The Tragedy of a Muslin Dress.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 82

The Tragedy of a Muslin Dress.

•'Thank you," said the girl bitterly.

"Dear me ! " exclaimed the nervous young man in agony. *" I didn't tread on your dress, did I? "

"Didn't tread on my dress? Oh, dear no ! Of course not. It's torn all to rags, but, of course, you didn't tread on it. A fly mubt have settled upon it, I suppose." "I'm sO sorry. I almost thought I hearJ something go."

"Then you guessed right first time," snapped the girl.

"But I was being so particularly careful. Really I hardly know what to say." " Don't you ! Then we'd better change tho subject." "I wouldn't have had it happen for a deal of money," he pleaded fervently.

"No mo*e would I. Please don't keep on apologising. Yo-i don't do it very -well, and it makes no difference anyhow. If one is idiot enough to be persuaded into going to a dance of this 6ort I suppose one must take one's chaneo of tho kind of thing one meets. After all, it was my own fault." "No, no," stammered the young man. "it was my fault ; mine entirely. Hoy/ could it be your fault? "

"Pecause," the j,irl said frith slow and measured intonation, " I ought to have seen that there wasn't room enoueh on any floor for your feet and the taif of my dress. Well, as you don't seem to be able to say that you're sorry, ;ou won't mind if T appear to leave you. I've got Io borrow about 600 pius from somewhere or other — or else go home."

And the cheap nuislin swished -viciously away from him, and left him desolate to curse his clumsiiess.— The Tattler.