Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-06-06
WANTED, 4 GOWN.

Janet had received an invitation to a luncheon at the MiIionaires club, and, accustomed as she had been to the flesh i 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 Bible s 6 very demorallzing booki' che said calmly
 "Janetlo
 "I'm afraid that's heresy, but it's so" What are you driving atf' 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 It's only in spots. You re1nem- Der the lilies of the field who toll not nor spin, yet eelipsad Solomon by the gorgeous ness of their raiment. We'll, that stirs up envy and malice and all uncharitahieness in frail feminine nature, Jackie. It truly doesn
 What do you meanP"
 I'm not lily, don't you see, so six days out of the week I hustle to beat the band. My recreation the seventh is house. cleaning. With it all l can't get raiment enough of the simplest sort for necessary purposes, letting alone there being any glory in it. If you think the thought of the lilies doesnit 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. "Does any mortal know what you are driving at?" l in. quired hopelessly.
 Cnly trivality, but trying, my lit tie sister said resignedly. I can't go 10 the Millionaires' Saturday, that's all. , " But you we accepted"
 Yes, because took no heed for the MOTION. If 1 had. I'd known I couldn't go. I haven't q gown except the skirt and 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 wearf' There's no Flora MeFlimsy in this, Janet said, with grin. Its a cold, hard fact. The burglars burgled tho fiat 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 1 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 chattered like castanets
 "I Ididn't realize it, . said thoughtfully. ''I didn't mean that you should. Coffee all right?' Janet broke off. But now that the winters over, ? she resumed. ''I'd just as soon speak of it. You had to get yourself a new outfit and oouldn help me, and you'd have been awfully uncom- fortable about it. notice Eve had just as good time out of life this winter in my ono gown-until now, she ended sadly.
 Whats wrong with it now?"
 Nothing, except that it was showing the result of n busy life, so last week l ripped 1t to pieces, put it in the washtub and made it up wrong side out. Had to stay indoors two days while did it. It now lies near to godliness in that it's clean, but rapping at the portals of the Millionaires clad in plain virtue, ,wouldn t qualify mo for admission. "
 "Janet!7 1 said reprovingly.
 "Oh, don't mean that virtue isn t nee. essary, too, , she exclaimed airiIy Hike. wise good clothes. One I have, the other
 
 peal of laughter, though I saw tears in her eyes. "Jackl" she gasped, "isn't 1t 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 Q hole like that, and the days when 1 had dozen gownsi I think it's magnificent. No one would really believe it. 7 She wiped her eyes and went off into another peal.
 l think it pathetic, ' broke in. 1T m awfully sorry. little girl but I've got a note to meet this week, and l m strapped Can't you wiggle out & gown somehow and go?'
 Janet shook her head redeotively. She had evidently given the matter thought.
 No 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 the old set is to be thero 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
 But we live in the present, D I said dis oontontedly
 five had Q great laugh out of it,'' Janet replied philosophically, and there was a twinkle in Ter eyes as she spoke And it is something to be asked, you know. Hurry off. You're late. D
 Janet clutehed me by the arm when l oamo home that night and pointed to a gown on the floor.
 "The day of miracles is returned. l take back what I said about the Bible.