Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-01-29

silk seemed aggressively youthful. As
hel aunt held the waist against her
face. Hattie's clear eyes suddenly saw
that the rosy lavender made the sallow
face look sickly green, and the deli
cate. fluffy trimmings only emphasized
the wrinkles and the gray hair.
But Miss Luella only saw that the
soft. shining stuff was her very dream
of party dress, and 1t never occurred
TO her that il could be unbecoming.
So, though Hattie was much troubled.
she said nothing to mar her aunt's
pleasure.
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 90 play at a 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 70 be at Blank
Hall.
lis it?" asked Hattie docs that
make any difference TO us?"
Any diffsrenceI' exclaimed Jen-
ME. "Well. it does TO me Haven't
an evening dress that Is fit 70 wear.
and it is about as short notice to get
one up in as one could have"
"Ohr" said Hattie. "have we all got
to wear evening dresses?"
I should say, returned her friend,
"that we have. Ny dear. no one ever
/ plays n an evening concert, and espe-
cialiy In such a hall. unless one is
dressed for IT, Besides, we are TO have
a reception after the performance.
''Wel,' said Hattie mournfUlly.
but with decision. Il haven't 60. any
! evening dress, and shall gust wear
my brown cashmere, no matter What
the rest do.
Here Miss Perkins was called away
but she had heard enough. There
was absolutely 40 way 10 get a dress
ready for Hattie, even il she could e.
ford such expense.
"And can't afford il, she said to
herself. Three of the boarders going
20 leave this week; the bill for her
music lessons fifteen dollars more'n /
expect. and such lot for my laven-
i
just have 20 put mp with her cashmere.
I,andi she's lucky 90 have that. I'd
thought 1 was made, if I'd had such
pretty dress when / was her age"
In spite of herself, however, she
felt much upset. She knew so we'll
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 com
paaions?
"Well, can't help It, she said t.
herself impatiently. There aim
time to get thing ready, even if
could manage with the money"
And she began to put away her OWL
new dress. She had almost finished
folding the draperies, when sh,
stopped short. and dropped the dres!
upon the bed
: 81 can't do it." she said aloud
TREMENDOUSLY. For forty years Tv,
actually hungered and thirsted for al
evening dress. And now I've got it
1t Is too much TO ask a long sufferin,
saint to give it up TO somebody else
And amt saint. Nor don't wan
70 be either" she continued, some
! what belligerently; 81 never did hav
any opinion of people who made
, business of being piOus. It's ba
enough 10 do things you have 10
without skirmishing round. hunting
} up, land knows what Self-sacrific
1 is very we'll, but there is such a thinl
D as sacrificing ones self till You max
pigs other people. I amt going Z
bring Hattie up TO think she's got &
I have the best Of everything, no mat
ter II 1 go without"
Miss Perkins shcok her head victor
iously, and went on folding her dress
! Pretty soon, however, she stopped, an
, again began her audible self-commu
? nings.
poor child It's mean. She ough
? to be dressed somewhere near right
t Mr.. lamont said, If she pleased IN
D audience, he'd no doubt she would q
some pupils. And people are sue
e born fools, they let dress count a goo
: deal. And l s'pose l could wear IN
blsck silk. 'Twon't really be out {
= place. Don't make any difference,
< s'oose, If woman of fifty-fve ain
d 'essed up TO kill"
, Here she sighed voluminously.