Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-08-22
ON HER OWN RESPONSIBILITY.
BY GRACE s. RICHMOND.

scattered between silvery stripes. AS
| if they could not help it. Amy's feet
turned aside from the the path toward
the woolen suitings.
"Eighty-five cents" said the sales
man, as Amy hung over the
exquisite material. Its per-
| feet thing, and one of our exclusive
styles-you won't find it anywhere
| else. The pattern isn't even dupli-
Gated in any other background. Now
| this rose pattern. as you see. we have
in green, pink, white and blue, but the
forget -me-not only in the white. It's
very choice.
"How much yard did you say?"
asked Amy, feeling as if she could
never turn away from the counter, yet
saying to herself that she must be
gone.
Twelve seventy-five the pattern,
miss, is yards. You neei that now for
a dress, We don't sell less. 1t should
be made up with the rufles. you see,"
he handed her fashion plate, leach
ruffie edged with the blue velvet rib
bon. I'll show you" And before Amy
could protest he had sent messen-
| ger to the ribbon counter, and had
thrown several Yards of narrow velvet
of the forget-me-not blue upon the
folds Of the organdie. The combina-
| ton was most effective. Amy's heart
| began to beat very rapidly.
II couldn't afford the ribbon. for
it would take dozens of yards" she
calculated, rapidly, 'but-oh. of
course ! can't buy it"
An elegantly gowned woman, accom-
panied by young daughter, came
suddenly to the counter beside Amy.
20 mammal" cried the girl "did you
ever see anything SO swell and SO
sweet as that forget-me-not stuff? Do
get that
Another salesman stepped up and
threw the dainty folds into a new po-
sition. Twelve seventy-five the pat
tern, Mrs. Goodale,' he said, impress
sively. Exquisite thing. one Of NAL
lard's, you know his. Our man got
the exclusive sale of it. it's not to be
duplicated anywhere. Nothing could
be better suited to your daughters
style"
The daughter had fair hair AMI
! long-lashed blue eyes. So had Amy.
Amy looked at the salesman. He was
smiling significantly, without looking
at her. Amy's cheeks flushed. and
/ she leaned forward over the counter.
Mrs. Goodale' had laid a possessive
! hand upon the organdie. Amy spoke
| ;, I yri1
| take it," she said.
| But once outside. "I've been goose
already she thought, ruefully. That
| dress is dear, but know mother will
| say I couldn't afford it. She thinks it
is vulgar to have girls party things
elaborate while her everyday clothes
are shabby. Well, it can't be helped
now, and I'm not sure that l want to
help it. But. Amy Brentwood, do
keep a grip on your pocket-book for
the rest of the dav'
1t was a most resolute and practical
young shopper who sat down before
! the Dearborn display of winter dress
eoods. Being now on strict economy
bent, to atone for the purchase of the
organdie. she was in danger of at
tempting to suit herself with goods
of too little durability and worth. For
tunately the man az this counter
| chanced to be an honest old Scotsman
with daughters of his own, and when
| he detected the anxiety in the flushed
| young face, he set himself to help his
| customer secure the best possible value
for her money. He won her conf
dence, and she accepted his judg-
satisfactorily disposed of and Amy's
purse was but 81 the lighter.
The finding of coat to be worn
harmoniously with the dress took long
| er. and when, after searching through
many "cloak departments Amy fin
ally paid $11 for the only thing she
thought would do at all, she was thor
oughly weary. Time was flying fast.
and if she kept her appointment with
Stuart she must not stop for lunch.
, So she ordered cup of hot chocolate
in a confectioner's shop, and while
she waited for it made up her ac-
counts. They stood thus:
Street car and round trip ticket s LIS
Organdie. 1915
Cloth dress 700
| Coat, 110O
| Chocolate, 10
$1,000
This left balance of SIS. Amy's
courage rose II believe l am redeem
ing myself" she thought. She went
about her smaller purchase cheerfully,
buying a pair of heavy walking shoes
at 81, and two pairs of Accent stock
ings, with most virtuous sense of
being a wise and careful shopper.
Still these expenditures reduced her
balance to SIS and twenty cents, ana
she groaned in spirit again.
How it does melt away" she
sighed. And there are the handker-
chiefs, and the gloves, and my school
waists yet to get 1t did seem as if
| c5O would dC SO much