Getting Even.

Otago Witness, Issue 2318, 4 August 1898, Page 53

Getting Even.

No one but a woman could have conceived so cruel n vengeance. Yet she tells of it with positive glee. They all lived in one of those very exclusive little squares — hotbeds of gossip — where the houses are every one built on tho same plans and where each man, woman, and child knows the finest detail? of the next-door neighbour's existence. " However she dared do such a thing I cannot imagine," said the modern Bcrgia. " It was when I was ill that she called upon me, and in my weakness I was foolish enough to let my maid get out my new dre&s and show it to her. Would you believe it, she had the audacity to go directly and l-ave the drej- duph'^ed, clown to tho \e>\y b'lt tons, and was wearing it in the street before I had e\er been well enough even to '. iy mine on ! But lam not the kind of wo rain to tolerate such treacheiy; I saw that s-he was speedily and hideously punished.

"What did I do?" continued the exasperated speaker. " Why, I made a present of my gown to Silvan, my cook, and the fn-ft time I saw ' that woman ' go out, I got Silvan to put on the dross and walk up and down the square, in full sight, of the entire neighbourhood. Then, when 'that woman ' returned homo a close friend of mine mot her in front of her house aud said :

"'Why, my dear Mrs Dollivor, what a charming drc^ you hove on. But lei. nie think, now— where hove I f<ccn one similar to yours? Oh, yes I remember — Mrs llill's cook bos jjutu u t i;oi)e )■ ."id the corner with one cxnc'ly like it. ll<;w i-»riiig« ! ifere she con.es now.'

" A.i v at that \ery riion't.l ip p^nnlevcd Susan twilling a rod pun ,hade. ?•*'■'* Oolliver is having to Ui-o c-ilour w-loiativp ni Uci hair: (hoy s.ay it turned Mlntc in a ininuie."