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


Agnes made her debut or Thursday
evening. Nobody in her part OF ely
bourn avenue ever heard of 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 Snydacker's Han.
Agnes has been showing symptoms
or young ladyhood for some months.
or sudden last summer she left of
wearing her long braids and bundled
her brown hair into an ugly wad on
ton of her head. She noticed that her
kuuckles We're disgustingly red and
she took to wearing gloves at her
work. To the great horror OF her moth
or, whose own toil-worn hands are
bent and twisted until they look more
Ii 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 it than because
her mother thought il would save ''let-
ting down later. The next step was
To steal out TO the drug store and buy
box of pink face powder. This pur-
chased. there seemed to be but one
thmg more necessary for young lady
hood. and that was beau-steady
conpany--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
wanted n beau from another part OF
the city. Katie Andarno had young
man who came to see her every Sun
day i'm the most splendid clothes and
A"ncS figured that she wanted just
such another. SO she repulscd The adj
va"ccs of 1.-THE boys" and waited.
She was justified. for along i'm Sep
tember new bricklayer 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
hl9ck eyes. Agnes liked him, even in
his working clothes. hut when she saw
him in his Sunday cutaway and brown
derby she was entirely convinced that
she 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 at 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
ketings and reminded her that she was
not yet grown up. Three times ED"
iInplorcd Mrs. Dougan TO let Agnes go
to a dance and three times she re-
fused. but rs II came near time for the
"hricklaycrs' annual ball' he laid sys-
tcmatic SeiCc 10 her.
This matter settled. Agnes had to
think of her gown. Not n new gown.
but the furnishing up of her blue
serge. She finally had Miss Fitch. the
little dreSSmaIcr over Lchman's store.
construct pink chiffon front for the
occasion. and she made bows OF pink
watercd ribbon. which she disposed
wherever she saw 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-
rcd supper so that she could help Ag-
mes TO dress. The younger children
were wildly excited, and Jimmy
fought three rounds with Rudolph
Tinsch. who said that his sister was
going to wear n finer dress than gnes
Agnes's head had blossomed in white
curling rags early In the morning; now
they were removed and she nd Il fine
crop Of frizzled trcsses. When she was
finally dressed and had slipped into the
transformed blue serge she looked in
TO her narrow glass with an awed ex-
precision. 1t hardly seemed possible
that this beautiful young woman that
stared back Mt her really could he her.
Agnes Dougani 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, "Howdy do. AgnesT
Agnes revolved before him. do I
look all right?" she asked.
You look grand" he re1oined fer
vently. II bet there won't he fclloY.
there with prettier girl"