The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-02-15

BY PAUL MoNTEvERD.

I ( ( ( ( 4 <

ing back in her easy chair to enjoy q
little quiet rest
The fire danced and quivere.l in the
shining coils of her hair, the rain pat
tered outside like the tread of little
feet, the cat rose and rubbed against
her mistress dress, but Bessie did not
heed her. There was the rustic of a
slken robe. and Bessie started up to
find Kate Belcher standing in the open
doorway regarding her
Come. Bessie" said Kate, "get your
hat and jacket and wen go down to
Marshs and get your dress"
Il have decided not to take the silk,'
said Bessie. Charley thinks he can
not afford It,"
Cant afford it, repeated Kate,
mockingly. You do your own work,
Bessie Grey, thus saving the expense
of n servant and it is a pity if you
can't have a dress when you want it.
Take my advice and buy the dress.
You'll never regret it-sueh bargain,
TOO, If you would only consider it,
Il know it, Kate said Bessie sadly.
"But to tell you the truth. in the draw
er yonder are the savings of a year
$200-deposited there 50 and SO at
time, for the purpose of paying up the
mortgage on the cottage"
"Goodr' said Kate, airily. "Be a
woman. Bessie Grey. and stand up for
your rights. Take part of the money,
buy your silk and say nothing TO Char
ley about 1t. You can easily save up
$50 from the market money and your
allowance to replace it, and no one will
be the wiser"
We need not narrate all the argu-
ments resorted to ere Bessie assented
to the plan; suffice it to say that an
hour later the two ladies emerged from
the store, the coveted silk in their pos
session.
Now. whom shall we engage TO
make the dress:" questioned Kate, as
they reached the street.
Myself. Mrs. Belcher." said Bessie,
gayly. Il am a capital dressmaker."
MAKE it YOURSELF My dear child.
are You crazy? Ruin that elegant
dress-for you would ruin it, Don't
think Of such a thing. Bessie"
But whom can engage?" said Bes-
sic.
"Well. always 20 to Nine. Arnault
Ali that's the woman for you. You
stand up. the modiste takes your meas
ure. and the trouble is over"
"But isn't she very exorbitantT tim
idly asked Bessie.
"She has her fixed prices" replied
Mrs. Belcher, 'and they are a little
high. or course, If you can't afford
it.
1T is not that" hastily interrupted
Bessie. "but don't know what Char
ley win say"
Charley, indeedl What has he to
do with it. l should like to known
"He must pay the bills" whispered
Bessie's conscience. But there sat
Mrs. Grundy. in the person of her
friend watching her out of her green
eyes. and after wavering a moment,
Bessie followed her friend into the
handsome parlor ef the complaisant
Nine. Arnault
Madame mas de-de what You call
it?--de figure parfait," said the lady, as
she busted herself in measuring Bessie
casting meanwhile an almost imper-
ceptible glance at Mrs. Belcher Dat
belle lavender-the trimmings, ahl
what Will madame have? Some Of de
most exQuis-di velveetg'
And so the lady ratified on to The ut
ter confusion of Bessie, who tinally
made her escape, dimly ronscicus that
she had given her consent to all man.
ner Of exuavance, and wondering how
it would all end.
what a novice you are" said Kate,
laughingly. DO you know, my dear,
/ was actually on thorns when you at
tempted to cheaper that trimming.
However, / told madame that your
husband was very rich, but a perfect
miser, and you, being very young, were
too much in awe Of him.
"0h. Kate, how could you?' ex-
claimed Bessie. so drearlly that her
friend laughed louder than before.
"Never mind, Bessie; wait ill the
dress comes home"
And so Bessie tried to still the dull
pain in her heart, and smiled brightly
as ever in her husbands face, and
Charley, noticing the change in her de-
meanor, only fancied that she was i'll.
In about week the dress came.
Tremblingly Bessie undid the package,
held it up, turned it round and round
and finally tried it on. 1t was a per-
feet flt. The trimming was superb.
Didn't 1 tell you to wait?p asked
Mrs. Belcher, triumphantly.
Bessie did not answer. She had
caught sight of piece of paper at
tached to the sleeve, and was reading
It with blanched cheeks and Quivering
lips:
ITO Nine. Arnault, Dr.:
''To Makings and Trimmings OF
Dress, $45.T5."