APRIL. 20 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Momen, 
CONDUCTED BY MISS FAITH BIPLEY. 
WOMEN AND WINE. 
Pop I went tlie Key cork flying. 
Sparkled tlie gay champagne. 
By the light of the day that was dying, 
He filled up their goblets again. 
Bet the last best toast bo woman, 
“ Woman, dear woman," bald he, 
“ Empty your glass, my darling. 
When you drink to your sox with me." 
But she caught his strong brown fingers, 
And held them tight as in fear, 
And through the gathering twilight 
Her fond voice fell on his ear: 
“ Nay ere you drink, I implore you, 
By all that you bold divine, 
Pledge woman in tear drops. 
Bather by far than in wine. 
“ By woes of the drunkard’s mother, 
By the children that begged for bread, 
By the face of her whose beloved one 
Looks on the wine when 'tie rod. 
By the kisses changed to curses. 
By the tears more bitter thau brine, 
By many a fond hoart broken. 
Pledge no woman in wine. 
“ What has wine brought to woman 1 
Nothing but tears and pain. 
It haH torn from her heart her lover 
And proven her prayers in vain; 
And her household gods all scattered, 
Lie tangled up in the vine: 
Oh! I prithee pledge no womau 
In the curse of so many— wine." 
SPRING FASHIONS. 
That “ Spring, gentle Spring,” Is once again In 
our midst Is a fact which will be brought home to 
the consciousness of the average man with terri¬ 
ble earnestness, when the returns for spring shop¬ 
ping begin to stare him in the face. It Is to he 
feared that his enthusiasm about the coming of 
the "gladsome season” will be somewhat damp¬ 
ed by the contemplation of charges for the Items 
which go to make up the Easter costume. But 
surely, when the partner of his ltfo appears radi¬ 
ant with the "items" properly arranged and ad¬ 
justed, he must be a churl indeed who would re¬ 
gret paylug a pecuniary tribute for a " beauty of 
the season.” At all events, he must count him¬ 
self fortumite If the "partner” Is able to resist 
the temptation to lay in a heavy stock of goods, 
for the fabrics are all so bewllderingly pretty, and 
a choice Is so hard, that self-denj ing Indeed Is 
the woman who can content herself with one 
dress pattern. 
Stripes are prevalent In some of the now 
wool and silk materials. The stripes are of vari¬ 
ous widths, plain and shaded, Bayadere and longi¬ 
tudinal. A lino of camel's hair materials, twilled 
with quite a nap and soft and pleasant to the 
touch, lu light ijeiije and mode tints, are likely to 
be much used for early spring and traveling cos¬ 
tumes. Indian cashmere for wrappers; light and 
dark poplins and the new Knickerbocker compo¬ 
sitions, in silver-gray, make, ecru, cream and 
green shades, are among the new and popular 
lines of goods. There are new designs in grena¬ 
dines and silks, and what with organdies, lace 
bourettes, prints, percales and cambrics, there Is 
no lack of material from which to choose. 
Colored torchon laoes form a pretty flnlsh for 
lawn dresses. Hamburg embroidery will he 
popular for piques, cambrics, brilliants and per¬ 
cales, The colored embroideries will be very 
much In vogue for lawn and thin pique dresses. 
Clair ae lune is seen In a multitude of types and 
will be very fashionable. Silk passementerie Is ar¬ 
ranged In Vandykes, and covered with pear- 
shaped Milan balls: around the bottom of the 
pointed passementerie Is attached a short row of 
short full tassels made of the flat grass fringe. 
A new garniture is bands of Maltnes or net ear¬ 
ner costumes. Jet beads are very extensively used 
on fringe, lace and passementerie. 
The only new departure In lingerie are the out¬ 
side lace, cuffs and deep collars. They are made 
up In a variety of ways and materials. Pretty 
sets for morning wear may be made of colored 
embroideries, erochetted lace, Duchesse point, 
applique, Russian,Smyrna and Valenciennes laces 
are made up Into Beta of this kind. Kid gloves 
will give way a little later In the season to mitts, 
which come m black, white and all the delicate 
Bhades of street and evening wear. They extend 
half way to the elbow and are elaborately em¬ 
broidered. Llale thread gloves are shown with 
long mltt-wrtsts of open work. 
DESCRIPTION Ok OPTS. 
At Fig. 1 (No. 6137, price 30 cents,) we give model 
of basque and skirt suitable for prints, cambrics 
or glghams. It 1 b easily launrlrled and offers a 
change from, the regulation wrapper. At 6190 is 
Illustrated a handsome coat with a cutaway 
front. The Jaunty effect of the coat ts bightened 
by the dainty vest. Any of the light spring 
cloakings or heavy dress fabrics will he found suit¬ 
able In making this coat and bindings, pipings, 
or machine stltclilngs are both appropriate and 
stylish. The vest may contrast with the coat, 
or it stay be omitted It desirable. Prlee 30 cents. 
No. 6170, misses plalted.coatume. This garment 
Is easily shaped, and 13 extremely graceful 
whether made from cheap or eostly material. 
usually employed In constructing aprons. Ruffling, 
Hamburg embroidery, Smyrna lace, tatting or 
any of the cotton edgings will be found very 
pretty trimmings for iwashable fabrics. If the 
apron is made of white linen, lawn or jaconet a 
very pleasing effect may be obtained by overlay¬ 
ing the centers of the plaits with Insertion 
and ornamenting the sleeves, and bottom of the 
apron with ruffles to harmonize. Price 20c. 
The new wateau garment. No. 0173, Is among 
the recent provisions for baby’s.comfort. It la long 
and may be so warmly constructed as to make 
long petticoats an unnecessary addition to Its out- 
of-door costume. If a lady would provide oue or 
more of these garments for her tiny infant's use, 
she would not only And It most convenient and 
pretty In its first months of existence, hut all 
ready for the time when a shortening of baby’s 
frock and petticoats becomes necessary. This 
gown Is very convenient to slip upon the baby 
when Its toilette Is unmade, or when It lacks 
freshness of apparel and must he exhibited. It 
may be constructed of cashmere, merino, flan¬ 
nel, cambric, or lawn. 
Fig. 2 illustrates a girl’s costume In Princess 
form. The principal part of the dress Is made of 
striped goods, and a very pretty effect therefore 
results from cutting the back bia3,and bo that the 
stripes meet in a point at the center or closing 
edges. Either cambric or woolen goods are sult- 
1 able for making It up. Price 30 cents. The hat 
do, Alan, stay with me yourself, but Bend Cora 
away.” 
“ Yes, old fellow," was the quiet reply. 
Then Cora came softly In; Alan gave her his 
6173 
6173 
place, and she laid her cheek upon her brother’s 
hand, caressing It In silence. 
" Read to me, Alan,” said the young artist, In a 
few minutes. 
Aad the baronet read in bis deep, manly voice, 
the sacred words which brought strength and 
comfort for that passage through the dark valley 
which Harold was so soon to take. 
The light had faded in the western sky, but the 
room was not yet in darkness. Marianna had 
stolen in and knelt by the window, rapidly telling 
her beads. The reader’s soft, grave tones died 
away, and he closed the book; during the last 
few lines his vision had been blurred and Indis¬ 
tinct, and when the dying man thanked him faint¬ 
ly, he saw that there were tears In the baronet’s 
eyes. There was a silence then, only the rapid 
murmurlngs of the old Italian woman broke upon 
the silence, when Cora, whose eyes were fixed on 
Harold’s face, uttered a faint cry. 
“ Raise ate,” he said, faintly, and Alan support¬ 
ed bUn in his arms, while the beautiful golden 
head sank back against his shoulder, and the blue 
eyes closed heavily. 
“ Harold, oh t my brother, speak to me Just once 
again I” broke from Cora's white Ups: and the 
FIG. 1. 
6170 
6170 
broldered handsomely with graceful vines and 
blossoms. This style of trimming Is applied to 
silk dresses In an artistic way for evening or dln- 
I Lace, ruffles, folds or galoon bands may trim the 
lower edge of the yoke and the wrists of the 
sleeves. Very little trimming, however. Is ne¬ 
cessary, as the plaits and sash are sufficient deco¬ 
rations In themselves. Price 35 cents. 
At No. 6193 Is shown a box-plalted blouse. It 
can be made of any of the cotton or woolen dress- 
goods now In vogue, and on account of Its loose 
yet graoeful shape is certain to become popular. 
A very handsome costume may be obtained by 
combining this blouse with a kilted skirt, Smyrna 
lace, Hamburg embroidery, braid, bands of the 
same, or of a contrasting material, pipings and 
plat tings will decorate the garment tastefully ; 
any style of skirt, and overskirt may be worn with 
this blouse. Price 25 cents. 
The child’s costume shown at 6192 may be 
made of any of the fashionable dress fabrics and 
trimmed with braids or galoon bands. The 
vest and belt may be of silk or of the same ma¬ 
terial In a contrasting color and the cuffs, pocket 
laps and collar may be faced with same fabric. 
Narrow Smyrna lace would also form a very 
pretty decoration for the edges, aud ir preferred 
a lace bib may be worn Intead of the collar when 
the garment is Intended for a girl. Price 25c. 
Childs box-plalted apron 0191, Is a dainty Uttle 
garment, that may be worn as an apron or a 
dress, the peculiarity of Its structure maklug It 
available Tor either purpose. It may be made 
of cambric, lawu, Uneu, alpaca or any material 
Is in sailor style, trimmed with a band, a bow and 
end3 of gros grain ribbon. Any of the patterns 
described wffl be suppUed at Rural New-Yorkkh 
Office, at prices given. 
fittrarg Utisifllaiur, 
0 0SA. 
CHAPTER XI. 
George Leeson was taking his leave with tears 
In his eyes, but Harold was calm and cheerful. 
" My mother will be here In a few days,” said 
Sir AJan.as be took his usual seat by the bed-side. 
" I saw her lu London, and thought she might be 
of use to your sister. She wa3 not able to travel 
as fast as we did. 1 ' 
“ I caut thank you, old fellow,” said Harold, 
smiling. " I don’t think you will let Cora miss 
me much." 
Sir Alau flushed slightly, and there was a 
pause. 
Harold, looking away Into the distance, saw the 
lingering sun-rays turning the windows of an ad¬ 
joining house luto molten gold. 
"My last sunset!” he said. "Dr. Crosby does 
not think I shall suffer much at the last. If I 
6193 6193 
dying hands moved feebly, and touched her bow¬ 
ed head. 
Then the heavy lld3 were raised for one last 
look of love at hl3 3lster’s face, one last glance of 
recognition turned to his friend. 
“Remember!” came feebly from the parted 
Ups, his head fell heavily bock on Alan’s support¬ 
ing arm, his eyes closed, a faint, long-drawn 
sigh, and Harold Sinclair was dead; the blame¬ 
less, beautttul lire had ended, as the physician 
had predicted, without suffering or struggle. 
Very tenderly and reverently Alan Vincent laid 
the Inanimate form back upon the pillows, and 
then, moved with an almost womanly tenderness, 
he stooped, and touched the cold brow with his 
bearded Ups, 
Two days after Harold Sinclair’s death Lady 
Vincent arrived at Rome. 
“How can I thank you, dear mother?” the 
baronet said, as he met her at the station. “ I 
knew you would come, and we have wanted you 
sadly. The poor child la in such terrible dis¬ 
tress." 
£ 
Ci* 
6190 
“And my son Is looking worn and i 1," said 
Lady Vincent, as they drove through He streets. 
Sir Alau smiled sadly. 
