Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-03-15
E|Ien's Fault.

II you please.
Ellen Purple swept into the ia ncy
store, her gray 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, fine grained AMI clearly colored.
What a 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 or colored?"
the latter asked.
''Oh, I don't know. Pink, I sup
pose," Ellen Purple answered, after q
second of two OF consideration on the
momentous question. "Pink is my
color"
The pale shop girl reached down a
box of daintily trinkets,
smelling of sandal wool, edged with
tinted swansdown and inlaid with pearl
and ivory-and, as she stood respect
fully awaiting the young customers
decision, a paroxysm of coughing
shook her slender frame.
Miss Keturah Purple, Ellen's mai
den aunt, looks at her with eyes Of
kindly pity.
my dear" said she, ''you have a
very bad cough"
The girl smiled sadly.
81 have had it this long time," said
she.
"You ought to go home and nurse
yourself up, instead of standing he"e
in all these draughts," counseled Miss
Purple, who had CHEEKY, dictatorial
way with her, like one in authority.
Eyes, suppose so, said the girl.
"But we are very poor, and my wages
are all my mother and l have to live
upon, and -"
ooh, auntie! look here, what a
beauty!" cried out Ellen, suddenly.
"White, watered satin, covered with
point lace, and the sweetest pearl
sticks. What is the price of this one?"
turning to the shop-girl.
The girl anced at the label.
'Twenty-hve dollars" answered
she.
Ellen's countenance fell.
ooh, [ can never afford that" said
she. "Twelve is all 1 have to pay. I
must content myself with something
less elegant. Show me other styles
please"
AS she spoke she closed the fan so
suddenly that one of the sticks slip
ped out of place and tore jagged
rent through the exquisite point lace
stretched across it. Ellen stared
guiltily, and, glanc:ng around to make
sure that no one was looking at her,
replaced it in it's box
cit was only an accident" she told
herself, and the shop-girl brought a
new box of fans for her inspection;
81 am not to blame. No one can ex-
pect me to pay for $25 fan destroyed
by accident-and besides, they should
make these things stronger"
And pushing away the large box
she turned her attention to the new
fans, and finally settled upon pretty
rose colorel article, edged with Span
ish blonde, which came nearer the
sum she had appropriated for her fan.
WELL" said Aunt Keturah, "are
you suited?"
"'At last, auntie!'
"Then let's CO." said the old lady,
cor never 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 view No use
at alll'
Ellen Purple went to the party in a
dress of rose-colored silk, with an
overdress of Swiss muslin, and the
prettiest of sashes, looped artistically
over it-and she was very happy. Ali,
indeed, why should she not be? Only
Is; the petted darling of an old
bachelor uncle and maiden aunt, with
q face that satisfied her girl-hear
every time she looked into the glass,
and a sunny, happy temperament that
was worth more than fortune, in
that it learned her to see the bright
side of human nature and sip the
sweets from lies cup, regardless of
its bitter dregs. Aud, 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
was sitting up in prodigious flannel
dressing gown and her hair in por-
cupine 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.
| ssGak To-, eIo 4,