Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-12-22
BRTCKLAYER,s BALL

Agnes made her debut on Thursday
evening. Nobody in her part of Oily
bourn avenue ever heard of a debut, but
the other girls come out just the same,
although there is no formal reception
and presentation, for they generally
come out at some time of the public
balls that are given by the different
labor unions In Snydackers Hall.
Agnes has been showing symptoms
OF young ladyhood for some months.
or sudden last summer she left OFF
wearing her long braids and bundled
hcr brown hair into an ugly wad on
ton of her head. She noticed that her
kuuckles were disgustingly red and
she took to wearing gloves at her
work, To the great horror Of her moth
er whose own toil-worn hands are
bent and twisted until they look more
IL e quaint vegetable growths than
hands. Agnes begged that her blue
serge dress might be made "real long"
ana finally she obtained the boon, less
because she wanted 1t than because
her mother thought it would save "let-
ting down later. The next step was
To steal out 10 the drug store and buy
Il box of pink face powder. This pur-
chased. there seemed to be but one
thing more necessary for young lady
hood, and that was beau-steady
company--who would hang around the
house of evenings and meet her on the
way from the bakers and walk home
with her, carrying the loaf under his
arm.
or course Agnes knew almost all of
the boys of the neighborhOod but she
wantcd Il beau from another part of
the city. Katie Andarno had young
man who came to see her every Sun
I D1A
A"ncS figured that she wanted Just
such another. So she rcpulscd The adj
va"ccs of "thc boys" and waited
She was justified, for along in Sep.
temher new brlcklayer came to work
on l.ehman's store that was being built
across the street from her home. He
was tall and straight and had big
Hack eyes. Agnes liked him, even in
his working. clothes, but when she saw
him in his Sunday cutaway ana brown
derby she WAS entirely convinced that
shr desired him for her STEADY" He
was of the same opinion, and they
never really knew how they came to
know each other, hut one Sunday even.
in:. he appeared nj the front door of
the Dougan house and inquired for
Miss Agnes. They went walking In
Lincoln Park that evening.
In this way Agnes came To keep
steady company with Ed" but still
her mother crowned on dances and Jun
kctings and reminded her that she was
not vet grown up. Three times ED"
implorcd Mrs. Dougan TO let Agnes go
TO Il dance and three times she re.
fused but rs II came near time for the
"hricklaycrs' annual bnll' he laid sys-
tcmatic Sclgc to her.
This matter settled, Agnes had to
think of her gown Not n new gown
hut the furnishing up of her blue
serge. She finally had Miss Fitch. the
little dressmakcr over Lchmans store
construct pink chiffon front for the
occasion, and she made bows of pink
watercd ribbon, which she disposed
wherever she saw n bare spot of other -,
trimmings. She had new pair of
white kid slippers and pink cotton
bose.
Even Mrs. Dougan relaxed her usual |
calm on the night OF the hall and hur-
ricI supper so that she could help Ag-
mes to dress. Tho younger children |
were wildly excited. and ".Iimmy"
fought three rounds with Rudolph
'rinSch. who said that his sister was
going TO wear Il finer dress than Agnes
Agnes's head had blossomed in white |
curling rags early In the morning; now
they were removed and she Id fine |
crop of friz2led trcsscs When she was |
finally dressed and had slipped into the !
transformed blue serge she looked In
to her narrow glass with an nwed OK
preston. 1t hardly seemed possible
that this beautiful young woman that
stared back Mt her really could be her,
Agnes Dougan! She went downstairs
shyly when Becky called up that ED"
was below. His jaw fell and his eyes
frightened as she entered the parlor,
but he only said, "ITowdy do, Agnes?"
Agnes revolvcd before him. do
look all right?" she asked.
You look grand" he rcjoined fer.
vently. 81 bet there won't he n fcloy.
there with q prettier girl"