Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-06-02
WANTED, A GOWN.

leave the meager fare of Bohemia and reyel among them once more Two days after the invitation came she made very startling announcement as she served my coffee.
 "The Bible s Q very demoralizing bookp she said calmly.
 "Janet!''
 "I'm afraid that's heresy, but it's SO. '"
 What are you driving att" I 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 remem- Der the lilies of the field who toll not nor spin, yet eelipsed Solomon by the gorgeous. ness of their raiment We'll, that stirs up envy and malice and all uncharitableness in frail feminine nature, Jackie. It truly does ,
 What do you mean?'
 I'm not a lily, don't you see, so six days out of the week hustle to beat the band. My recreation the seventh is house. cleaning With it all 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 doesn't t 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. Docs any mortal know what you are driving at?'' I in quired hopelessly
 Only trivality. but trying, my lit tie sister said resignedly. '.I can't go to the Millionaires' Saturday, that's all. J
 But you've accepted.
 Yes, because I took no heed for the morrow. If had, I'd known I couldn't go. 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 MeFlmsy in this,' Janet said, with grin. "It's cold, hard fact. The burglars burgled the flat 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 mo was that 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. ''
 1T didn t realize it, ," said thoughtfully.
 1T didn t mean that you should. Coffee all right?' Janet broke off But now that the winters over, y she resumed, "I'd inst as soon speak of it. Youhad to get yourself a new outfit and couldn't help me, and you'd have been awfully uncom fortable about it. 1 notice I've had just as good time out of life this winter in my one gown-until now," she ended sadly.
 Whats wrong with it now?''
 Nothing, except that it was showing the result of a busy life, so last week ripped it 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 t qualify me for admission.
 "Janet!' l said reprovingly.
 "Oh, don't mean that virtue isn t nee. essary, too," she exclaimed airily; like. wise good clothes. One I have, the other I lack. Oh, Jack!" She went off into a peal of laughter, though I saw tears in her eyes. "JackP' she gasped, isn't it deliciously 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 0 gown? Think of me being in O hole like that, and the days when I had dozen gowns I think it's magnificent. No one would really believe it.. She wiped her eyes and went off into another peal.
 "I think it's pathetic, D broke in. "I'm awfully sorry, little girl, but I've got a note to meet this week, and I'm strapped. Can't you wiggle out @ gown somehow and gof"
 Janet shook her head collectively. She had evidently given the matter thought.
 "No. sent home last week what extra money I could spare, and will not bor row. Pm disappointed, of course, for the luncheon will be beautiful, and tho old set is to be there, 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 i'll. Fifty years from now it will make no diff ference
 But we live in the present., said dis contentedly.
 "I've had great laugh out of it, " Janet replied philosophically, and there was a twinkle in her eyes as she spoke. And it is something to be asked you know. Hurry off. You're late"
 Janet clutched me by the arm when l oame home that night and pointed to a gown on the floor.
 "The day of miracles is returned. I take back what I said about the Bible. Aunt Susan sent it. It's three-quarters worn, and it looks like the old boy, but it has possibilities, and I'm going to the luncheon.
 And she went. By the aid of tissue paper puzzle, which she called pattern, I saw her evolve a pair of sleeves in 8 manner that eIicited my deep admiration, but more than the sleeves my masculine brain could not follow. only know that