Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1882 — FASHION REPEATS ITSELF. [ARTICLE]

FASHION REPEATS ITSELF.

I, Robert Ogden, at 24, was a tolerably good-looking youth, with a position in Wells & Banker’s wholesale store as book-keeper at a salary of $75 a month. Nothing very brilliant about all this, to be sure; but I think that I should have felt very well satisfied with my lot in life had I never indulged in dreams of sudden wealth—in other words, if I had never heard of my rich Aunt Mahala. Now, unfortunately, just as you please to consider it—l had not only heard of her, hut she was the oracle to whioh our family listened on all occasions. She was a spinster of the severest type, but she was the possessor of $200,000 in good securities, and this, as you may imagine, covered a multitude of defects. When I was 6 years old, and my cousins, Bert and Jim Ogden, were about the same age, Aunt Mahala announced her intention of setting, one of ns up in business to the extent of half her fortune when he, the lucky boy, should become 25 years of age. Whichever one of us best suited her in general behavior and in the choice of a wife should be the favored one. she declared. On that day my trouble commenced. Of course, the choice of a wife had not yot entered my youthful imagination, but as 1 grew into boyhood I manifested a natural desire to have as good a time as other boys, and this w’as entirely contrary to Aunt Mahala’s strict ideas of propriety. “The idea of your letting that boy go with a lot of other young loafers to ride ■down lull till 10 o’clock at night!” she would say to my moth' r; and for that winter, at least, my fun was spoiled, or else procured under the greatest difficulties. Oh, I hated Aunt Mahala in those days, and wished her a thousand miles away! When I was old enough to realize the immense help her money would he to me. I did for the time try to please her; but her -whims and her almost-constant interference provoked me beyond the, bounds of endurance. “Let her keep her money!” I declared, wratlifully, to my mother who was always expostulating against my impatience, “if Jim and/Bert want to get down on their knees to her they can do so, but I am resolved to be independent.” Now, all this sounded very fine, and I felt every word of it; at the same time, SIOO,OOO was a nice sum, and nothing would have suited me better 4h an to have it at my disposal. When I obtained the situation at Wells & Banker’s, Aunt Mahala for the tir.st time acknowledged herself pleased. “I like to see young men get into business,” she Baid, emphatically. '“There is nothing more disgusting tliun to see a young sprig like yourself sauntering around with a cane and a cigar, trying to make folks think he’s a mam when he don’t know any more than/41 babv.”

Strangely enough, she advised all of her nephews to get married. * “Men’’are poor, miserable creatures unless they have a sensible woman to look after them and keep them from making fools pf themselves,”she said to one. I did not contradict this sweeping ■assertion, but I might just as well have done so, fQr she took up her last re; mark exactly hs if I had. ' 1 "Yes, fb6ls4-perfCot fools! They always will be because they always have been.” -l ■ ’ "Was that the*reason you fctevii mhr-, fried one of them?” I ventured to ask, although I knew my chance for the .SIOO,OOO would,sink a trifle thereby, “None,, ,©f yflUr ~ ipipgctence, ,y Qung ■man. I refused than you before I WHs 10, years , old,'becduse they didn’t know anything'. * ' J '. ( 5 This was • verjr flattering, but t Mod- 1 estly refrained from making'any reply ivliatevetJSwd Aunt Mahala went on: “The worst of it is. the women don’t "know anything nowadays—a shiftless, lazy set* with no ( more common sense than a peacock; Why, when I was a .young—” But I recollected a pressing engagement, and left the room. It was about this time that I met Ray Ansdell. She was an only child, and, althongh her father was not wealthy, he was in possession of a good income; so Ray dressed handsomely, went in the best society, and every wish was gratified. She was not a beauty, strictly apeaking, but she had a fresh, piquant face that was more attractive than mere regularity of features, and she knew

how to make herself irresistibly charming to her friends. Gay, stylish and inclined to flirt I found h9r; hat beneath it all she was pore and true and womanly, and' I loved her as I had □ever even dreamed of loving any woman. I plucked up courage at last and told her so, although I knew she could do better as far as money was concerned, unless, indeed, Aunt Mahala decided in her favor, which at present seemed very unlikely. And now that Ray had promised to be mine, and 1 was looking forward to our marriage, I longed for the SIOO,OOO more than ever. It would enable me to place my darling in as good a home as I should take her from, and I could not endure the thought of anything less. I did not want to take advantage of Jim and Bert, however. Once I ventured to broach the subject to mjr aunt, and proposed that she should divide the money equally among the three of us; but I was promptly told to mind my own affairs, and not trouble myself about money which would never trouble me. Bert happened to be the one to inform Aunt Mahala of my engagement to Ray Ansdell. “I tell you she’s stylish!” I beard him say in conclusion, and with malicious intent I was sure, for the word “stylish” always goaded the old lady into a furious humor. “Stylish she snorted —excuse the .erb, but uo other one expresses her tone. “01 course that’s all he wants, then! < Any little fool who can mince alone* * id look like a fashion plate will dc .or him—no brains, no common f ise-t-but never mind if she's only s?ylish!” -H this juncture I walked into the room, and Bert, who did not know my proximity, looked a little cicr.tfallen, and soon took his departure, “So Bert was kind enough to inform you of my engagement,” I remarked. “Oh, yes. It was nothing to me, of course. 'He only happened to mention it.” This in her most sarcastic tone of voice, and I knew she was offended because I had not made a confidant of her.

“it is only a few days since it was all settled, and I was waiting an opportunity to inform you of it," I said, anxious to conciliate her if possible. “Don’t trouble yourself to make excuses, young man. Of course no one expected you to think of your poor old uunt at such a time as this. She has nothing in common with lofty young gentlemen nor giggling little flirts either.’’ “Aunt Mahala, please don’t pass judgment on Ray Ansdell until you have seen her aud become acquainted with her," I begged, feeling the occasion to be too important to lose my temper. “Well, bring her around,” she condescended to say. “I confess Pd like to see the girl who is fool enongh to want to throw herself away on yon.” It would never do to slight this courteous invitation, so I explained to Ray soon afterward that an eccentric old aunt of mine desired to see hee. Ray expressed her willingness to go and pay her a visit. * ' •I dearly like eccentric people,” she declared, enthusiastically. I greatly doubted her-liking Aunt Mahiilu, but I would not discourage her by saying so. “I will come for you early Saturday afternoon,” I said, as I kissed her goodby at t-ho door. -“And, darling, you must not mind if my aunt makes peculiar remarks; it. is her way.” “ Oh, no! And I shall make her like me, in spite of your forebodings to the contrary.” “Now, Ray, I never said —* “No, you never said so,” interrupted Ray, “but you looked it all the time; | You imagine your Aunt Mahala and I won’t get on together; well, we shall j see.” “ I don’t know how any one can help loving you,” I cried, snatching a dozen kisses from thadbright, roguish face so Saturday, immediately after luncheon, I informed Aunt Mahala that I should bring Ray Ansdell to see her that afternoon. she mused; "I ; used to know a man by that name, a l good while ago—a poor, shiftless, drink- | ing fellow. What did you say hier other name was?” 1 . , - ,

“Rachel,” tl replied, thankful that it was ah . ohl-fasiiipned name, fpr Aunt Mahaty persisted-m liking anything fund everything dating fifty years back. 7 “Then why don’t you call her Rachel instead of that silly nickname? But then I suppose it would not be stylish 'enough for lver ladyship.” I lceo>+ my teniper with an effort, and tried tj> say calmly: l >■ ,{ 1, , 4 u^e > I hqpe,you-will say nothing 'to Mis* Ansdell kbont fortune or 1 jpuh ) intentions : regarding it. She Krpibisted, fpj xpapry me,- Relieving me to rpe a.pdor man with my way to make in the dnd.ias slie will probably havd ip live with me as snob, I don’t want you to raise expectations which may never be realized." “Don’t be alarmed,” said Aunt Mahala, grimly. “It’s not likelyTd be bragging of my mom y to a little chit like her, who don’t know the value of a dollar except to fritter it away on candy and ribbons. By the way, I should think it would be quite a come-down for the young ladr to set up housekeeping on a salary of $75 a month,” sneered the old lady, in a manner that made my blood boil. “You will please be more respectful in speaking of her and toiler,” I retorted. “I don’t expect you to like her. If I brought down an angel out of heavon

you would say she didn’t know anything ; but if you do not treat Ray Anadell decpntly I. will never forgive you, and when I a home of my own you shall never enter it. Now mark my words.” , “You insufferable puppy!” shouted Aunt Mahala, furiously. “You look well talking about angels out of heaven! You look a great deal more like mating with an angel out of the other place, with your smoking and swearing and your disrespectful manner—” Here she choked for breath, and I escaped from the room. I reflected that I had been exceedingly foolish to lose my temper when talking to Aunt Mahala, for when this happened she never failed to get the better of me. She certainly had done so now, and this fact would put her into something as nearly resembling good humor as she ever allowed herself to indulge; consequently now was the time to present Ray. I hurried at on#e to her home, and found her waiting for me. “You don’t say a word about my new suit,” she said, as soon as we started. “It just came home from the dressmaker's, and it is quite too stylish for anything.” My heart sank. Annt Mahala would hate the dress and its owner, I thought, as I looked down at it, It was a plain, full skirt of some silky material, with a gathered waist, and puffs at the top of the sleeves; nothing fancy about it, but if it was stylish its fate was sealed so far as Aunt Mahala was concerned.

“Rob, something troubles you this afternoon,” exclaimed far-sighted Ray. “Do I look so very hideous, and are you sure that Aunt Mahala won t like me?” “You are charming, my pet ; but I was thinking how miserably poor I am. Ray, have you ever reflected that with my salary I cannot provide all the luxuries to which von have bees accustomed in your own home?” “Rob, have you ever reflected that so long as I have you I don’t care a penny for luxuries or anything else?” “But when you are deprived of them you may miss them more than you imagine, my dear Ray,” I urged. “If you keep on talking in this ridiculous way I. shall think you are becoming tired of me, and in that case there is no use going to see your Aunt Mahala,” exclaimed Ray, stopping short and pulling her arm from mine. “There, there, Ray; I won’t say another word. We’ll "take each other for better or for worse, and I’ll work—oh, how I will work, to make a fitting home for yon!” We had arrived at the house by this time, and I led the way at once to my Aunt Mahala’s room. The old lady arose as we entered, and gazed steadily at Ray. “Where did you get that dress?” she demanded, without paying the least attention to my formal introduction. “Madame Guthbert made it for me,” answered Ray, manifesting no surprise at my aunt’s abrupt question. “It’s tlie first decent dress I’ve seen on a girl in fifty long years! Why, child, I had one made nearly like it when I was a girl; and a bead workbag, too’!” exclaimed my aunt, snatching at the dainty morsel of glistening steel which Ray held in her hands. “Just such a one as I had given to me on my eighteenth birthday. I used to carry it wherever I went* but one day I was out in a boat with a lot of young people and some one dropped* it overboard, and that was the last of it. I can’t understand how you happen to be carrying one so near like it in these days,” Aunt Mahala said, in a dazed kind of way.

“This was Grandmamma Ansdell’s when she was young,” Ray explained brightly. “It’s exactly like the fashionable opes now. and mamma said I might have it for mine. I’m knitting lace,” she went on, as pay aimt continued to gaze at her like one in a dream, “so I thought I’d bring it along and work while we talked.” “To be sure, my dear! Sit right here by me.” said Aunt Mahala, drawing out the easiest chair and seating Ray in it. All this time I had stood by, so astounded by the old lady’s amiability that I hardly comprehended what was being paid. Had she suddenly lost her mind, or wap Ray bewitching her? - They were soon deep in the mysteries of lncemaking, Aunt Mahala brought out piece a'fter piece of lace yellow -with age. “All my own work when I was a girl;” she said; and Ray pronounced them lpvely, and asked to copy some of the patterns. Never had I seen Aunt; Mahala in such a, mood as this, and I ootml only and hope for: it to last. “Roi>, the poor old goose, doesn’t seem to appreciate lace work,” Ray said, with P sidelong glance at pae. * “That’s so, replied Aunt Mahala, evidently agreeing, pn the goose question., r'And he can go about his business, if hp has any.” J I lefjt, and only returned in time to take dinner with them, rightly judging that they would get along as well without me. ‘ " Your aunt has. grven me the loveliest hand-embroidered handkerchief 1” Ray informed me. “And she is going to teach me how to do the same kind of embroidery. Oh, I have had a delightful afternoon!” she went on, turning to Aunt Mahala, “and I shaU come again very soon.” “Robert,” said my aunt., as Ray was tying on her quaint poke bonnet to go home, “Rachel looks verv much as I did at her age." I actually thought I saw tears in Aunt Mahala s eyes when Ray throw her arms around her neck and kissed her good

, night, and her voice certainly trembled ae she said: “Good night, my dear child. God bless and keep your* “Rob, has your Aunt Mahala any property?” inquired Ray, soon after we commenced our homeward walk. “Yes; I believe she has some,” I answered, hypocritically. “Then I am sure she intends giving some of it to you. She asked me how I expected to get along as the wife of a poor man, and I said I should be very economical. I told her we were going to work together and maketmoney; that I should do most of my own work, and all that. She chuckled, and nodded her head, and kept saying, ‘We shall see—we shall see !* And I couldn’t help thinking she meant to do something for you. I hope she will, Rob, for your sake. I don’t like to think of your toiling behind that desk to make a bare living for us.” Then I told her all about the SIOO,000, whioh I had not the slightest doubt would now be mine. “And all because you are the dearest, sweetest, most sensible little woman in the whole world,” I declared. “No,” contradicted Ray; “it’sbecause fashion, like history, repeats itself. If the old styles had not become new, I shouldn’t have had my dress made in this delightful, old-fashioned way, nor should I have been oarrying Gradmamma Ansdell’s work-bag, nor should I have been knitting lace such as your Aunt Mahala made so long ago; and you know very well, Rob, that it was all this which pleased the dear old lady.” “Then we will call it Providence working in our behalf, and be thankful forevermore,” I said. “And we will do something for your cousins, who will be terribly disappointed?" pleaded tender-hearted Ray. “Certainly,” I replied. “I always intended to help them if the money came to me.” The next day Aunt Mahala informed me that I might get into any branch of business that I desired, and she would furnish the money. “You have some business tact,” she said condesceudinglv, and, with such a wife as Rachel Am dell, you can’t go far wrong.” I thanked her heartily, and kissed her to emphasize my thanks, at which she was greatly incensed, and told me not to make a fool of myself. Bert came over the same morning. I fancied he was a little anxious to know how Aunt Mahala liked Ray. She did not keep him long in suspense, but sounded her praises until he appeared to grow tired of listening. “Wait until you see the girl I have my eye on,” he said lightly. “You couldn’t find one like Rachel Ansdell if you had hunted the world over. Why, I shall never forget how I felt when she walked in here yesterday. She looked like some dear old picture stepped down out of .a frame. It brought back the days of my youth—it did indeed!” declared Aunt* Mahala, verging on the poetical. The old lady has never lost her good opinion of Ray, but always looks upon her with especial favor. She is losing some of her sharpness of tongue and temper too. I think she is ashamed to indulge before Ray, who is good nature and sunshine itself. If she keeps on improving, she will be quite a lovable old Indy; but, however that may be, Ray and I can never forget how much we owe her.