The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-10-30

like Alexander for fresh words to con-
Quer-but to enter
Must we really &C. mother?" she
asked of the stately, white-haired lady
VINO sat at the opposite END of the ta-
Die. ITS q beastly nuisance"
Mabel, child!" interrupted Lady
efcroft, angrily. Where do Q learn
such slang? 'Beastly' is hardly a cor
RECT expression to use"
Well, but it Is beastly, mother,
really. And if it is, one might just as
We'll say SOL"
Nothing CT the sort" responded her
parent severely. The English Ian
Suage provides a vocabulary SO extern
sly that you and l can find express
Sions quite different from those used
by The lower orders"
Tie girl did not answer, for she knew
what would follow. Whenever her
mother mentioned the lower orders"
she ended in talking of her pet dislikes
Radicals and the County Council.
Mabel sighed instead, and glanced at
a calendar that hung on the wall.
Why, today's rank Holiday" she
exclaimed. I'd quite forgotten"
Yes" answered Lady Vercroft
stifiiy. IN my opinion the working
classes have too many holidays nova
days"
'Oh, no, people who work can have
too many of them--they're so neces-
SdlS. l WISH / ndu SOllltllllNS 10 10
With d bank"
"Why?"
because I should have q holiday.
II n days just the same as another
You cent get a holiday at all, do you?'
Lady Nercroft arose; her daughters
ldcaS We're quite at variance with her
own, and the best way to prevent de-
feat in an argument is to avoid get
ting into one. She moved toward the
door.
ooh, mother, dear!'
Yes, what is it,"
You don't mind my spending the
day at Mrs. Rossitcr's?" Mrs. Rossiter
was the only married friend of her ac-
quaintance Mabel cared for, and an
idea had just entered her head.
Il expected you to help me with my
calls"
"Oh, no; l should only be rude, and
you wouldn't wish me to be rude, would
you? Let me do what l like today,
Mhiher-there's a dear. It's Bank Hol-
i1ny. [ shan't want the brougham, and
Jack Rossiter will see me home, l dare
say"
Lady Vercroft hesitated as she gazed
at her daughters handsome figure, at
the pleading expression in her eyes,
which the masses of rich, dark hair
only accentuated. Finally she melted,
as she usually did.
We'll, yes, then. Mr.. Rossiter, as
you say, will doubtless take care of
you.
A few minutes later Miss Vercroft
visited a dingy little wardrobe dealers
in a back street, hardly a stones throw
from the Nercroft mansion. The shop
was closed. but after much knocking
u stout, perspiring woman came to the
door. Mabel at one stated her errand,
and the woman shoolS her head dubi-
ously.
"'Ardly VIVA you want" she re-
marked; but come in, I'll see what l
can do"
The girl followed into the stuffy,
olose-smelling shop, while the woman
turned over a miscellaneous assert
ment of skirts and other articles Of
laiment of all hues and sizes.
You see she observed, as she laid
them one by one on the counter, I'VE
nit got no call for sech things. Yer
waits to go heast-this is west. Most
~ hGpper servants AN sech like about
ere. 'Ow's this?'
She held up a dazzling costume Of
green plush.
"Capital!" cried the Hon. Mabel.
"And now, er-well, a coat with but
tons-the larger the better. Like the
factory girls wear, you know"
The very thing. Just about fit yer.
I should say"
Mabel eyed the garment displayed
for her inspection critically, and
thought that with Il little alteration it
might do.
AT, yer said? Must be large, an
" a horstrich feather. Any objection
ter this?'
Miss Vercroft removed her own pic
Iuresque hat, and poised the striking
creation on her head-it had formerly
been the property Of a female who had
parted with it to pay the rent. The
effect, as seen in The cracked hand
-,-.. ~. .,.,,o, I,1I Lopz,o t,o, ,r,,
satisfactory.
"That'll do nicely" she said. Car
you send them?' giving the address o!
Mrs. RossiteI.
The woman had no doubt she could,
and then suddenly glanced at the girls
dainty shoes.
ERE, that won't do! Yer wants
boots; buttons, an plenty Of 'em!"
The Hon. Mabel had quite overlooked
the question Of footgear. A pair, how
ever, were forthcoming, lined in bril-
liant crimson, with beautifully seal
loped tops, and which boosted some
eighteen or more buttons. Eminently
satisfied, she left.
Mrs. Rossiter at first rather threw
cold water on the project, but it was 6
trait of Miss Vercroft's character that
the more opposition given to a thing or
which she had set her heart the 1irmel
became her resolve to secure it. AnC
in the end, of course, Mabel's friend
gave way, and When a villainouslS
dirty boy brought the purchases HON
wrapped in an old newspaper, she ha(
already entered into the spirit OF Tit
whole thing.
And you won't be later than
o'clock, dearest?" said Mrs. Rossiter
when her costume was complete. I"
do wish Jack could see you. He would
die of laughter"
"Thanks!' murmured Mabel Taught,
ily. "Tu go out the back way, if 70,
please"
When at last Miss Vercroft foun,
herself in the streets, n quite alone
a great fear stole over her. The greer
plush in which she was enveloped daz
zled her eyes, as it doubtless did 9th
ers; the big floppy hat was uncomfort
able, the great buttons on her Goa
seemed to glare aggressively, n tn
sleeves being slightly too long wer
~puckered up over her delicate wrists
AT the corner Of the street she waite
for an omnibus to take her to the sta
ton. A couple Of youths smoking bi
cigars-for it vas Bank Holiday-eye
her admiringly.
Got EN- on!" said one, with a win,
and a leer. "Ain't e turned up yet?2