Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-09-22
HER NEW GOWN.

malIy concerning Ted OStranuer as a
husband, though as a bachelor he was
an immense success. With the moth
ers he was zone of those nice Ostrand-
ers." Fathers approved of him as a
rising young man." Brothers declared
that he faced a touch like a hero.
The young women thought he was per
fectly adorable"
AS a bachelor, unquestionably young
Ostrander hit it off, bat as a husDahu
well, Priscilla was welcome 10 MN
that was all. 1t is SO comfortable al
times to believe that the grapes are
sour.
Ostrander's sisters were to give PTS
ella a reception.
81 suppose | shall have to have q
new gown" said Priscilla to OstrandeT
when they were talking it over.
mot" he replied, that you wouldn't
beat the whole party a mile in any
thing you might wear, but it is just the
idea of something new, l suppose"
What do you think would be nicer
asked Priscilla.
On that point OstranderSwasn't quite
so clear. He was ready with the gen.
eralization handsome" He also talked
vaguely of bias things and whang-
doodles, but failed to touch upon such
incidentals as materials, color n
style of making.
A new gown is always at least a
matter of weight. On this occasion it
amounted even to a strategic maneu-
yer. There were such a lot of consid
erations. Jane, Ostrander's oldest sis
ter, would disapprove of anything too
elaborate, as Jane knew that the Bat
theses could not afford six-dollar trim
ming. Lucy, the youngest sister, would
be disappointed If it were not elabor-
ate enough. This was a good chance
to look her worst and propitiate the
girls who didn't catch Ostrander. 1t
was also an opportunity to look her
best before those who had not yet
seen her. Should she veal her favor
lite pink, when the decorations would
be orange? Or should she sacrifice
becomingness to the general color
scheme?
For days Priscilla tossed among
these questions. Her decision was a
triumph. She must have something
simple because of Jane, yet it must be
elegant because of Lucy. It could not
be too c~onspicuously becoming because
of the girl who did not catch Ostran-
der, yet it must look distinctly well
because of the strangers who would be
fhora Din1y moo fhon oirron nuor hQ.
cause of the decorations, but cream
and light green had been admired on
her before.
Then Priscilla began collecting sam
ples-went into the business, as 1t
were. There were SO shades and tex
lures in cream and light tan. The va
viations of the light green were be-
yond belief. Priscilla lost some sleep
over samples, but finally struggled to
q choice between one of the greens and
one of the tans. These two put up a
brave fight. In the morning she got
up firm, not to be shaken. She would
take the green. At breakfast Mrs. Bat
ties thought the tar perhaps a shade
more becoming. Very well, she would
have the tan. In the middle of the
morning some one else wondered how
she could think of anything but the
green. Priscilla wondered, too. Al
luncheon tan was again in the ascend
ant. Her final order went! II have
decided on the gr-no, tan. Let me see
them both once more, please.
Tan finally got it, after the greer
had been measured off and cut.
If Priscilla lost some sleep ovel
samples she lost considerably more
over the making. To be simple, YET
elegant, to be not too becoming YET
very becoming-there was the problem
Over the sleeves alone Priscilla lay
awake one whole night. BY the time
the trimmings were bought the doctor
said that only rest and quiet would
ward off a serious illness. The last
days before the party Priscilla spent In
bed, with intermittent gettings up tc
be fitted.
Complete the gown had cost $50, doc
/ tors not included, also days and nights
I of strenuous life.
She wore it to the reception. 1t WIS
of course, commented upon. Priscilla
! herself overheard the following com.
ments:
"She certainly never ought to weal
tan. It's horribly u~nbecoming."
"And it looked so dead in all tina
orange. Why didn't she wear some
thing to harmonic with the decora
tions?"
did you ever see such fiimsy, cheap
looking goods?"
"Still, my dear, that is the lates
thing. l priced 1t yesterday-four dol
\ lars a yard"
4 "You don't say so! I wonder wha
Jane Ostrander thinks of such extray
agance?"
\ 81 call it execrable taste myself
when the Battleses are no better off.
ooh, l suppose she got something ez
\ pensive to impress strangers"