Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-02-03
miss Perkins q
= e Party Dress.
BV mary X. PcfteY.
BY mary X. Potter.
g &c SS-9e 90 9G-NS 9G-E

A mt it almost too lovely to
n wear?" asked Miss LuelIa Per
kins, with blissfuI sigh. She stood
looking ct delicate lavender silk dress
which she had just taken from its many
soft wrappings.
It's the most beautiful thing 1 ever
saw" answered Hattie Gimp, signing
too, but longingly.
Mill LuelIa caught the tone, and
promptly turned to her niece.
Hattie Edna Gimp" she said, slowly,
'next month I'll be IS years old. Not, ="
she added, with dignity, that you need
blab that all around town. don't see
any call for a woman to tell her age to
every body, less she's that poorly she
looks oIder'n she is. But IS is what l
am
She dropped into a rocking-chair, and
runctuated her remarks with rapid, un-
ceasing swings.
I'm all those years, amt ever had a
party dress. What do you think of that,
Hattie Edna Gimpr-
Hattie's soft little face flushed up to
her pale golden hair as she said: Il
haven't either, Aunt Luella."
"You!" and Miss Perkins shifted
oontemptuously. why, you amt but
10 years old. How'd you expect to go
at that age?'
Most girls" said Hattie, timidly,
but surely, Il guess, do go before then"
Welt" exclaimed Miss Perkins,
why amt you been?"
Hattie looked at her reproachfully.
You know" she said, slowly.
when 1 was going to school, mother
had all she could do to keep me there,
les alone dressing me up for parties.
And since she died, why" the girl
choked, and went up to the elder wom-
an and put her arms about her-'why,
if it had not been for you, l guess l
should have been in the poorhouse, in
stead of having a lovely home here and
chance to study music" And she
patted her aunt's shoulder affection
ately.
Miss Luella's face softened, but she
spoke brusqueiy:
Pooh! You more'n pay for your
keep; you're so handy and comfortable
around the house. 1 declare. didn't
know how lonesome twas before you
o. came. But, as for parties and party
dresses, there's plenty chances for you
yet. And 1 guess you won't be 55 be-
fore you get one. You've got better
start'n l had.
Till I was 49, she went on rumin-
D.. atingly, every cent 1 got went to help
support a drunkard father. There
% wasn't any extra left for party dresses,
I tell you. Then, when he died, had
lard time scrubbing along, looking
after the boys. And by that time, even
if I'd had any money to buy party
dresses with, didn't have any party TO
go to. But three years ago, when Uncle
Ed left me this house in Boston, and [
moved here and began to take boarders,
[ thought I'd go around lots.
But and she sighed a puzzled sigh,
though I've been to church regular,
and Joined the missionary society,
somehow they don't seem to be very
sociabie folks. 1 amt had n single in
vitation to a single dressy thing. Most
I've been to is the picnic out to River
side in the summer, and a church fair
this winter. Queer-'taint the way l
should think folks would do. 1 guess
I'm glad you've gone to DR.. Boardman's.
They seem easier to get acquainted
with.
However" and her face frightened,
NOW that our minister's married, and
is going to give a reception in his new
house, I've got chance to go to real
party. 1 suppose it's silly for a wom-
an of my age, but declare, I've just
ached for a beautiful party dress, ever
since l was little chit like you, and
had to refuse one of the few invita-
tious I ever had"
Her sallow face flushed, as she looked
somewhat apoIogeticaily at the Iaven-
der silk on the couch.
I'm glad you've got it, said Hattie,
alphabetically, land you'll look lovely
In il. I'm sure
But she glanced little doubtfully
>. the dress as she spoke. Miss Luella !