St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-12-20

alone to buy something handsome
now,n declared Rosa Dane, convincing
ly, if not delicately.
Besides your last quarters reports
were splendid" chimed in another.
'.And when she finds you are to be val
edictorian, why, she will know you
must have something. OF course she
will. And she will send something
nice"
Then she began to plan variety of
beautiful things. For some reason
they seemed to consider Aunt Priscilla
q sort of ugly old fairy, who, if once
she began to do anything for her Gin
derella, would not stop short of mag
niicence. They gave their fancy free
rein, but Theda shook her head.
''It will not be anything elaborate,
girls" she said. But she consoled her
self with the thought that she should be
easily satisfied, and that even little
money could be made to work wonders,
if iudiciously expended. She watched
anxiously for a reply to her request, and
the sympathizing and interested girls
grew feverish in their impotence to
know what the answer would be. They
almost forgot their own mails, when the
postman came, in watching for Theda' s
letter.
At last Rosa Dane rushed upstairs,
one day, in breathless excitement:
at has come, Theda! It has come!
Not letter at all, but a box by express!
Didn't tell you it would be something
| handsome?"
An eager group gathered in the room
to watch the opening of the box, COM
menting, conjecturing and prophesying
until the lid was pried off, revealing, first,
q letter.
''Oh! never mind that. You can read
that afterward. Let us see the dress, =
importuned the impatient voices.
Theda unrolled the Wrappings with
trembling fingers, and disclosed no airy
muslin, no fresh new fabric of any sort,
but an odd, old-fashioned gown OF
brocaded silk, made in the style of years
long gone. For minute the girls were
/ silent in utter astonishment. Then the
irrepressible Rosa began:
''What in the world is that for?"
And chorus followed:
''Looks as if it came over in the May
fiowern
''Does she think you are going to a
masquerade"
"What can she mean?'
'a)o read the letter!'
The last was a sensible suggestion,
and Theda caught up the note. Aunt
Priscilla was by no means convinced OF
the sense of any such fuss at the close
of school; but as The'dor seemed to
have done pretty well, considering, she
sent her dress that had been laid away
for long time. Zone that has never
been worn to hurt it or soil it a bit-a
good, rich silk, too, not like the fiimsy
stuff they make nowadays. 1t was good
enough for me when / was a girl, and
so it ought to be good enough for you,
especially as you haven't the expecta,
ti0ns had. You are about my height,
and I suppose it can be altered little,
and the seams taken in to fit you; but
don't want it all cut into bits. y
That was all. Theda's cheeks were
hot and her voice unsteady as she read
the last words. The girls looked al
each other and then at the dress as il
lay upon the bed. One of them lifted il
for closer inspection.
'sMaY be it might be made over some
way she suggested, doubtfully.
But the short waist and narrow Skin
offered no possibilities in that direction
and even if the garment could be mod
ernized in shape, the material woulc
still remain hopelessly antique. The
Young critics understood all that at {
| glance.
/ ..And you are sure she won't sene
anything else, if you explain to her?
questioned Rosa.
Nothing else" Theda answered
positively. "You don't know her. Sh'
has lived away from everybody SO long
doing just the old things in the old way
She has no idea how hard it is for me. ;
ssWell, it's too''-Rosa. left the sen
tence unfinished. Something in Theda'
face told her that abuse of Aunt Priscills
would not be any comfort, and her owl
good sense told her that it would no
mend matters. Then she offered t.
lend dress of her own.
sIt is white; it can be freshly laun
dered, and we can fix it to fit you,
know.
"Thank you; butt wouldn't be m,
own. / must be myself" answered
Theda, looking as if herself were /
somewhat forlorn one.
..What will you do?" demanded an
other. IT declare would call mysel
sick, and go home. You would ge
your diploma anyway"
But I'm not sick, and don't wan
to go home, . answered honest Theda
Besides, just running away from |
difficulty isn't eonquering it. I"
Well, I'd want to get out Of it some