The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-24

by Mrs. Jones at the silk counter. the in
tervals being given to consultations with
the dressmaker and 10 an expedition in
search of an ice cream soda Ito brace up
on" Late that afternoon. when she sat on
the porch at home, she told the story of
the day to the girl next door. who hap
pened 10 drop in.
Yes, Jennie, / bought my gown, and
such a time as had about il. I'd fully
to get black. as L told you, and
l went around TO all the stores 10 see what
they had before l made my selection, and
didn't even allow my eye to glance at the
colored silks as | passed the counters. Then
Florence asked me to help her choose a
foulard, though why 1 don't know, for she
didn't take what 1 advised. after all. and
really had her mind made up in the first
place. But while / was with her the clerk
showed us the most beautiful evening silks
perfectly heavenly they were-things I'd
never have seen IL I'd been by myself. be-
cause I wouldn't have asked for them, hav-
ing my mind set on black so. 1 suppose
the clerk thought that as she was going TO
be married she would be likely TO buy. and
so went to the trouble of showing them on
his own account"
Well. then Florence went with me TO
the black-goods counter. and we looked at
everything. Florence has just been East,
you know, and has seen the latest styles.
She advised me to get a really dressy gown
II / was going to get black. Have il made
with lots OF ruffies.' she said, and lace and
jet, or else have IT made over white Then
we settled upon the loveliest, silkiest gren-
adine. After slA'd gone l went to see the
dressmaker, and when / got back to the
store ] really cidn't know what she had
advised, she'd sJd so many things. So
then | made up my mind that there was no
use hesitating any longer. and after look
ing the goods over again a while / settled
or a perfectly elegant pattern robe of
applique net THAT they had been asking
$40 for. but had marked down to $50. and
had them send 1t to madame.
Then 1 went over to get another choc-
olate soda. l felt so exhausted. and while
1 was there i got to thinking. There isn't
any real reason why / should limit myself
to one gown for the next year. and so no
reason why l should have my best one
black I'm sure Henry can afford to give
me as many gowns as Jim Robinson can
to his wife, and if she can have light blue
think of light blue with her sallow skin,-I
can as well have a color. Intimating, too,
AS sue ulu, thdt OF course L cOutdn nave
but one. Then. just like a fash-a real
inspiration, ! call tit occurred to me
that l could get some black net and have
1t made over my old taffeta real inexpen-
sively right here I'm the house, and I
wouldn't have the pattern robe at all, but
change 1t for that lovely shell pink that
Florence and / had looked at. I'd really
wanted pink all the time, but I'm so eco
nomical that. without really looking at
the matter the right way, Id decided off
hand to get black. And so l went over to
the store again. and, though L don't think
the clerk looked very delighted when he
saw me coming, he made the change and
cut OFF the pink-Willie, run up stairs and
get my purse off the chiffonier. There's a
sample of the pink in it, and l know you'll
say its lovely and madame's going to
make it in the most perfectly elegant way.
It'll cost more in the end, with lace trim
mings and all, than the black, but L can
make up the difference somehow. / don't
know that we're really obliged to send Liz
zie anything so expensive az table forks
for her wedding. Teaspoons will do.
There's Henry. l shan't let him see
the gown till L put it on DIT the wedding.
I'll
"Yes. Henry, l do feel exhausted; I've put
in a hard day, as l told you / expected to
do; but, after all. l don't mind it, for L feel
that I've really accomplished SO much.
Must you go. Jennie? Well. goodbye.
Come again"