Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-07-16
BY MARY j. HOLMES
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI.
"Oh, mother, won't you take this pill
low from my head and put another blan-
ket on my feet, and fix the fire, and give
me some water, or something? Oh, dear,
dear" groaned poor Rose Lincoln, as
with aching head and lungs she did pen
ance for her imprudence in crossing the
wet, slippery street in thin slippers and
silken hose.
Mrs. Lincoln, who knew nothing of this
exposure, loudly lamented the extreme
delicacy of her daughters constitution,
imputing it wholly to Mount Holyoke dis
cipline, and wishing. as she had often
done before, that shed been wise and
kept her at home" Jenny would have
wished so, too, if by this means Roses
illness could have been avoided, for it
was not a very agreeable task to stay in
that close sick-room. listening to the
complaints of her fault-fnding sister, who
tossed and turned and fretted, from
morning until night, sometimes wishing
herself dead, and then crying because she
wanted something, and did not know
what"
"OhI dear" said she, one evening sew
eral days after the commencement of her
illness, chow provoking to be obliged to
lie here mop:Iag with the dullest of all
dull company when there's Mrs. Russell's
party next week, and I've such a lovely
dress to wear. Why amt 1 as strong
and healthy as you?-though [ wouldn't
be so fat for anything. I'H go to that
party sick or well. / wouldn't miss it
for anything"
Jenny looked up in surprise, asking
why her sister was so particularly anx-
ious to attend the party:
Because" returned Rose, ''Mary How
ard will be there, and you know as well
as I how awkward she'll appear-neyer
was in any kind of society in her life.'
81 don't see what inducement that can
be for you TO expose your health" said
Jenny, and Rose continued:
81 want to see Ida mortified once, for
she might know better than to bring a
green country girl here, setting her up
as something wonderful, and expecting
everybody to believe it just because Miss
Selden said so. Come, bring me my
dress, Jenny; l want to see if the Honi-
ton lace ON the caps is as wide as Ida
Selden's."
What do you mean? asked Jenny,
turning quickly toward her sister, whose
white, wasted face looked filter for a
shroud than gay party dress.
81 mean what l say returned Rose
''Im not going to be cooped up here any
longer. I'm going to the party to-mor.
row night, if l never go again"
''Why, Rose Lincoln, are you crazy Z?
asked Jenny. "You haven't been in the
street yet, and how do you expect to &c
tomorrow night? Mother wouldn't lei
you, if she were here
We'll, thank fortune! she and father
both are in Southbridge; and besides thai
I'm great deal better; so hand me my
dress"
Jenny complied, and reclining on pill
lows scarcely whittier than herself, Rose
Lincoln examined and found fault witt
a thin gosamer fabric, little suited fo
anyone to wear on a cold, wintry night
and much less for her.
"There, l knew it wasn't as wide a:
Ida's into an eighth of an inch" said she
measuring with her finger the expensive
lace. "Ill have some new. Come. Jen
ny, suppose you go down street and ge
it, for I'm bent upon going;" and tn,
thoughtless girl sprang lightly upon tn
floor, and chased halfway across tn
room to show how well and strong sh
was.
Jenny knew that further expostulatiol
from her was useless, but she refused t.
go for the lace, and Sarah, the servan
girl, was sent with a note from Ros
saying she wanted nice article, eigh
or ten dollars per yard.
81 don't believe father would like t
have you make such bill,'' said Jenny
when Sarah was gone. Mother didn'
dare to tell him about your new dress
for he told her she mustn't get anythini
charged, and he said, too, something
about hard times. Perhaps he's goin
to fail. Wouldn't it be dreadful?"
If Rose heard the last part of thi
sentence she did not heed it, for to he
the idea of her fathers failing was pre-
posterous. When the dinner bell ran
she threw on a heavy shawl and de
scending to the dining-parlor, remaine
below stairs all the afternoon, forcin
back her cough, and chatting merrill
with a group Of young girls who ha
called to see her, and congratulated he
upon her improved health, for excitemen
lent a deep glow to her cheek, whic
would easily deceive the inexperienced
The next day, owing to overexertior
Roses temples were throbbing with pair
and more than once she half-determine
not to go; but her passion for societ
was strong, and Mrs. Russell's party ha
so long been anticipated and talked abou
that she felt she would not miss it for tn
world, and, as she had confessed t
Jenny, there was also a mean curiosit
to see how Mary Howard would appea