Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-28

MARTHA HOOKED Co THE WAIST. now, Martha" Mrs. Stanley panted. tits past time and the people are lia- ble to arrive at any minute"
 Martha hooked up the waist by main force and then discovered that she had not begun right at the neck. Then she did her work over again and this time the two edges came out even at the belt. Tken Mrs. Stanley hurried into the drawing-room, glanced into the mirror, pulled curl in place and sat down, trying to look as if she had been serenely waiting for some time to receive her guests. It was three o'clock before Mrs. Murphy burst into the room in feverish way, then looked around surprised to see that it was empty save for her hostess. "I thought l was late," she gasped. "But 1 couldn't get maid to hook up my dress. 1 sent bell boy about forty times after one. and they didn't come. and I was afraid l would keep the whole party waiting. Isn't it aw- ful to have clothes that open in the back?''
 Before Mrs. Murphy had finished the tale of the troubles of woman who lives alone in hotel and has her waists button at the back Ella Wylie came in. Her usual aristocratic com posture was sadly marred by flush on her cheek bones and an angry spark in her eyes. Il hope I'm not late" she said, but I'm just ready to kill my young brother. The maid had to go off to the dentists to have a tooth pulled and mamma went to her club and, of course, papa is downtown at business, and l told George that he must be sure to stay around the fiat this afternoon so l could have him button up my dress. He wanted me to dress before lunch sc he could go over to the park to skate. but 1 wasn't going to sit around two or three hours before time. l did my hair and got all dressed and slipped on my bodice, then l put my head out of the door and called to George. He didn't an swer. L called louder and louder, but he didn't come. Then I hunted all over the place-no George. Finally saw him skating down on the sidewalk fin front of the building with some other boys. l put my head out of the window and I commanded him to come upstairs and button my dress. He laughed and said he'd come if prom ised him a quarter. I said I wouldn't pay him anything, then he raised his price to 50 cents. Of course I had to give in and he made me throw the money out of the window to him be- fore he would come up. l was mad enough to eat him. but, of course, I was at his mercy, little imp.''
 Other women came drifting in now. Most of them wore gowns that closed in the back and most Of them had some difficulty in getting into them. Mrs. Gardner, who was incased in a princess gown which was buttoned from the nape of her neck % her heels, said that her nurse maid had just given her notice because of this gown. The nurse had struck after the fifty sixth button and then the cook had been called in. The cooks hands had not been immediately clean and a large grease spot marked the begin ming of her labors. Mrs. Delaney then told of 9 man who had applied for {. $ divorce from q wife who had all her gowns opened in the back and who insisted that he should stny home from business to close them for her. Madge Stern, whose father is a fudge on the bench, said that she believed the man would be sustained on the ground that this was habitual cruelty.
 By this time all the guests had come save Mrs. Blewett. The women sat about the tables with the cards dealt, only waiting for her appearance to