Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1913-12-12

PRICE OF A GOWN
BY ELLA r. PEARcE.

by ELLA h. PEAhCG.
When young Sibert looked across
the breakfast table and saw the
flushed, sullen face of his wife, his
own features grew stern and gloomy.
It was quite unfair and unreasonable
for Rose to act in this peevish man.
ner. Surely he had always done
everything possible for her: gratifed
her whims and INDUCED her beyond
the point of a husbands duty. Now.
in this last matter he must be firm
It's no US sulking, Rose" he said.
harshly for him y can't afford IT.;
and that settles it."
Cant afford it," sneered Rose,
without lifting her eyes. You can't
afford the price Of q gown Tor your
wife, SO that she may make decent
appearance in public"
$50 that she may compete with
foolish, extravagant women whose nus
bands are better fixed or more reck-
less than / happen to be. do not
think your need is SO great. Rose.
IL"
We'll / won't wear that old silk
dress any longer!" Rose raised her
eyes bright with the sparks Of faring
temper II won't Brill Sibert! !
don't care whether you can afford it
or not. must have that gown I'll
order 1t today. You can beg. borrow.
or steal the money! must have It'll"
Beneath his long. steady look. her
passion had merged into a sort OF
panic. but she rushed breathfessly on
to the end of her speech. BY that
time, her husband was on hiE feet,
reaching for his hat
i wouldn't order it today, Rose"
His voice held chill warning; and
he went out without another word or
a backward glance.
Rose sat with reddening cheeks and
angry eyes. Her slender, white I'm
gers drummed nervously on the table.
She drew In long, tense breath, and
then a choking sob came as prelude
to an outburst of tears.
Stingy, hard-hearted, that's what
Brill Sibert was! He had no compass
sion for her at all; no proper pride
In his wife's appearance. just be-
cause. down at the bottom of her
heart, Rose felt a twinge of remorse
and a stirring of some feeling akin to
self-condemnation she inwardly rallied
at her husband and emphasized her
own wrongs.
What made 1t harder to bear was
the fact that Roses dearest friend, a
member of her club, and, like herself,
one Of the committee for the coming
reception to be held in the Turkish
room Of the st. Moire hotel, haG or
dered an exquisite creation of yellow
charmeuse and white shadow lace;
and Rose had confidentially impaired
the information that she would appear
in a companion gown Of black and
absinthe green-a striking but har-
monious contrast.
They had looked for samples to-
gether and planned the sartorial de-
tails that should make their appear
ance at the St Moire an artistic sue
cess. In her enthusiasm, Rose had
lost sight OF the fact that her hus-
bands income had been severely taxed
Of late, and he had advised economy
in every possible direction.
"I'll economize after this. Brill
she had offered coaxingly. And I'll
go to a cheaper dressmaker-Jean'
is awfully dear-and iii make it come
within hfty dollars
She Quivered inwardly as she said
it, but she looked prettily persuasive
Brill could not refuse her! But Brill
could--and did; and now, Rose was
left to woep and rage in her defeat.
1t was hard day for Rose Sfbert
The worst passions of her childish
impulsive nature mounted in unusual
force and spread like flames. Love
and reason were blotted out: and
when calmer moments would have
come to her, she stirred the embers
of her wrath with fresh accounts OF
grievances
Il would order that gown today as
said" she reflected bitterly. .Bu1
there might be complications. III
wait. Brill may change his mind BY
night If not-well, Jeans dressmakel
would trust me-"
This idea was SO comforting, witha
so stimulating. that Roses moo6
changed. She grew suddenly light
hearted, gay, and feverishly restless
Her little apartment seemed too con
fining to her; SO, late in the after
noon, she ran in to call on her neigh
Dor, young matron who was absurd
ly devoted to a year old daughter
This wee parsonage proved such 9
diversion that the clock struck ST,
before the visitor was aware of the
hour
And not thing ready for dinner.'
said Rose in alarm. And here comes
Mr.. Hessler-oh! he mustn't see me.
She slipped behind the portiere o.
the reception room as the key turned
in the lock and the master Of ths
house entered. She heard his hearty
greeting as he walked into the Twins
room at the other end of the hall. Il
was her intention to step out instant
ly; but the fringed edge Of the por
there had caught upon "a button OF
her sleeve and detained her.
Excitement down town." she heart