Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1900-02-23
BRICKLAYER'S BALL

Agnes maos her debut on THURSDAY
evening. Nobody in her part Of Oily
oourn avenue ever heard Of debut, but
the other gfris come out just the same,
although there IL no formal reception
and presentation, for they reneraliy
come out 1t some time Of the public
bc.ls 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 or
wearing her long braids and bundled
her brown hair into an ugly wad on
top OF her head She noticed that her
knuckles were disgustingly rsd and
she took to wearing gloves at her
work, to the great horror Of her moth
er. whose own toil-worn hands are
bent and twisted until they look moro
hke quaint vegetable growths than
hands Agnes begged that her blue
serge dress might be made real long"
and finally she obtained the boon, less
because she wanted It than because
her mother thought 1t would save "lst-
ting down later. The next step was
to steal out to the drug store and buy
box or pink face powder. This pur-
chased, there seemed to be but one
thing more necessary for young lady
hood, and that was a beau-steady
company-who would hang around the
house OF evenings and meet her on the
way from the bakers and walk home
with her, carrying tia loaf under his
arm.
OF course Agnes knew almost all OF
the boys Of the neighborhood. but she
wanted a beau from another part Of
the city. Katie Andarno had q young
man who came to see her every Sun
day In the most splendid clothes and
Agnes figured that she wanted just
such another. So she repulsed The ad-
vances Of ''the boys" and waited
She was justified. for along In Sep
tember new bricklayer came TO work
on Lehmsn's store that was being built
across the street from her home. He
was tall and straight and had big
black eyes. Agnes liked him, even In
his working clothes, but 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, but one Sunday even
Ing 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 stiil
her mother frowned on dances and Jun
ketings and reminded her that she was
implorcd Mrs. Dougan to let Agnes 20
TO dance and three times she re-
fused. but as 1t caUe near time for the
annual balf' he laid sys-
tematic seige to herN
This matter settled Agnes had to
think of her gown. Not q new gown.
hut the furnishing I'D Aot her blue
serge. She finally had Mss Fitch, the
little dressmaker over Lehrnan's store.
n pink chiffon front for the
occasion, and she made bows Of pink
watered ribbon, which she disposed
wherever she saw a bare spot or other
She had a new pair OF
white kid slippers and pink cotton
hose. q,
Even Mrs. Dougan relaxed her usual
calm on the night Of the ball and hur-
ricd supper so that she could help Az
mes to dress The younger children ]
wcrc wildly excited, and Jimmy"
fought three rounds with Rudolph
'rinsch. who said that his sister was
going TO wear a finer dress than A 9ne~.
Agnes's head had blossonned In white
curling rags early in the morning; now
they were removed and she I'D a fne
crop cf friZzled tresses. When she was
finally dressed and had slipped into the
blue serge she looked In
to her narrow glass with an awed sx-
preston. 1t hardly seemed possible
that this beautiful young woman that
stared hack at her really could be her,
Ngncs Dougan! She went downstairs
Shy!y when Rocky called up that ED"
was below. His jaw fell and his eyes
frightened as she entered the parlor,
but he only said, "Howdy do, Agnea?'
Agnes revolved before him. do
look all right?" she asked.
You look grand" he rejoined fer
vently. Il bet there won't be a felloY.
there with prettier girl"