Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1901-08-09
CHAPTER XVI.


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 1t wholly to Mount Holyoke dis
cipline, and wishing. as she had often
done before, that "she'd 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"
"Oh! dear" said she, one evening sew
eral days after the commencement Of her
illness, show provoking to be obliged to
lie here moping with the dullest Of all
dull company when there's Mrs Russell's
party next week, and I've such lovely
dress to wear. Why amt l as strong
and healthy as you?-though wouldn't
be so fat for anything. I'll 60 to that
party sick or we'll. / 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 how awkward she'll appear-never
was in any kind of society in her life"
II don't see what inducement that can
be for you to expose your health" said
Jenny, and Rose continued:
II 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; want to see if the Honi-
ton lace on the caps is as wide as Ida
Selden's." fF
What do you meanY" asked Jenny,
turning quickly toward her sister, whose
white, wasted face looked filter for a
shroud than gay party dress.
II mean what say" returned Rose;
I'm not going to be cooped up here any
longer. I'm going to the party to-mor-
row night, IL never go again."
"Why, Rose Lincoln, are you crazy"
asked Jenny. "You haven't been in the
street yet, and how do you expect to go
tomorrow night? Mother wouldn't let
you, II she were here ~
y ''Well, thank fortune! she and father
both are in Southbridge; and besides that
I'm great deal better; SO hand me my
dress" uftylo .EyI.Gl y-1 gtt .f
Jenny complied, and reclining on pill
lows scarcely winter than herself, Rose
Lincoln examined and found fault with
. thin gosamer fabric, little suited for
anyone to wear on cold, wintry night,
and much less for her. AiH' - ~
There, l knew it wasn't as wide as
Ida's into an eighth of an inch," said she,
measuring with her finger the expensive
lace. "I'll have some new. Come, Jen-
ny, suppose you go down street and get
it. for I'm bent upon going;" and the
thoughtless girl sprang lightly upon the
floor, and chased halfway across the
room to show how well and strong she
was. isfal 1 .IC4 .tgf q. me
Jenny knew that further expostulation
from her was useless, but she refused to
go for the lace, and Sarah, the servant
girl, was sent with a note from Rose
saying she wanted nice article, eight
or ten dollars per yard.
II don't believe father would like to
have. you make such a bill," said Jenny,
when Sarah was gone. Mother didn't
dare to tell him about your new dress.
for he told her she mustn't get anything
charged, and he said, too, something
about hard times. Perhaps hes going
to fail. Wouldn't it be dreadful?"
If Rose heard the last part of this
sentence she did not heed it, for to her
the idea Of her fathers failing was pre-
posterous. When the dinner bell rang
she threw on heavy shawl and de-
scending to the dining-parlor, remained
below stairs all the afternoon, forcing
back her cough, and chatting merrily
with group of young girls who had
called to see her, and congratulated her
upon her improved health, for excitement
lent a deep glow to her cheek, which
would easily deceive the inexperienced.
The next day, owing to overexertion,
Roses temples were throbbing with pain,
and more than once she half-determined
not to go; but her passion for society
was strong, and Mrs. Russell's party had
so long been anticipated and talked about
that she felt she would not miss 1t for the
world, and, as she had confessed to
Jenny, there was also mean curiosity
to see how Mary Howard would appear
at a fashionable party.
"Saturate my handkerchief with CO.
iogne, and put; the yinaigrette where /
can reach 1t while you arrange my hair"
she said to Sarah, who at the usual
hour came up to dress her young mis-
tress for the evening. "There, be careful
and not brush SO hard, for that ugly pain
isn't quite gone-now bring me the glass
and let me see II do look like a ghost"
Pale. delicate folks 10 always more