Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-12-23
WHAT SHE
. w AN I E D.

asked Mrs. Hodgeson as she led Miss
Blake the dressmaker, into the sew
ing room. Before Miss Blake could
answer Mrs. Hodgeson went on: "But
l don't care whether you did or not,
for l have decided to have an empire
frock. I didn't have one all last year
because thought was too stout, but
since I've seen Mrs. Eldredge in her
blue satin I've made up my mind that
no one is too fat to wear short-waisted
gowns. Of course, she looks like
perfect tub in hers, but Pm not nearly
as big as she is, am I?''
MOO" murmured Miss Blake.
''Well, just cut the lining for an
empire. We can decide on the trim
mings later"
do you want the gown to trail?'
"Why, of course. An empire has to,
doesn't it?"
ooh, no; I've made several which
clear the floor all the way round
Cut it with train and if don't
like it we can change it."
cit would be better to decide now"
said Miss Blake patiently.
"But can't tell till see how it will
look with train.
every well. Now I'll take your
measure, please"
After few minutes of extremely
restless standing Mrs. Hodgeson ex-
claimed, 81 had no idea that you'd
need so many measurements for just
one of these short-waisted gowns"
''The lining has to be fitted carefully
if we expect the outside to set nicely"
declared Miss Blake.
well, I'll rest little while you get
the lining together"
Mrs. Hodgeson dropped on the sofa
as if exhausted and lay there until
she caught sight of large magazine
on the bureau where Miss Blake had
deposited her hat and gloves.
ooh, you did bring a fashion book.
didn't you?" said Mrs. Hodgeson. "I'u
look at the pictures while rest
Miss Blake was just finishing the
basting of the long length of silesia
when Mrs. Hodgeson startled her with
an almost tragic cry of "Stop, stop at
once!"
"Why, what's the matter?" asked
the dressmaker, as her scissors
dropped to the floor and her eye
glasses fell off her nose. 'Is anything
wrong?"
Wrong! should say so. Why.
every dress in this journal has long
waist. The belts or sashes are below
the hips. I don't want a short-waisted
gown such as everybody had last win.
ter when every one who is up to date
in wearing long-waisted ones.
should think you would have told me.
Miss Blake, what the latest style was.
l quite depended on you. It's too
BAD
Mrs. Hodgeson's bitter tone almost4
brought tears to Miss Blake's eyes,I
but she replied as bravely as shell
could: you said you had decided on1
the empire and they are not out oil
style at all. I've made a great many
this season."
That's it. They're dreadfufly com.
mon. want something new. You'll
just have to make that lining over in
to long-waisted effect Fortunately
you have not cut into the goods
Miss Blake said nothing, but began
| to rip the lining with determined ships
of the scissors.
81 think the long waist will be more
becoming to me, too" remarked Mrs.
Hodgeson. "See how slender the wom-
| an in this picture looks. It's all the
| effect of the extremely long waist.
| Don't you think that style will suit
my figure?"
"Why, I suppose So"
Would you advise net yoke and
sleeves like these in the picture?"
They are very pretty"
well, I'll telephone my husband to
| bring home the goods. He's a fear
fully poor shopper and he loathes a
dry-goods store, but if you tell me
! just what to get and exactly how
| much / think he can't make a mistake
| I'll ask him to come home early with
it,"
When the long-waisted lining was
ready to fit Mrs. Hodgeson said: 81
| don't seem to look much like the wom-
an in the fashion book" She sur
veyed her rotund figure in the mirror
obviously during the process of fitting.
But of course the lining looks funny
without any goods or trimming. Ora.
cious, Pm glad it's over. How tedi-
GUS fitting is. l think I'll have to rest
again"
Miss Blake sewed in quiet while
Mrs. Hodgeson slumbered on the sofa.
The latter woke only when her hus-
band came into the sewing room with
parcel.
well" he said, Il hope 1 got here
early enough. | broke two engage
ments and almost broke my neck as
well running for the mid-afternoon
express SO as not to keep you good
people waiting. l think I've earned
little golf now
Mrs. Hodgeson took the package,
around which her husband had rolled