Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-04-04
EIIerl's auIt.
Z Rt y
By W. K

8 By W. x
s.I wish to look as;fans-party fans,
If you please. %
Ellen Purple swept into the fancy
stor., her giay silk suit rustling softly,
the long, wine colored, willow plume
dropping over the brim OF her hat, and
her dark. brilliant eyes sparkling with
health, good humor and exercise. She
was pretty brunette, with black eye.
brows, long lashes and the cream
tinted skin which is like velvet, so
soft, fne-grained and clearly colored..
What contrast to her was the
fragile girl, standing behind the
counter in her shabby de beige dress
with dyed ribbon bow at her throat
and frill of mended lace encircling
her slender neck. But this world
offers us contrasts at every step.
DO you wish white Oh. colored"
the latter asked.
& .sOh, I don't know. Pink, I sup
pose, Ellen Purple answered, after
second of two of consideration on the
momentous question. sPink is my
color"
The pale op-girl reached down
box of daintily-decorated trinkets,
smelling of sandal wood, edged with
{ tinted edswansdown and inlaid with pearl
and ivory-and, as she stood respect
fully awaiting the young customers
decision, paro1ysm Of coughing
shook her slender frame.
Miss Keturah Purple, Ellen's NAL
den aunt, looks at her with. eyes OF
kindly pity.
s.My dear" said she, 'tyou have a
very bad cough"
The girl smiled sadly.
IyhaYe had it this long time," said
she.
lyon ought.to go home aud nurse
yourself mp, instead of standing here
3 IN al these draughts, (" counseled Miss
Purple. who had CHEEKY, dictatorial
way with her, like one in authority.
; ''Yes, I suppose SO, said the girl.
s'But we are very poor, and my wages
are allmy mother and I have to live
upon, and
"Oh, auntie! look here, what a
heantyp' cried out Ellen, suddenly.
HWhite, watered satin, covered with
point lace, and the sweetest pearl
sticks. What is the price of this one?"
turning to the shop-girl.
Il The girl glanced ut the label.
twenty-five dollars" answered
she.
Ellen's countenance fell.
ssOh, can never afford that, said
she. "TweIve is all I have to pay. I
must content myself with something
lessselegant. Show me other styles
please. -
AS she spoke she closed the fan so
Z suddenly that one Of the sticks slip
ped out'of place and tore 3 jagged
rent through the exquisite point lace
stretched across it. Ellen stared
gniltily, and, g1ancing around to make
sure that no one was looking at her,
replaced it IN it's box.
s.sIIt 1t was only m accident, q she told
herseff and the sshop-gml brought q
new box of fans for her inspection;
81 aE not to blame. No one can ex-
pectsme to pay for a $25 fan destroyed
by yaccident-and besides, they should
I make these things stronger"
And pushing away the large box
she turned her attention to the new
fans, and finally settled upon pretty
rose-colored article, edged with Span
ish blonde, which came nearer the
sum she had appropriated for her fan.
SWELL" said Aunt Keturah, "are
yonSsuited?"
sAt last, auntier'
Then let's CO." said the old lady,
Cor Insyer shall get an opportunity
to buy my furniture, chintz and un-
bleached muslin. Fans and lace poe
ket handkerchiefs and pink sashes are
all very we'll, but they're of no use in
housekeeping point of viewl No use
at allT'
Ellen Purple went to the party in
dress Of rose-colored silk, with IN
oYerdress of Swiss muslin, and tie
prettiest of sashes, looped artistically
over it-and she was very happy. All,
indeed, why should she not be? Only
rs; the petted darling OF an old
bachelor uncle and maiden aunt, with
face that satisfied her girl-heart
every time she looked into the glass,
md sunny, happy temperament that
was worth more than q fortune, in
that it learned her to see the bright
: side of human nature and sip the
sweets from life's cup, regardless of
its bitter dregs. And, moreover, Guy
Middleton danced three times with
her, and carried of one of the buff
rosebuds from the ball bouquet Uncle
Simeon had presented her. vowing he
would keep it for ever and ever. -.
.Of course no one knows what
these promises amount to-" laughed
Ellen, as she told Aunt Keturah, who
Nas sitting up in prodigious flannel
y dressing gown and her hair in por-'
cnpine state of curl papers, to hear
her niece's report OF the ball festivi-
ties, ''but they are very nice at the
time. And he is so agreeable, auntie."
Aunt Keturah smiled and patted
Ellen's lovely flushed cheek and sent
her to bed.
"Get your beauty sleep, my love-"
said she, 'It don't hurt tough old
pine knot Like me to keep vigil all
night-that's one of the .numberless
advantages of9being old and tough
but it don't agree with blossom
compilations, and eyes like hazel
stars"
The next morning Aunt Keturah
and Ellen went shopping again, in the
snug little claret-colored coupe which
Aunt Keturah hired by the month.
from neighboring livery stable.
81 need dasewing silk. !" said Aunt