The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-11-29
MRS. STAPLES SILK DRESS

MRS. STAPLES SILK DRESS.
AThaaksg,vins story.
81 wish 10 goodness Mrs. Brown wopld
bring homo my. DRESS" said Mrs.
Staples as she ret the. breakfast on the
|tableand took her place behind The
coffee pot. mo signs OF it yet and here
it is 81 most Thanksgiving"
Don't fret, Hannah" said her hus-
band, as he helped himself literally to
fried ham. "You can do without It il 1t
don't come, can't you2"
"Do you suppose ! want to wear tina
old gray alpaca aeain?" demanded Mrs.
staples 1 little irritably. "1've worn it
every THANKSGIVING day for three years,
and I'm aba It tired ofseeing myself in
it. And I don't want Giles to be ashamed
of mo before his sweetheart.''
20. well. like as not the dress'l be
here on time," s.id Mr.. Staples sooth.
ingly. "Don't cross bridge before You
COulo W ACs 4auudaas +'# 'S- 80
At this moment timid, hesitating
knock sounded on the kitchen door, and
Mrs. Staples rosa from her seat to- an
swer it. A small delicate looking woman,
with asweet. fair face came in. She va
dressed in deep mourning which had
long eince lost it's freshness, and carried
IN her arms bundle. There were lines
Of care on her face, and the melancho-
), look in her large brown eyes deep
ened percept!bly as Mrs. Staples ex-
claimed: ''s
$50 you've came at lastl I thought you'd
forgotten me; and I'd set my heart on
wea: ing that dress Thanksgiving day."
20, Mrs. Staples" cried little Mrs.
Brown, looking ready to burst into
tears. II don't know what you'll say to
me. ihe skirt of the dress is done, but
the basque" ..- H.,
swell. what of tho basque7" asked
Mrs. Staples sharply, As the dress.
maker hesitated.
Philosophical it," faltered Mrs.
Brown. "But Thought perhaps you had
some more material, and could make
another if you would let me-"
For q moment Mrs. Staples said moth
ing. Her indignation was too great for
words. When she at length found her
tongue, however, she delivered the poor
culprit such lecture as she had never
heard before.
II know l deserve scolding, Mrs. Sta
ples," sobbed Mrs. Brown. "But my
little Ruth has been sick. and what With
nursing her, and losing sleep, and see.
ing to the Homework. ] got so confused
that cut the basque all wrong. never
made such a mistake before, and if you
can give me only two yards more I can
manage to get another basque out in
time for you to wear the day after to-
morrow"
"There's no more material to be had, -
answered Mrs. Staples, II took the last
yard in D;ckenson's store. No, the
dress is ruined. might as we'll have
thrown my money in the street al spent
it on stuff for you to spoil. I ought to
have known better than to have trusted
YOU with the si,k-common sense ought
to have told me you'd ruin it."
II never ruined one before" pleade d
Mrs. Brown, still weeping.
"And I'll see t, it that you never ruin
another-in this vi lage. any way. It's my
duty to let people know that you aren't
what you profess to be, and know about
as much of dress making as your baby
Does"
Mrs. Brown said no more, but pulling
her veil over her face to conceal the
traces Of tears on her cheeks, left the
kitchen with a slow and. weary step
while Mrs. Staples went back to hel
seat at the table, too angry to touch the
break fast she had put upon her plate b.
fore Mrs. Browns entrance.
The little widow had com, to Barton
ouly three weeks before, and hiring g
three-room cottage, had put out hum
bic sign to the effect that she would dc
dress making on reasonable terms.
Mrs. Staples, though we'll off in thi.
worlds goods, was always ready to econ
o,uize where economy was possible, and
as soon as she saw the sign she deter
mined to entrust her new elk, the only
one sho had bought within i've years. to
the new co meI.
And now it ~as spoiled, and she must
wear her old gray alpaca on Thanksgiv.
ing dav, when Giles, her only son, was
to be at home, and was to bring stran-
ger with him, tool Gould anything more
provoking have happened?
Scene to me you were rather hard
on her, Hannah" ventured Mr.. Staples,
as he glanced at his wife's angry tace.
"Hari on her!' re pea.ed Mrs. Staples.
II didn't say half as much as ought to
have said. Wat will Mrs. Pettlgrew
think to see me in that old gray alpaca
again? Giles, toov'
"Giles won't notice." said Mr.. Staples.
Hell be that glad to see you, he won't
care what you cave on"
But care. Do you think want to
look like a scarecrow before that lady
he il going to bringw
"Couldu you match the silk in Lis.
conn., asked Mr.. Staples. There's hall
= dozen big dry goods stores there; you
know"
"Liscom! Eight miles of! And all
the taking and cleaning to be done, too.
And s'pose I had it, who's to make it
up? Miss Smart's just run to DEATH"
John Staples got up and went to the
barn, giving up the arxumentin despair.
tie felt sorry for Mrs. Brown, whose
sweet, sad face had touched his heart to
pity, and he wished Hannah had not
said quite 80 much tv her. But then, of
course, it was provoking to have the
new dress spoiled. Sitting DIVA on a
bench by the earn door, the farmer
drew from his pocket letter, received
over again. as il he would fam inn oress
every word on his memory, 1t was