to get a dress
ready for Hattie, even if she could af-
ford such expense.
"And 1 can't afford it," she said TO
herself. Three of the boarders going
to leave this week; the bill for her
music lessons SIS more'n I expected;
and such lot for my lavender 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 4 pretty dress
when / was her age"
I'm spite of herself, however, she felt
much upset. She knew so well the
natural discomfort 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 companions?
well, 1 can't help it." she said to her
self, impatiently. There amt time to
get thing ready, even if 1 could man
age with the money"
And she began to put away her own
new dress. She had almost finished
folding the soft draperies. when she
stopped short, and dropped the dress
upon the bed.
II can't do it," she said, aloud, trcm-
ulously. For 40 years I've actually
hungered and thirsted for an evening
dress. And now I've got it, it is too
much to ask of long-suffering saint
to give it up to somebody else. And
1 amt n saint. Nor don't want to bea
either" she continued, somewhat bel
ligerently; Il never did have any opin-
ion of people who made a business of
being pious. It's bad enough to do
things you have to, without skirmish-