The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1899-02-10
WANTED, A GOWN.

Janet had received an invitation to Q
luncheon at the Millionaires' club, and,
accustomed as she had been to the flesh
pots of Egypt, It delighted her soul to
leave the meager fare Of Bohemia and
reyel among them once more. Two days
after tho invitation came she made very
startling announcement as she served my
coffee.
"Tho Bibles very demoralizing book p
she said calmly.
".Ianeti'
"I'm afraid that's heresy, but it's SO.
"What are you driving ats" demanded
sternly,
"Well, Of course don't mean It's all de-
moralizing," she conceded putting her
elbows on tho table and her chin in her
bands. Its only in spots You remem
Der tho lilies of the field who toll not nor
spin, yet cclipsed Solomon by the gorgeous
ness Of their raimcnt. Well that stirs up
envy and malice and all uncharitableness
in frail feminine nature, Jackie. 1t truly
does
"What do you meanY'
"Im not lily, don't you soc, SO six
days out Of tho week hustle to beat tho
band. My recreation the seventh Is house
cleaning. With 1t all l can't get raiment
enough Of the simplest sort for necessary
purposes, letting alone there being any
glory in 1t. If you think the thought Of
tho lilies doesn't mako me want to swear,
you don't know Then there's that text
about taking no heed for the morrow;
that impractical, Jackie and you can't
deny it,"
lodged the point. docs any mortal
know what You are driving atp' In
quirod hopelessly.
"Only triyalty, but trying, my lit
tic sister said resiEnedly II cant go to
the Millionaires' Saturday, that's all. F"
but you've accepted
eyes because | took no heed for the
morrow If had. I'd known couldn't
CO. l haven't gown except the skirt and
jacket wear all the time, and they are
not suitable
g DO yea mean that you really haven't
ono or just none That you want to weari"
There no Flora McFlimsy in this"
Janot said, with grin. Its cold, hard
fact. The burglars bulgled the fiat so
successfully last summer that they took
every gown possessed, as we'll 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 uphold me was that / didn't
run into debt and buy more clothes. Mo
ments fairly glowed with the conscious
ness Of virtue but mostly my teeth have
chuttCrcd like cAstanets, y
II didn t realize it, " | said thoughtfully. |
II didn't mean that you should. Coffee |
all right" Janet broke off. But now
that the winters over, she resumed, "Id |
just as soon speak of it. You had to got
yourself new outfit and couldn't help |
me, and you'd have beon awfully unoom-
Portable about it. | notice I've had just |
as good time out Of life this winter In |
my ono gown-until now" she ended |
sadly,
whats wrong with 1t now?'
Nothing, except that 1t was showing |
the result of busy lifo SO last week | |
ripped it to pieces put 1t In the washtub
and made it up wrong side out Had to
stay indoors two days whilo l did 1t. 1t
now lies near to golliress In that It's
clean, but rapping at the portals OF the
clad in plain virtue, wouldn't
qualify mo Tor admission,
janet said reprovingly
"Oh, don't moan that virtue isn't nee
essary, tou, she exclaimed airily; like
" irc good clothes Ono | have, the other
| lack Oh, Jack ~ She went off Into q
peal Of laughter, though l saw tears In
her eyes Jack - she gasped, isn't 1t
delloiously funny? Isn't it absurd to DO
asked to tho Millionaircs and have to be
taken sick at the last moment and send
regrets because really you haven't gown
Think Of mo being in hole Ike that,
and the days when l had a dozen gownsl
| think it's magnificent. No one would
really bcievo it " Sbo wiped her eyes and
went off into another peal
Il think 1t : pathetic, " broke In. I'm
awfully sorry, lttlo girl, but I've got a
note to mra this week, and I'm strapped.
Can't yen 'vigglc out n gown somehow
and Coz
Janet shook her head retleotively. She
b If evidently given tho matter thought
No. sent home last week what extra
money could spare, and will not bor-
row. I'm disappointed of course, for the
unchcou viii be beautiful, and the old
-ct TO bc there, but IL be quite as hop
~ in the long run IL don't 90, and Sat.
friday I'll wire Gertrude that I'm Ill.
FIFTY yenrs from now 1t will make no diff
ference.
But we live In the present, said dis
ave had great laugh out of It," Janet
cplicd phlosophically, and there was a
Wrinkle in her eyes as she spoke. And 1t
s something to be asked, you know.
Hurry OFF You're late. "
Janet ciutched mo by the arm when
'ame homo that night and pointed to
gown on the floor.
"The dGy OF miracles Is returned.
AXE bacl; what ! said about the Bible.
Aunt Susan sent IT, It's three quarters
worm, and 1t looks like the old boy, but 10
lns possibilities, and I'm going to the
uuchoon,
And she went. BY the aid of tissue
laper puzzle, which she called pattern,
saw her ovolye pair Of sleeves In q
manner that elected my deep ,imiration,
,ut more than the sleeves I,v masculine
rain could not follow. ! only know that
IN intervening she shipped and tried on
nd stitched and evolved smart whole
hat inspired respect for her abilities.
Then she cleaned hor gloves, retripmed
er cid hat and on Saturday arrayed her
elf
You really look fit, said as she was
aaYing ~ trust your mind and appetite
re in excellent working order. "
There's nothing the matter with my
ppotito, she responded MS she went
hrough tho door, land I don't need my
mind.
| cannot recolleot ever to have heard
1oro subtle summary Of n woman's lunch.
on. New York Press.
Life In a Workhouse.