Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-12-27

wanted to. But of all her admirers, she
had one that she favored, and it was OF him
that she was thinking as she paced to and
fro before her spinning wheel, and won
dered what she should wear at the coming
ball. ,
One after another Of the soft rolls OF
wool disappeared, until the spindle was
laden with a spherical bunch OF yarn
white enough to be used in knitting pair OF
stockings for Patty's own slender feet; then
suddenly the whirring and the singing ceased
simultaneously, and the girl. she was only
Is, exclaimed:
"Mother, what shall l wear? DO tel
me; and only think, it's tomorrow night.
MANY woman has asked the same ques-
ton before and since Patty Hampstead
day. but certainly none ever felt greater
solicitude and anxiety. The occasion she re-
ferred to was a ball and reception that was
to be given the officers of the French fleet
at the assembly rooms by the citizens of New
London. Lafayette, Rochambeau and the
rest of that brilliant coterie were expect
ed to>be present; but Patty thought more
about certain young naval officer named
Reuben Saltonstall than she did of any Of
those foreign dignitaries.
1t was during the dark days Of the rev
olution, and money was scarce in the col
onies, except among few OF the richest
families. In this case, however, it was not
owing to any lack of means, for Squire
Joshua Hampstead was one of the heavy cit
liens of the seaport town. The trouble was
there was nothing to buy.
For days and days they had been expect
ing at Elnathan Popplewait's wharf a ship
from Europe laden with quantity OF shawls,
muslins, silks and laces, as well as more
material necessaries, but they waited in
vain. The ball was now close at hand, and
if the Mary Ann should come in that very
day it would be too late to manufacture any
of its cargo into a ballroom dress.
There's your old India muslin" sug-
gester Mrs Hampstead. ut might be"
Don't speak of it; I wouldn't be seen
in that dress again for all the world" said
Patty, almost with tears in her eyes. IL
would sooner stay away from the ball.
"Do you remember the white satin petit
coat, made with the long train, that was
married in?" asked Mrs. Hampstead,
thoughtfully.
"Why, that is the very thing Why
haven't we thought of it before? The train
can be festooned SO that it will not EN-
barrass me when dancing"
"Now, if you only had jacket or short
gown to wear over it, don't see why you
wouldn't be fixed" observed her mother as
she pulled out drawer of the big chest
and proceeded to unfold the satin petticoat
that had not been worn for years, and was
quite as good as new.
IT have it! l have it," shouted Patty,
springng away with such whirlwind of
a rush as to startle quiet Mrs. Hampstead
She returned in a short time, carrying in
her hands sky-blue satin waistcoat heavily
embroidered with silver thread.
"What in the world are you going to do
with that, Patty Hempstead?" exclaimed
her mother. ut is your grandsire's waist
coat, child, the very one he wore at the
court of George II. when he was presented
to Queen Caroline"
"And l, COL Hempstead's granddaughter,
will wear it at the reception Of Marquis de
Lafayette" said the beautiful girl, her face
all aglow. "See, few ships Of the shears
will make it all right"
1t would be impossible to tell how many
times Patty tried on that satin waistcoat,
adapting it to the outlines of her graceful
form, and how, little by little, her careful
snppings transformed the old-time relic
into jaunty Jockey" or jacket that might
have graced any lady at the court of his
majesty George III.
But you can imagine Miss Patty, when
the ball night arrived, dressed in her white
satin petticoat and the sky-blue waistcoat,
her hair drawn high over cushion and al
lowed to fall In ringets behind, where it
was confined by string of pearls (also an
heirloom), a bunch of asters at one side,
long kid gloves on her hands, and band of
black velvet round her white throat
AS she stood waiting in the hall for her
fathers coach, box addressed to her was
left at the door, Patty opened it with eager
fingers, for she recognized the handwriting,
and after unfolding wrap after wrap of
tissue paper, finally came to an elegant
gilt and ivory fan, its edges ornamented
with swans down and the face embellished
with pink and yellow shepherds and shep-
herdesses.
That stately assembly has passed into his.
tory, and we have not the time to repro.
duce in detail the glories of that evening,
and how the two distinguished men, Ro-
chambeau and Lafayette, both toasted the
bright eyes of Miss Patty in the spiral
stemmed champagne glasses of the day
1t was all like dream of enchantment
to Patty, and she was more than satisfied
She did not have single rival, not even
Polly Shaw, and when she danced minuet
with Lafayette everybody asked who that
beautiful girl was
"How lovely you are tonight, Patty"
whispered the lieutenant, as he led her
away from the marquis, her cheeks still |
flushed from the compliments of the ga,
liant Frenchman. "And where did you ge'
that elegant dress?"
Patty tapped his lips with her fan. Gun |
gallant, you should never ask woman !
how she dresses. The prince never asked i
True, but he might never have lost her |
If he had, and been to all the trouble of |
hunting for the mate of the silver slipper"
"Well, I will tell you, but not tonight"
abe whispered.
And Patty did tell him not long after, and
when he heard the story her lover answered.
well, you never looked so handsome in
your life as in that dress, and your grand,
fathers waistcoat shall be your wedding
short gown. 1t is my wish"
So it happened that Patty Hampstead
wore her grandsire's waistcoat on her bridal
day. and there are those living to-day who
hearing old people say that she
was the most beautiful bride they ever saw.
Boston Globe.
Akeen Clear Brain.
J